Sacred Threads
Performance | Qualitative Research | In Progress
The Upanayana is an ancient Vedic ritual. A young person would receive a yajñopavītam, a shawl, to be admitted into gurukula, the schooling system, where they would learn religious chants, arts, science, mathematics, and more.
The Upanayana is an ancient Vedic, Brahminical ritual. This ritual, in its origin, was not caste or gender exclusionary. But, through time, specifically because of a medieval social code titled the Manu Smriti, the upanayana was made exclusive to high-caste men.
The Upanayana is a Hindu, Brahminical ritual which was done to young people pursuing education. Today, these exclusive practices written onto the ritual, now visualized through three threads draped around the body, have rooted into the observance of patriarchal gender roles and the blind participation in caste-oppressive religious activities.
Sacred Threads explores queer experiences of the Upanayana, struggling through questions about traditions embedded in patriarchy and casteism while being born outside of one’s homeland.
This work is a plea to heal and liberate how we celebrate the sacred within each other. How will we construct our rituals moving forward?
The project has been presented at a work in progress showing facilitated by Modern Connections in June, 2024 at Jackson Dance Lab, Tufts University and the WeCreate Festival organized by Danza Orgánica in April, 2025. Watch the In Progress Showing at Tufts Here.
The latest evolution of this project was shown on April 17, 2026 at the Foundry in Cambridge, MA with live music performances by Ani Prasad and Fall Raye.
A portion of the ticket sales were donated to three mutual aid organizations: Sister Library, Fikra School, and Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network. * An artist book was also produced, titled ‘Sacred Threads: Knowledge Learnt along the Way’ which documented the research and choreographic process behind the work to date.
Lighting Design by Elmer Martinez and production support provided by Mira Göksel and Nate Guervin.
Picture Credit: Suhayl @BirdonFilm
*
Sister Library: Located in Mumbai, India, Sister Library is a lending library, a nurturing resource center, a haven for creative endeavors, a place to reflect, and forge connections. There are several creative programs and scholarships that are run through the library which support girls and women to pay through university and self-publish works of writing and art. Donations will go specifically to WALKING WITH SAVITRI MAI: A SISTER LIBRARY FELLOWSHIP supporting education for girls through university.
Fikra School: Based out of Cairo, Fikra School runs a free-of-charge primary progarm for grades 1-3, following a palestinian curriculum for displaced Gazan children with structured psychosocial support. Teachers are experienced Palestinian educators displaced from Gaza who provide students with personalized care, 1:1 support, and ensure they can tend to their different learning needs.
Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network: BIJAN is a community network of individuals, faith communities, and other activist groups working to reduce the escalating harm of our immigration system in the current political context. Their work includes accompaniment, which can include support in court or at ICE check-ins, legal referrals, fundraising for bond or legal fees, letters of support from the community, and more. Donations will go specifically towards the Beyond Bond & Legal Defense Fund (the Bond Fund) which raises money for immigration bonds to free people in ICE prisons in Massachusetts and Rhode Island or elsewhere, but are coming to live in MA upon release.