Ritual Threads

Mauli or kalava, janeu, raksha sutra and other sacred threads tied or worn during sankalp, vrat, festivals and samskaras.

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Few objects in a puja are as humble as a length of red-and-yellow cotton, yet ritual threads carry real meaning. When a priest ties mauli, also called kalava, around the wrist and recites the sankalp, it marks the devotee's commitment to that day's worship. Men usually wear it on the right wrist, and many married women on the left.

Other threads have their own place. Janeu, the sacred thread, is given at the upanayana ceremony and worn across the body by those who follow the custom, and is changed at set times such as Shravani. Raksha sutra and rakhi are tied on Raksha Bandhan, the yellow thread of Varalakshmi vrat and the fourteen-knotted Anant sutra appear on their own festivals, and mauli is also wound around the kalash.

Pick ritual threads soft enough for skin and long enough for your use. Old threads are generally removed respectfully and placed under a tree or in flowing water.

Frequently Asked Questions

On which wrist is mauli tied?

Customarily men and unmarried girls have it tied on the right wrist and married women on the left, though practice varies by family and region.

How often is a janeu changed?

Many families change it at Shravani or Upakarma each year, and also after events like a birth or death in the family, as guided by their tradition.

What is an Anant sutra?

It is a thread with fourteen knots tied on Anant Chaturdashi in worship of Vishnu as Anant.

What should I do with an old thread?

Rather than throwing it in the bin, many people remove it respectfully and place it at the root of a tree or immerse it in flowing water.