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Celebrating Pregnancy

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alike, each
tradition has its own significance attached to it. In fact, in India
alone, the traditions vary from region to region and are referred to
by many names. Godh Bharai, for instance, is a ceremony
performed by the Hindus. It is the Indian equivalent of a baby
shower and literally means to ‘fill the lap’ (with gifts, fruits,
sweets etc.) In Tamil Nadu it is celebrated as Seemandam and
Valakaapu, in Bengal as Swad, in Maharashtra as ‘Dohale Jevan’.

Read: Effect of Music on Unborn Baby

Handy Tools

What happens during Godh Bharai? Ovulation Calculator

Godh Bharai is traditionally a women-only function where a small Conception Planner
gathering of close friends and family members are invited to bless Due-Date Calculator
the pregnant woman. It is generally performed during the seventh Chinese Gender
month of pregnancy. Predictor

On the day of the function, the pregnant woman is decked up in a

new sari and adorned with bangles flowers and jewelry. The
women gathering then take turns to bless her and shower her with
gifts, fruits and sweets. In some communities, singing, dancing
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 and special games are performed to bring in an element of fun.

The baby shower ceremony has regional differences. However,

they have one common underlying motive – to wish the expectant
mother well for the impending delivery. Here are some popular
pregnancy customs from different regions of India.

Tamil Nadu Seemandam

In Tamil Nadu, South India, a traditional ceremony called
the Seemandam is held during the fifth, seventh or ninth month
of pregnancy. Hosted by the husband’s parents, only married
women (relatives and friends) are invited to the ceremony. The
expectant mother is gifted a new sari by her parents and in-laws,
turmeric paste is applied on her face and hands, and hair
decorated with flowers. Few drops of a special herbal juice is
squeezed into the nostrils of the expectant mother and mantras
are chanted to protect the baby. The women then fill her sari
pallu with 5 kinds of sweets and fruits.

Another colourful ceremony called the Valakaapu (vala=bangles;

kaapu=security) is also performed with the Seemandam, when the
mother-to-be is presented with glass bangles. Five married women
decorate her hands with glass bangles in three auspicious colours –
an even number of bangles in one hand and an odd number in
another. The remaining bangles are distributed among the guests.
Soft music is played, and this along with the jangle of bangles, is
believed to be good for baby’s developing ears.

Read: 6 Things to Keep in Mind While Choosing Baby’s Name

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 Custom In Kerala
In Kerala, Puli-Kuti (literally meaning ‘drinking tamarind juice’) is a
pregnancy ceremony of the Nair community. It is performed on a
particular day in the ninth month, at a time fixed by the local
astrologer. The pregnant woman, after having bathed and properly
attired, is seated facing eastwards in the principal courtyard
(natu-muttam) of the Tharavaad (ancestral family house). The
Ammayi or maternal uncle’s wife and the brother of the pregnant
woman conduct this ceremony.

Among the other communities, the pregnancy ritual is fairly

simple. The mother-to-be’s parents and relatives come to her
house during the seventh month to take her back to her maternal
home. They bring traditional sweets and are offered a traditional
meal.

Read:Grandmom's Home Remedies For Pregnancy

Maharashtrian ‘Dohal Jevan’

During the seventh and ninth months of pregnancy, a grand
function called the ‘Dohal Jevan’ is held in Marathi homes. ‘Dohal’
means craving for certain foods and this ceremony originated as a
means to satisfy the food cravings of the expectant mother.

On this occasion, the mother-to-be is adorned with flower

garlands on her wrists, neck, waist, and head and is photographed.
Wholesome nutritious food and sweetmeats like pedhas, burfis,
etc. are arranged on plates and covered with a cloth. The
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 expectant mother is asked to select and then the selected food is
exposed and announced to all present there. There is good-
natured speculation on the gender of the unborn baby, depending
on the selected item and its gender. In Marathi, each food item is
referred to as having a gender. For example, ‘Bhat’ (rice) is
masculine and ‘Poli’ (sweet chappati) is feminine. Similarly, among
the sweetmeats Pedhas are masculine and Burfis are feminine.

The ‘Dohal Jevan’ would be conducted first at the expectant

mother’s maternal home and then at her in-law’s. And everywhere,
the procedure would be the same.

Gujarati Godh Bharna

In Gujarat, Godh Bharna(‘godh’ meaning the lap of the woman and
‘bharna’ meaning to fill) is the most important pregnancy ritual.

The mother-to-be is made to sit on the baajotth (a low, four-

legged wooden seat) and a small red dot is put on her forehead for
good luck. After this, both her mother and her mother-in-law fill
her godh (the palav of her saree) with gifts and jewellery. The
elders bless the expectant mother and her unborn child to the
accompaniment of traditional festive tunes.

Read: Game ideas for Godh Bharai

Punjabi Godhbarai
The Punjabi ceremony is quite similar to the Gujarathi tradition,
and it is called Godhbarai. All close relatives are invited during the
seventh month for a special Puja. The mother-to-be sits on the
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 floor and after the puja, her mother-in-law wraps coconuts and
fruits in a red dupatta and puts it on her lap. The other women
too place gifts on her lap. At the end, a small child is left to play
on her lap – as a sign of things to come.

Bengali Swad
The Bengali swad (taste or longing) revolves around a lunch, and is
held in the ninth month of pregnancy. This ritual originated in an
age when childbirth was a potentially dangerous process with no
certainty of the mother’s survival. It was a way of ensuring that
the pregnant mother had no unfulfilled wish – for food, clothes or
jewellery – before she went into labour. It was also a way of
making sure that she was well fed and strengthened for childbirth.

The expectant mother wears an elaborate new sari and jewellery

given to her for the occasion by the swad’s hostess (the mother,
mother-in-law or an aunt). Specially prescribed food – including a
cooked fish’s head – one of the most auspicious foods in the
Bengali tradition, five types of fried food, including banana fritters
– the banana is also auspicious and a mixture of vegetables called
shuktois – is set out in front of her on a huge silver platter. The
first mouthful that she takes has to include a pinch of everything
on the platter and as she puts it into her mouth, the conch shells
blow alerting the Gods that the swad has begun and a future
mother is now under their care. The mother’s meal ends with
payesh, a sweetened dish of rice and condensed milk.

Indian Muslims
In Muslim homes, a ceremony called Satvasa is held during the
seventh month of pregnancy. During this ceremony, seven
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 varieties of fruits along with a green saree set are presented to
the mother-to-be, while the husband is garlanded as a gesture of
honour. Parents and relatives are then served a special meal.

There is no compulsion to give gifts, though sweets and eatables

are acceptable.

Goan Baby Shower

True to the Goan way of life, baby showers are fun in Goa. The
mother-to-be is taken to her mother’s house during the seventh
month. During the party, the expectant mother is decked up and
a special sweet called dodal and cakes and other goodies are
prepared.

Gifts for the mother-to-be-ranging from gold to clothes are given –

but you are not supposed to give anything for the baby at this
point of time.

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