Traditions that i find unacceptable.

I am a God fearing person. I have my own way of connecting with the almighty. However, there are some aspects of religion/traditions I feel very strongly about that I see being followed around me. I hope this post does not hurt anyone's sentiments.

I cannot fathom how one can have a Pundit do the Puja of your House-Gods. I find it weird & absolutely unacceptable that as the family members go about doing their daily chores of cooking, watching TV etc, the Pujari comes quietly , does Puja in your house mandir , takes his monthly fee & goes away. What purpose does it solve?Isn't worship something that builds up your faith & gives you peace of mind. I see how my husband's day is never complete till he visits this particular temple to pay his respects. I am glad he has found a place which gives him solace in his life's struggles. That's the way faith is supposed to heal. Its' not something that you can pay someone else to do. Might as well not do it. Who forces you to?

When you have your periods, you cannot enter the kitchen or touch anything cooked-pickles, papads etc. Forget touching, even if a girl who is having periods looks at the papads drying in the sun, they get bad. So much so that your maid is also not allowed to enter the kitchen or wash utensils when she is having her periods. Supposedly, the girl becomes a devil when she is in periods. In some families I've seen women eating in separate utensils, sitting away from the families, sleeping on the floors etc during this time. Can you imagine how humiliating this can be. Imagine if you have a house guest who asks for a glass of water. You simply shake your head & say that you cannot go into the kitchen. He meaningfully glances at you & says "Oh,ok". As a young teenager, I would have simply drowned in embarrassment if faced with such a situation. But there are hundreds of girls facing this every month.

Misrepresentation of the meaning of Sanskars. Sanskar are the moral rules for any person.The other meaning of sanskar is ethics. This term is used so differently in reality. So if you don't know how to pray as per the "rules", or if you don't know that you are supposed to not leave salt in your thaali after you are thorough with your meal without putting some water on it- then supposedly you have not been taught any Sanskars. Go read the meaning of "Sanskars" first, please!!

There are so many rituals one has to undertake if one is the mother of a "Boy". Yes, so there are some fasts that you keep only if you are a Boy's mother. If you have a girl child , you do not need to do it. There are some rituals & pujas which will be performed only if a Boy is born. What utter rubbish , I say!!

But I am glad things are changing. Just wish the pace of change was quicker!!