In a historic gesture breaking traditional norms, Anshika Rao shaved her head to perform the final rites of her late father, Ernest Elvis, in rural Rakiraki, a district in Fiji’s Ra Province, located on the northern coast of Viti Levu, the country’s largest island.
The act is particularly notable as Hindu funeral rites traditionally assign such duties to sons or male relatives.
Hinduism places great importance on the head-shaving ritual, which symbolises purification and detachment from material attachments after the loss of a loved one.
Typically, the eldest son, if present, or another male relative takes on the role of the chief mourner and performs these rites. Shaving the head serves as an act of humility and respect, aligning with the spiritual ethos of mourning and closure.
Anshika Rao, a third-year Bachelor of Network Engineering student at the University of the South Pacific (USP), made this extraordinary decision despite cultural norms that discourage women from shaving their heads due to their symbolic association with the Divine Energy, or Shaktī.
In Hinduism, traditionally, long hair in women is revered as a mark of modesty and protection against negative energies. Cutting it is generally avoided, as it may be considered an anti-Dharmic act.
In Hinduism, men, as active symbols of Shaktī, are entrusted with the responsibility of performing final rites, including shaving their heads to demonstrate detachment and purification. By stepping into this role, Anshika Rao has honoured her father in a deeply personal way.
While daughters performing Hindu funeral rituals have become increasingly common in Fiji, this is the first documented instance of a woman shaving her head for such a purpose, making it a landmark moment in the region’s evolving cultural landscape.
In Australia, the Australian Council of Hindu Clergy outlines that after death is confirmed, the chief mourner (karta)—typically the eldest son for a father and the youngest son for a mother—must bathe and shave their head and facial hair. If shaving is not feasible, a number 1 buzz cut is acceptable. Daughters may perform the rites if appointed by the deceased and observe other rituals for her parents.
Note: This news story was first published in the Fiji Times. The Australia Today understand that Anshika Rao granted permission to the Fiji Times to publish photographs of the ceremony, sparking a broader conversation about tradition, gender roles, and equality within Hindu communities.
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