Jauhar

Jauhar, sometimes spelled Jowhar or Juhar, was an Indian practice of mass self-immolation by Rajput women, their children, and retainers, to avoid capture, enslavement and rape by an invading army, when facing certain defeat during a war. Some reports of jauhar mention women committing self-immolation along with their children. This practice was historically observed in northwest regions of India, with most famous jauhars in recorded history occurring during wars between Hindu Rajput kingdoms in Rajasthan and the opposing Muslim armies. It is performed during war, usually when there was no chance of victory. The practice was accompanied by saka, or a last stand in battle.