We all remember how we got our first period and how painful and weird it was, it felt as if you are sick but not real sick sick, girls would relate with me here, I guess.

I vividly remember when I got my first period, it was Diwali! Yes, Diwali! My masi came to visit us with loads of gifts and I was in my room crying thinking how to tell my mum that I got my (first) period. That day I was so intrigued to know about how and why does this happen. While browsing and learning about all of this, I was surprised to know that people in Kerala hosts a function/ an event to celebrate the first menstruation of their girls.

Interesting, right?

In Southern India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, there is a traditional coming-of-age ritual for young girls called ‘Ritu Kala Samskara,’ also known as the Half-Saree ceremony or Puberty Function. This Hindu tradition celebrates a girl’s first period, marking her transition into womanhood.

Once a girl experiences her first period, she is gifted a half-saree and undergoes a ceremonial turmeric bath. The new half-saree is then draped on her, followed by a pooja to formally welcome her into womanhood. Later, her maternal uncle presents her with a saree, which she wears in the second half of the day. The celebration includes a feast, gifts, and sometimes money, making it a joyous and significant milestone.

In the morning of the ceremony, she is swiftly wrapped in a light cloth, barely covering her torso and upper legs. The men are shooed out on grocery runs, leaving her at the center of a bustling circle of aunts, older sisters, and cousins. Perched on a tiny stool, she becomes the canvas for a luxurious paste of turmeric, rose water, and other fragrant concoctions, lovingly smeared across her face, neck, arms, legs, and feet.

Then, there is a ceremony with a priest and an altar of fire, following Hindu tradition. Her uncles, aunts, older cousins, and grandparents shower her with blessings and presents. Later, she changes into a more comfortable outfit, enjoys a lavish lunch, and happily resumes her life as a cheerful 12-year-old.

Isn’t it beautiful to see something celebrated that is often looked down upon in other places? Does your culture have any similar traditions? Let us know!