Beauty & Grooming  Discussion Forum

Hi Suguna,
Your message is very encourageing for me. I also have to go to Tirupati and give away my hair, but unlike you, it is not my MIL. I took the vow myself when I was unmarried and now that I am mother of a son and a daughter, I feel like it is time. We have since moved to Delhi and I am working part time in a School. My family and employer knows about my vow and do not make a big deal about it but I am sure I would look absolutely hideous without any hair.
Can you or someone tell me:
1. In order to fulfil this vow do you have to get complete headshave or can you leave some hair. I dont know how can I manage and get used to it.
2. If you have long hair does it hurt to get them shaved. Mine is below my shoulders. I heard due to long lines they do it in such a hurry at Tirupati that it gets very painful.
3. Is ther any special preparation or instruction that I have to follow or tell the barber.
4.How long do you think it will take to grow it enough to look feminine again.

Thank you very much again. I am planning visit soon because of summer vacation. I will try to get more courage from you.
Manasa replied. Priyaji,

Where r u exactly in Delhi, did you went to Tirumala and shaved your head. I am also from Delhi and wud like to shave my head during my next visit to Tirumala. I am having buttock length heavy black curling hair, I am also having dandruff and lice problem which is beyond my control. I wanted some happiness from that problem.
If u already shaved please let me know your exact experience like how did the barber started, what he did, did he wet ur hair and ur feelings at the time of shaving etc., Eagerly waiting to see ur reply. parvathi replied. Priya,

Have you done that? Why don't you tell your experience to us. Shazia replied. Priya Ji,
I am not a hindu and I do not know about the hair shaved as offering, but I think it is a big sacrifice, because I have some first hand experience of having my hair cut and head shaved. My chachi raised me since I was 7. My parents passed away in an accident. So I had a hard childhood. My chachi had two daughters, one younger and older than me. On of the rules of my chachi was that the kids should always have short hair. And short mean even shorter tha most men. I remember getting teased in School. The street barber in our neighbourhood knew my chachi. Most of the time all the three girls were sent to him & he used the machine to cut our hair real short. Once in a while she asked him to shave the head completely and I would cry my eyes out but could not do anything. One time I remember when I was somewhat older arround 13 she had let me go without a haircut for more than a year. Then one day she took me to the barber. She asked him to do the mundan. I felt so bad because everyone was looking. I remember the barber telling me to sit tight wetting my hair with water and then using an ustara. I also remember when he stopped in between for a cigerrate and I had a chance to look in the mirror. Part of my head was shaved clean smooth and the rest had hair. I cried hard but he completed the job and I had to deal with a bald head for next several months.
When i was arround 15 my grandma took me to her house and since then I have grown my hair long. I will never cut them now.
Being a woman, if you shave your head for religious purpose, it is a big sacrifice. For me the experience was worse because I was teased a lot, but you may get a different response. May your god bless you for such passion.
Durga replied. I have been to Tirupati once. I am originally from South India. Before we migrated to US my parents wanted to go there and pay there respects. I was about 15. My youger brother and his twin sister ware 11. I remember standing in a long line for Darshan and then going to give away our hair. I saw some people only gave a little, but all of us including my parents got shaved completely. My little sister cried a lot afterwards, but my family is very religious. Both me and my mother had long and thick hair. I remember sitting on a peice of wood in front of the barber. As soon as he was told to shave my head, he applied some water like liquid in my hair and massaged it. Then he bent my head down and started to shave. I dont think it was painful but felt ticklish and strange. And I dont think it took more than a few minutes for me. I dont remember what we did afterwards, probably went to take ashnan and prasad, but I remember looking in mirror and feeling the shaved head again and again. The whole family looked alike so I did not feel too bad. I think the growing phase was worse than shaving. I wore caps and scarves for many weeks before I could comb my hair well.
My mother is planning to visit the place again next year. I dont know if I will be able to acciompany her this time.
Overall I think it was a strange expeience for a teenager. I dont know how old are you now and how would you feel, but all the best. vijay replied. hai sister

if u want to make it means make it
because tell about shave is easy but u will get it.means first 3-4 months its grow very slow.because of minimum amount of keratin in ur body

if u have any commitment to god means to it.

if u goto shave means shave ur head by the direction of hair growth
ex:-
front head make forward shave.back head from ur sitting opposite position (top to down)and side hairs from front to back ok

after shave it will grow thicker so u maintain as like ur current style or long

where r u from maa?
consider me as like ur brother


bye sister
take care
ur brother
vijay



Anjali Sh replied. well

Ans 1 :- Well since you are doing it first you have to go for a headshave and its according to traditions.

Ans 2:- Well last year only i had it shaved and i had hair below waist (buttocks) and that to very thick

since last year a new complex has been opened which is not at all crowded.... and if you pay little money to barber like 11 or 21 he can treat you well..... and apply lot of oil to all your hair before you shave

Ans 3:-you just need to sit front of him and middle part your hair and he will start shaving it.

Ans 4:-Well hair grows with speed of 1 inches or more per month so you will look feminine within 3-4 months with a boycut and thats okay since you are leaving a delhi and teacher and thats common hairstyle

if you want more information reply over here...

Anjali Anjali Sh replied. well


hi priya even i told suguna the same thing and even i gone throgh it and i telling being a feminine doesnt mean to have long hair its just a matter of month before u get pretty long feminine hair.

i tell for so many years you had a long hair an after all you are doing it for your god for your family

and i think nothing important than your family.

i am sure your mother in law also must had long hair before she tonsured so she has gone through it and she really feels for

even she did it for your family

so go for it

and i tell u even i had long hair up to the waist and to have shaved as a offering to the god and i tell i wasnt nervous at all because before i was married i had long hair and family members wouldnt let cut or even trim then
so i was very happy when shaved it for my family for my self and i did cause i wanted a bobcut.

whenever i want to cut my hair and family doesnt allowme i somehow ask husband to go to tirumala so i cant cut it there and no one can object and i shave once a year

so do it and reply me back i will guide u dont listen other pppl

Anjali