Ghar Wapsi, in Hindi, translates to homecoming. It is used to describe many different forms of cultural, familial, and religious reclamation. I helped my grandmother, my Dadi, organize a Ghar Wapsi for the women in her village Tiwari. Traditionally, once a woman marries, she can no longer live in her village—she begins life in her husband’s. Many of these women will never return to their home village for a visit; their husbands may not want to sponsor their journey, or it may be too difficult to find time to come back. Even if they can return, their friends have all married and left, and their home is no longer the home they once knew. Ghar Wapsi allows women to see and reunite with childhood friends and family. My Dadi and I called over 200 women of Tinwari, personally inviting them to celebrate together. The event was three days long. On December 31, 2024, my Dadi hosted over 200 women in her house in Jodhpur, a major city near the village, and put on a sangeet; the women of Tiwari danced, ate, and laughed together. The second day, two large buses transported all the women to the village, to a second celebration of community. They returned to Tiwari on New Years—the women began the year with cherished memories of the past and closer connections. I saw women sharing WhatsApp contacts and phone numbers, something that didn’t exist when they were children; some had lost touch with loved ones and because of Ghar Wapsi, were now able to strengthen their access to their friends.

Wearing matching yellow lenghas, they danced and cheered as they paraded through the village, seeing monuments, temples, and houses they hadn’t seen in years. The Ghar Wapsi that we organized was such an important event; it focused on the women whose labor and energy are so often forgotten and disregarded in the household. For once, they did not have to worry about cooking, cleaning, or taking care of others; they instead spent their time celebrating long-held friendships, community, and love for one another.