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PSYCHO-SOCIAL VALUE OF TRADITIONAL STEAM IN WEJJERAT ISRA ADDI [Abstract ID: 1207-15]
The traditional steaming in Wejjerat is the skin cleansing cultural practice which is undertaken by females above 15 years old. The respondents stated that the steaming is supposed as it was originated with the society itself. There are two types of steaming practices: the first is a steaming which is usually practiced by women for beautification, massaging, healthy blood circulation and for having attractive smell, etc. The second is a long-term steaming beginning from 2-12 months, practiced by girls above 14 years age for a transitional purpose from childhood(girl) to adult(womanhood). This practice is related with the Holy Bible (in the Book of Esther 2:12-14) where beauty treatments are described. Thus, this study is dealt with the second stage and its socio-cultural and psycho social influences for the practitioners. Regardless of its cleansing value, the practice has various psycho-social well beings: if a girl is ready for the long term steaming, she is considered as someone who is late to marry Deacon (white wedding), hence, the practitioner and her family feel humiliated of it. Another, the girl after the attendance of the steaming is supposed as an old aged. Thus, she cannot participate on childhood cultural holidays like Ashenda, Goywo, ћannIs etc. In addition, if the girl is from the poor family, she does not attend the steaming in the supposed age, then she gets ashamed of her being physically matured and the society insults her as late attendant. Related to this, Allport G. (1985:5) states, social psychology studies how people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by other people. This study is designed using the descriptive research. It is aimed at announcing as steaming is a good culture of the society and is not related to virginity, religion, and the psycho-social well being of the society. The primary data of the research were collected using interview and observation from the randomly selected respondents, and the secondary data were collected from reviewing written documents. The collected data were later analyzed using the qualitative type of data analysis. The result of this study shows as the steaming practice is the cheapest and healthy and everlasting skin cleansing compared to the modern cleansing cosmetics and steaming. The study recommended that although the practice is good to continue due to its immeasurable functions,to its cleansing, the attendants must not be religiously, psychologically, and culturally influenced to practice other irrelevant activities because of it. The society must wisely manage the raw woods which are used for the steaming through reforestation.