Many will wonder if virginity testing is still going on in these advanced times. In Rajasthan’s Bhilwara, it was a big news that the bridegroom’s parents subjected the newlyweds to a virginity test. Alleging that the girl had failed the virginity test, the groom’s relatives beat up the girl and demanded a compensation of Rs 10 lakh from the girl. The general public came to know about this incident after the woman lodged a complaint with the police.
Indian culture gives high status to women. But many tribes still follow their own customs and rituals. One such ritual is ‘Kukadi Pratha’. ‘Kukadi Pratha’ is a custom of the Sansi tribe of Rajasthan.
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This is the name given to the virginity test of the new bride. During the honeymoon of a married couple, spread a white bedspread on the bed and ‘set the stage’ for the test. Along with this, a clean white thread (kukadi) is placed on the bed. It is believed that if the newlyweds enter into a relationship, the maiden’s hymen will break and blood will be seen on the bed sheets and thread. The Kukadi Pratha ceremony is completed the next morning when the family members find blood on the mat and thread. It is also known as ‘Kukari Ki Ras’. If the blood stain is not found, the young woman will have to face insults and beatings. The young woman is considered to be inauspicious or impure.
There are some other tests to check a woman’s virginity. For example, the ‘Jala Pariksha’, which tests how long one can hold his head under water, and the fire test, in which he holds a hot iron in his hand, etc. Apart from this, some places also have two-finger verification. This is a physical examination in which the doctor inserts two fingers inside the vagina and checks whether the hymen is intact. The Supreme Court had banned the two-finger test in May 2013.