Caste in India: The Facts and the System c6.s6.40

c6.s6.40

Investiture is commonly practised at the age of about seven, eight, or nine years. It applies only to men. Woman, always more or less a minor in the archaic organism of the family, only belongs to the religious community before marriage through her father, and after marriage through her husband, who associates her with his semi-religious character of father of the family. Investiture is therefore a very serious matter, and is accompanied by rites and feasts which last for several days.