Since centuries, Zoroastrians have worn the sacred cord (kusti) as an article of faith. However, handwoven, ritually blessed threads or cords have been worn across various cultures and religious traditions to ward off negative energy, promote well-being and make the wearer feel spiritually connected or protected. Sacred threads have been part of not just the Zoroastrian tradition but also a part of Vedic, Buddhist, Jewish and Christian traditions.

Zoroastrian Sacred Cord

Among Zoroastrians the kusti (also known as kosti, kushti) is a sacred girdle tied around the waists and over a sacred white cotton shirt called the Sudreh. The Sudreh–kusti is a marker of Zoroastrian identity and a spiritual defence against negative forces.

The kusti is made of seventy-two woollen threads representing the seventy-two chapters of the Yasna which is the primary liturgical collection of texts of the Avesta. The kusti has three tassels, each with twenty-four threads, at each end, representing the twenty-four chapters of the Visperad, and the sum of all tassels, which is six, representing the six Gahambar (thanksgiving feasts.)

Origin Of Kusti

It is believed that tying the kusti may have been a practise among Asho Zarathushtra’s earliest followers due to their familiarity with practices of the proto-Indo-Iranian people, and its Vedic equivalent, the Yajnopavita, commonly known as janeu or punal which is a sacred ceremonial thread worn by Hindus, during and after the Upanayana (initiation) rite of passage, similar to the Zoroastrian Navjote ceremony.

Yasna (10.21) indicates that a holy sage – Haoma Frami introduced use of the Kusti. However, the Pahlavi text Dadestan-e-denig (39.18–19) claims that it was first used by the legendary Peshdad king Jamsheed (Avesta Yima Khasaeta) many centuries before the birth of Asho Zarathushtra. Later, poet Ferdowsi Toosi also records that Shah Jamsheed was inspired by Sarosh Yazata to wear the Kusti and make his subjects do likewise.

According to the Pahlavi Zarathosht Nameh, when Asho Zarathushtra left his father Pourushaspa’s home in search of the truth, he had requested his father to give him his Kusti as a parting or farewell gift of remembrance. In the Rehbar-e Din-e Jarthushti which is a much later Gujarati theological text authored by the late Dastur Erachji of Navsari, it is claimed that Zarathushtra himself recommended the practise of wearing the Kusti to those who came to listen to his discourses.

Zoroastrian Investiture Ceremony

A Zoroastrian starts to wear the Sudreh and Kusti after the Navjote ceremony or what Irani Zoroastrians refer to as Sudreh-Pooshi. A Zoroastrian child usually undergoes this investiture ceremony between the age of seven to fifteen years. Prior to the ceremony, the child undergoes a ritual cleansing bath (Nahn.) During the ceremony of investiture, the priest guides the child in putting on the Sudreh and then the Kusti.

The Sudreh, a cotton white under-shirt touching the skin, serves as a spiritual shield and the garment of Bahman (Vohu Manah Vastra). It reminds the wearer to be on the white side of Nature and stay attuned with Vohu Manah or the Good Mind of the Universe. The sacred Kusti is made of lamb’s wool and ritually wound three times around the waist with a reef knot in the front and at the back. During the ceremony the child also recites the Din no Kalmo, declaring allegiance to the Mazdayasni religion. The Sudreh and Kusti is worn by both men and women throughout their life.

Vedic Janeu Or Yajnopavit

The Janeu or Yajnopavit, popularly known as the Janoi, is a sacred, unstitched cotton thread worn by Hindu males following the Upanayana ceremony, a significant coming-of-age ritual comparable to the Zoroastrian Navjote. Worn diagonally across the left shoulder and under the right arm, it symbolises the wearer’s spiritual journey, moral responsibilities and worldly duties.

The three intertwined strands are interpreted in various ways. Some scholars trace them to the ancient Indo-Iranian ideal of purity in thoughts, words and deeds. Others believe they represent the Hindu Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, while another interpretation associates them with the goddesses Saraswati, Parvati and Lakshmi, symbolising knowledge, strength and prosperity. The thread also serves as a daily reminder of one’s sacred obligations towards God, parents and ancestors, and revered sages.

Traditionally, the Janoi measures ninety-six times the width of a finger. This symbolic number represents important elements of the cosmos, including the twelve months, seven days of the week, three divisions of time, twenty-five universal principles, four Vedas, fifteen lunar dates, three gunas and twenty-seven lunar constellations.

The Upanayana Ceremony marks the spiritual rebirth of a Hindu child, usually between the ages of seven and sixteen, much like the Zoroastrian Navjote. During this sacred rite, the initiate learns the Gayatri Mantra and formally begins a life of spiritual discipline and responsibility. The Janoi is believed to protect against negative influences while encouraging learning and inner growth. It must be kept clean and is temporarily repositioned during certain daily activities, including personal hygiene and periods of mourning.

Cultural Variance

Araignan Kodi is a traditional South Indian waist thread or chain worn by men, women and children for cultural, protective and practical reasons. Usually made from black, red or yellow cotton, silk or herbal fibres, it is believed to ward off negative energy. Some varieties also incorporate sacred herbs or mustard seeds for added protective significance.

Blessed Buddhist Strings: In the Theravada Buddhist tradition, sacred white wrist threads, known as Paritta strings or Sai Sin, are tied during protective ceremonies to invoke blessings, ward off negativity and remind the wearer of spiritual discipline. Buddhist monks prepare these multi-stranded cotton threads while chanting protective verses in Pali, the sacred language of Theravada Buddhism and the language of the Buddhist scriptures, much as Avesta prayers are recited while weaving the Zoroastrian Kusti.

According to Buddhist belief, certain teachings of the Buddha possess protective spiritual power when recited with devotion. After chanting, monks tie the blessed thread around a devotee’s right wrist while reciting a traditional blessing, symbolising the protection and guidance of the Buddha’s teachings. The thread serves as a constant reminder of faith, mindfulness and spiritual practice, and is usually worn until it naturally falls off.

Hebrew Tzitzit: are sacred knotted fringes attached to four-cornered garments such as the tallit (prayer shawl) and the tallit katan, worn by observant Jews as a reminder to follow God’s commandments, as instructed in the Torah. Each tzitzit is traditionally made from four threads folded into eight and tied using a prescribed pattern of knots and windings. One thread is ideally dyed tekhelet, a distinctive blue-violet colour symbolising divine remembrance. Today, many Jews recreate this ancient tradition using dye derived from the murex trunculus sea snail.

Mystic Charm

The scarlet or crimson red string worn as a bracelet is also a Jewish folk custom associated with Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). The thread is believed to act as a talisman that wards off misfortune, illness, and the ‘evil eye.’ Traditionally, it is made of thin scarlet wool and is tied to the left wrist – the side of the body believed in mystical traditions to be the receiving side for spiritual energy.

Christian Cords: are primarily symbolic expressions of faith rather than sacred garments like the Zoroastrian Kusti or Hindu Janoi. One exception is the Confraternity Cord, worn by some Catholics in honour of St. Joseph, symbolising purity, humility and chastity, often with seven knots representing his joys and sorrows. Another is the Cincture or Cingulum, a braided cord tied around a priest’s waist over the alb during Mass. It signifies self-discipline, purity and readiness to serve God. Its colour varies with the liturgical season, including white, purple, red or black.

Islamic Threads: While threads are not a foundational tenet of mainstream Islamic theology, cultural and spiritual threads (like the Kaala Dhaaga or Taweez strings) are widely used among South Asian Muslims, mainly for protection against the evil eye (Nazar) or to seal a spiritual vow (Mannat) at Sufi shrines.

Cords As Charms

Across cultures, coloured threads and cords have long been worn as symbols of protection, good fortune and spiritual well-being. Their colours and knots often carry special meanings, with red representing prosperity, black guarding against the evil eye and green symbolising growth. While many believe these charms attract luck, there is little evidence that they directly influence events. Instead, psychologists suggest they work through the placebo effect. A strong belief in a lucky charm can boost confidence, optimism and perseverance, encouraging positive attitudes and actions. In this sense, the true power lies less in the charm itself and more in the faith and self-belief it inspires, often helping individuals face life’s challenges with greater resilience.

Science does indeed validate the power of belief and perception. Lucky charms can influence one’s attitude, behaviour, and perception, leading to positive outcomes in life. Thus, lucky charms do work, but not in the way we might think. They function as tools of self-belief, confidence boosters, and as tools of psychological support, and that is where the magic of good luck begins and ends!