An assignment on Categorization of Rituals (2) (original) (raw)

Introduction: Ritual is an integral part of human life. Marriage rituals, Birth Rituals, other religious, and also other social, and national define and enrich a society's culture. Ritual is a social act in which the participants re-enact their relationship to sacred objects and beliefs according to Malefijt (1968). Ritual reflect on human nature, sociality, and culture. However, in every there are various rituals in Hinduism which enrich its culture. For example, wedding rituals, birth rituals, pregnancy rituals, various worship (puja), mediation etc. During wedding, Hindu people practice the rituals such as engagement, bou baaran, Ashirbad (blessing) etc. On the other hand, after dying a person, Hindus practice very different rituals than other religions such as washing body with honey, ghee, milk etc. Putting a lamp near the head or sprinkling water on the body. Besides, other rituals such as yoga, Yajna, Japa, etc. are very important rituals that are practiced in Hinduism. Definition of Ritual: A ritual is a formalized mode of behavior in which the members of a group or community regularly engage. It is the core of religion, fixed and sacred, obligatory and meritorious. "Rituals are designed both to express belief and to bring about specific ends. This ritual behavior is motivated by the desire to gain some form of satisfaction and is to expect to be effective" (Melefijt; 1968; 189). People in every society all over the world celebrate rituals. They believe in a specific myth. Then they practice various rituals centered on this myth. Ritual is instrumental, and the performance of ritual is predicted on the belief that it is efficacious in achieving a certain end. However, religion represents one of the main contexts in which rituals are practiced though the scope of ritual behavior extends well beyond religion. So there is a relationship among myth, beliefs and religion. Myth and ritual are essentially expressive and symbolic in character. Myth are actually not mere folk's tales, but symbolic statements about social reality and human existence. On the other hand, actions of ritual tend to be considered a symbolic pursuit of a desired result. People believe in rituals that these will help to prevent worse things. So they practice rituals. They actually practice rituals because of health, fertility, and general welfare and social solidarity. So, finally we can say according to Melefijt that, "Ritual is a social act in which the participants re-enact their relationship to sacred objects and beliefs. Both ritual and myth are thus not only founded in dogma, but they make sacred beliefs intelligible by rendering them in terms of human action and human language" (Melefijt; 1968; 195). Categories of Rituals: There are many rituals in every society. It is not possible to categorize all the rituals of the world (religious rituals or others rituals). Yet we can categorize the rituals into two ways based on different social implications. 1. Period: A ritual that is performed on a regular basis as part of a religious calendar. It is also called calendrical ritual. "Period ritual tend have to communal action. They serve to mark the start of agricultural cycle, the end of the harvest, the founding of the community, and so on" (Melefijt; 1968). This ritual is regular and fixed. 2. Non-periodic: A ritual that is performed when a particular need arises. This ritual is also known as occasional ritual. "This ritual are most often associated with critical events in the life of an individual.