purity rituals
Sacred washing practices
Purity rituals are ceremonial practices intended to cleanse a person or object of spiritual contamination.
Found across religions and cultures, they may involve washing, fasting, sacrifice, or specific prayers: She performed the purity ritual before entering the temple.
The concept extends to secular contexts where symbolic cleansing marks transitions or removes perceived taint.
- ablutionRitualized washing of body
- mikvehJewish purification immersion pool
- lustrationCleansing rite or vetting
- river baptismHoly rite in moving water
- baptismRitual water purification ceremony
holy water · smudging · sweat lodge · consecration · sacred space · fasting · sacrament · white clothing · anointing · prayer beads · cleansing · spiritual cleansing · exorcism · sanctify · atonement · sin offering · initiation ceremonies · traditional customs
purity ritualsprofanation
Violation of sanctity
sacrilege · black mass · desecration · taboo-breaking · abomination
purity ritualssin
Violation of divine law
uncleanness · impurity · taint · contamination · pollution