In a stark reminder of the enduring grip of caste-based discrimination in India, nearly 40 members of a tribal girl’s family in Odisha’s Raigad district were subjected to a ‘purification ritual’ after she married outside her caste.
According to Indian media reports, the girl, who belongs to a Scheduled Tribe (ST) community, defied her family and societal norms by marrying a Scheduled Caste (SC) youth from a neighboring village. Though the marriage is legally valid under Indian law, it triggered a wave of community outrage, leading to a symbolic act of ritual penance imposed on the bride’s family.
Sources say the family faced a harsh social boycott, with the village branding them “impure” for violating traditional caste boundaries. In an effort to regain social acceptance, around 40 male members of the family underwent shuddhi karan—a so-called purification rite that involved public head shaving.
A video of the ritual, which quickly went viral on social media, shows rows of men having their heads shaved by barbers in a communal setting. Locals reported that the ritual also included animal sacrifices, including goats and chickens. The entire cost of the ceremony, including sacrificial offerings and ritual expenses, was borne by the bride’s family.
Local authorities have acknowledged the incident and confirmed that an investigation is underway.
“This isn’t just a cultural or religious matter—it highlights the deep-rooted caste prejudices that persist in rural India,” said a local human rights advocate. “Forcing a family into a public spectacle of ‘purification’ violates their constitutional rights to equality and freedom, especially the right to marry across caste lines.”
Despite constitutional safeguards and the provisions of the Special Marriage Act, inter-caste marriages—particularly in rural and conservative areas—often provoke intense social backlash.
Human rights groups have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and greater awareness to dismantle entrenched caste hierarchies.
