Baby Loss Traditions in Pakistan: Rituals of Protection, Healing and Remembrance
For South Asian Baby Loss Awareness Week, I wanted to explore how pregnancy loss has traditionally been understood and responded to within different South Asian cultures.
Across Pakistan, beliefs and rituals surrounding miscarriage vary widely depending on family traditions, region, religion and local customs. While there is no single Pakistani way of honouring pregnancy loss, many communities have developed rituals intended to protect, heal and support those who have experienced miscarriage.
Miscarriage and spiritual beliefs
In some Pakistani communities, miscarriage has traditionally been understood not only as a physical event but also as a spiritual one.
Some families believe that pregnancy loss may be influenced by the evil eye (nazar), the presence of jinn, or other spiritual forces. These beliefs have been passed down through generations and remain important to some families today, although they are not shared by everyone.
Rather than seeking only physical healing, some people may also seek spiritual protection and comfort following a miscarriage.
Rituals of healing and protection
Traditional practices intended to restore wellbeing after pregnancy loss can include:
visiting local shrines (mazars)
wearing protective amulets (taʿwiz)
burning incense
reciting prayers
participating in ritual bathing ceremonies
For many families, these rituals are less about explaining why a miscarriage happened and more about providing hope, healing and protection for future pregnancies.
The midnight shower ritual
In parts of Kashmir, one traditional ritual described after miscarriage is a ceremonial bath intended to remove what is locally referred to as pachawa.
According to local tradition, seven branches from different trees are placed into water before the person bathes. Afterwards, the water is poured over the body with closed eyes at a crossroads rather than beneath a tree.
A fire is then lit, and the person walks around it an odd number of times as a symbolic act of cleansing and releasing the spiritual burden associated with the miscarriage. Finally, the clothes worn during the ritual are burned and discarded away from the home.
These practices reflect the importance many communities place on acknowledging pregnancy loss and supporting healing in ways that extend beyond physical recovery.
The importance of ritual after baby loss
Whether through prayer, ceremony, community support or quiet remembrance, rituals have long helped people make sense of grief.
For families experiencing miscarriage, these traditions can offer comfort, connection and a way of honouring a baby whose life, however brief, mattered deeply.
As a South Asian birthworker, I find these traditions incredibly moving because they remind us that pregnancy loss has never been something our communities ignored. Across generations, people created rituals to acknowledge grief, seek healing and support those navigating one of life's most difficult experiences.
Every family's relationship with these traditions will be different. Some may continue these practices today, others may find comfort in different rituals, and many may not identify with them at all. What remains universal is the need for compassion, understanding and space to grieve.
If you've experienced pregnancy or baby loss, I hope you know that your grief is valid, your baby is remembered, and you deserve support in whatever way feels right for you.
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