India is a nation shaped by centuries of practices, rituals, and symbols. One of these symbols is the Janeu (sacred thread) that men wear after the Upanayana ritual. This is a sign of purity, education and spiritual accountability. But the meaning and relevance of that has been called into question in recent years. Why can’t women wear Janeu? Why is it restricted to castes? And does it still have merit in a culture of striving for equality? In the end, a Brahmin youth broke his Janeu symbolically and said: “I have no caste, I have no religion.” His act was not only personal to him at large, it was an act directed by a community against discrimination and patriarchy.
The meaning behind Janeu is that it is usually worn by men of higher caste groups, particularly Brahmins. It is part of the Upanayana ritual, when formal education and religious obligation commence. The thread is intended to signify discipline, obligation, loyalty for the wearer (or their community). Yet Janeu has also increasingly become a signifier of caste identity. It distinguishes those who are “allowed” to wear it from those who are not. In particular, this ritual has been exclusionary for women, further legitimizing the belief that spirituality and wisdom is reserved for men.
"Why can't women wear janeu?"🔥
— Suraj Kumar Bauddh (@SurajKrBauddh) February 3, 2026
"Janeu is a symbol of discrimination."🔥
A Brahmin youth symbolically broke his Upanayana (Janeu) and announces that;
"I have no caste, I have no religion."
Janeu also symbolises patriarchy, as women are traditionally prohibited from wearing it. pic.twitter.com/Zf4ZB8ZW9h
Detractors say Janeu is not just a thread, it’s discrimination. By limiting it to castes and even genders, it brings them into conflict with others. Those who do not wear it are often deemed “less pure” or “less worthy.” This exclusion caused many to wonder if Janeu is still providing a benefit. In a contemporary India that prizes equality, symbols that categorically separate people on the basis of caste or sex feel outdated and inequitable.
Janeu, too, represents patriarchy. Women are also barred from wearing it, although they are equally able for learning, discipline and devotion. However, the same goes for the broader principle of denying religious and social life for all. By excluding women from Janeu, society perpetuates the narrative of the man as guardian of the spiritual life and women as secondary.
The breaking of Janeu is symbolic. When the Brahmin youth declared, “I have no caste, I have no religion,” he was rejecting the divisions that the thread represented. His action pushes back against the notion that identity has to be linked with caste or ritual. This act is inspiring to many. It demonstrates that traditions can be questioned, and that a person can choose equality over hierarchy. And it creates space for discussing reforming rituals to be “inclusive” in nature.
And acts like that are generating debate on social media and in public places. There are also advocates of the shift stating the time has come to let go of discriminatory practices. Others protect Janeu as a sacred tradition that must not be interrupted. The conflict is an echo of a broader fight in Indian society: how to balance a tradition of reverence with a demand for equal rights.
The question is not whether Janeu should exist, but whether it’s continuing to exclude. If Janeu is really about discipline and devotion, then why can’t women wear it? Why are we supposed to determine who deserves based on caste? Reforming rituals does not disrespect faith. So it means making faith more inclusive, compassionate and timely to modern-day values.
Janeu has long been an emblem of purity and devotion, and yet also a symbol of caste and patriarchy. By challenging its suitability, young are causing society to reconsider traditions. Breaking Janeu is not to say “no” to faith: It is to say no to discrimination. In a modern India which prizes equality, rituals must change too. True devotion is not tied to threads or pegs, it is about compassion, dignity and justice. And perhaps the most powerful act of worship today is to say: “I have no caste, I have no religion.”
