Women in Vedic Society- post script

A widower cannot perform fire sacrifices as such rites can only be performed if the wife is present. Both the mother & father of a girl give her away in marriage. It is not just the father who gives his daughter away. Similarly both the mother & father perform the “Upanayana” ceremony to initiate their son in to higher learning. A widower is not allowed to perform the ceremony; the ceremony is performed by some other couple. A man loses his identity as a householder along with his rights when his wife passes away.