INDIAN TRADITION DURING BIRTH

SAIMA KHAN 130A

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GODH BHARAI
Traditionally, godh bharai is a 'women-only' gathering. The ceremony may include
adorning the mum-to-be with jewellery, making her wear bangles, lling her lap with gifts,
fruits and sweets and laying out a feast before her.

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HEAD SHAVING
• In Muslim and Hindu traditions, a baby's head is typically shaved within several days or in the rst
three years after birth.

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THE CRADLE CEREMONY
In some families, the newborn baby is placed in the cradle, and the family members take turns to
rock the cradle and bless him. The ceremony is then concluded with a special feast for the guests.

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ADHAN
At the moment of birth, many Muslims speak the words of the Adhan (the call to prayer)
in the ear of the baby so that the call to serve Allah is present from the start of the
child's life and it the rst thing they hear after they enter the world. It is usual for it to be
the dad who speaks to the child rst.

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EAR PIERCING OR KARNAVEDHA
Some Hindus choose to have their baby's ears pierced in a ritual called
Karnavedha. Some believe that the pierced ears help ward off evil,

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FAMILY SHRINE
In Shinto tradition, parents and grandparents
take the baby to visit their family shrine, a local
place of worship, within 30 to 100 days after birth
as a way of welcoming them as a new adherent.

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AQIQAH
An Aqiqah usually takes place on the seventh day after a baby's birth, but is
sometimes performed later on. An Aqiqah ceremony is a celebration where the
meat from the sacri ced animal is cooked and shared with family, friends and
members of the community who are in need.

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SOMETHING SWEET
Many Hindu and Muslim communities believe
that an infant's rst taste should be something
sweet "so that the baby speaks sweetly,"

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NAMKARAN
Many religious and cultural traditions have some form of ceremony
surrounding the naming of a newborn. After all, everyone has to have a name,
and names often carry spiritual signi cance.

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Thank you

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