Women's Brata Rituals

by Sila Basak

The theme of the book is based on the Women's Brata Rituals.  The definition and source of Brata along with rituals, rites, characteristics, classification, tales, role of women, sociological analysis, comparative study, motifindex of Bratas, districtwise and statewise review of Bratas, and those of neghbouring countries have been incorporated in this work on Bratas of Bengal. 

In fact,  this is a comprehensive survey of the different aspects of Bratas. The exhaustive field-study by the author, who happens to be an eminent folklorist of India in her own right, has given some newer dimensions of these ritualistic practices. On many counts, this should claim a pioneering position in the study of the popular religious cults prevailing in the Bengali cultural orbit.

Plenty of coloured pictures have enhanced the importance of the volume. One may quite confidently accept this book as a leading research work in the folklore studies, not only in West Bengal, but in the entire sub-continent."