Janeu (sacred thread)

Janeu (Devanagari: जनेऊ) refers to the sacred thread worn by a Hindu on the occasion of the upanayana sanskar in Hinduism. It is made from cotton fabrics. It has a great respect among Hindu adherents. In the tradition of Hinduism, it symbolises power, knowledge and activism. It is worn by several communities in the Indian subcontinent. The Brahmins, Bhumihars, Kshetriyas, Kayastha, Vaishya and Sonar communities, etc are the major communities in the subcontinent who wear the sacred thread of Janeu. A person who wears the sacred thread Janeu is also called as Janeudhari.