In anthropology, initiation rites signify critical junctures in the life course of individuals transitioning into new social identities. These rituals often traverse borders—literal or metaphorical—marking the passage into adulthood, warfare, or spiritual communion. Understanding these rites necessitates an exploration into their temporal and spatial dimensions, particularly how participants navigate through and are transformed by these boundaries.
The conceptual framework presented herein postulates that each rite functions as a liminal period, where participants are subject to deconstruction of former selves, only to emerge renewed. The term 'liminal', derived from the Latin 'limen' meaning threshold, indicates a space bereft of societal order, dominated by neither identities of prior existence nor of post-rite reality. This interstitial phase, often detailed in the works of Victor Turner, allows for significant cultural commentary on identity, power, and rebirth.