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Abstract

Infertility is a health issue that requires serious consideration due to its impact on the social, emotional, and economic wellbeing of the affected individual. Despite the development of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that has successfully enabled conception, these methods are not universally accessible to all women. There can be many roadblocks in an individual’s journey that go beyond medical domains. Studies have indicated that, when paired with medical treatment, spiritual healing practices and religious interventions can have a positive effect on the emotional health of those struggling to conceive. This study employs a narrative approach to document the lived experiences of women who have placed their hopes on spiritual healing to achieve motherhood. Five in-depth, unstructured interviews were conducted with cisgender women aged 25 to 40 years who are grappling with primary or secondary infertility. These women have been regularly visiting the Dargah of Bu Ali Shah Qalandar in the city of Panipat in Haryana, India, drawing upon a social support system that aids them in coping with infertility-related desperation, stigma, anxiety, and social isolation. The findings highlight that the emotional and social support these women experience at the Dargah leads to a heightened sense of tranquillity and emotional wellbeing. As they witnessed successful cases of spiritual healing and interacted with people in critical situations, they were able to renew their hope and change their perspectives towards life and infertility.

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