GARBHADHAN (CONCEPTION)In Rajasthan nine important ceremonies mark the birth of a child. The first is the Garbhadhan ceremony. When a bride conceives for the first time.Near and dear ones visit the girl and they sing together to the accompaniment of a dholak and express their unbounded joy. The songs are significant and many describe the changes that occur in the body of the girl and the resultant changes in her mood and behaviour and also her likes and dislikes. ATHMAASA (EIGHT MONTH OF CONCEPTION)When the girl enters the eighth month of her conception, the Athmaasa ceremony is performed to ensure the safety of the child in the moment. Relatives assemble at the girl's residence and pray to the family deity for the safe delivery and they go to the temple of their Istyadeva (favourite deity) to seek his blessings. This is an occasion for night-long music session and the most interesting part of this ceremony is that the expectant girl is treated as the queen of the family. She is invited to lavish dinners by relatives and she is the virtual heroine of the community for at least one month. JATKARAMA (BIRTH) CEREMONYWhen a child is born, the birth ceremony is performed by feeding the baby with a spoonful of honey mixed with ghee. If the child is male, an elderly woman of the family beats a copper thali to announce the birth. People who possess guns, fire several shots to mark the birth of the male child. The entire locality comes to congratulate the family. The family priest is invited to note down the time and date of birth of the boy so that his horoscope can be prepared. Sweets are sent to friends and relatives and night-long music sessions are held to celebrate the occasion. The birth of a female child has never been welcomed in Rajasthan. The birth of a daughter is greeted with sorrow and grief. The mother sobs and cries in the arms of their husband and prays for another child. No songs, no sweets and no ceremonies not even a letter to relatives to inform them of the daughter's arrival. In royal families, the birth of son was a historic event. Some Maharajas used to feast the entire population of their capital town. . On the birth anniversaries of the Maharajas, sweets were distributed throughout the state to all school children. NAMKARAN (NAMING CEREMONY)The Namkaran ceremony is performed either on the eleventh or the one hundred and first day of the birth of the child. The family priest is invited to perform the ceremony. He recites mantras from the Vedas and gives his blessings to the child. A name is given to the child on this day. The women of the family and the locality assemble, sing songs and offer their good wishes to the child. PANGHAT POOJAN (WELL WORSHIP)A few days after the birth of the child, the women of the family and the locality take the mother of the child to a nearby well, where they worship water. On their way to the well, the female procession sings in chorus in praise of gods and goddess. This is a purely Rajasthani custom, which does not find mention in the Vedas. Since water is scarce in Rajasthan, it is also an object of worship. ANNAPRAASHAN (FIRST FEEDING)When a child of six months old, the Annapraashan ceremony is held. As the child is able to digest food he is given cooked rice, curd, ghee and honey as his first meal. In some families, the child is given kheer i.e., rice cooked with milk and sugar. The child is fed by his mother while Vedic hymns are recited and oblations of ghee poured into fire. JHAROOLA OR MUNDAN (HEAD SHAVING)When a boy is two to three years old, the Mundan ceremony is performed. It is believed that the hair on the head of the boy, when he is in the womb, is inspire and therefore should be shaved off. On an auspicious day, the head of the boy is shaved amidst the chanting of Vedic hymns. Only a tuft is left on the head. This ceremony is also performed by some families in their ancestral temple. UPANAYAN (INITIATION)This ceremony is performed when a boy is eight or nine years old. Upanayan literally means taking a boy to an acharya or guru for initiation into the life of a Brahmachari. At this ceremony, the boy is clad in the garments of an ascetic. He is given a staff in his hand. A sacred thread (Yajnopavit) is hung over his left shoulder and diagonally down his right arm and he is expected to always wear it from that day onwards. ADOPTIONAdoption is a family common practice in Rajasthan. Those who do not have male children usually want to adopt a male child to continue their line of succession. In Rajasthan , the Rajas and Maharajas used to adopt male children and make them heir apparent with the consent of the British Viceroy in India. Most of the Maharajas of Jaipur were adopted sons. The ceremony of adoption is quite simple. The elders of the family and the Biradari (community) assemble at the adopter's residence. They become the panch (elders of the family) at this ceremony. In their presence, the adopted boy is anointed with vermilion and a coloured turban is placed on his head. A small dose of opium is given to all the elders (the panches) to solemnize the actor of adoption. Later, they sign the document of adoption along with the adopter, so that they can be cited as witness in case of dispute. If, after adoption, the adopter's wife gives birth to a son, the adopted child continues to have equal rights with the real son. |
