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Some years ago, at the birth of a baby village-folk tied a string to a beam
in the roof and every year thereafter added a knot to that string. That helped
them to determine his age. This method is still in practice in some of the
remote villages.
Five or seven days after childbirth, the mother is allowed to bathe. A few
grains or rice or a few leaves of methi, are added to the bathing water. The house where a child is born is considered impure for the first ten days
or more. This impurity is called Sootak. On the eleventh day of childbirth, the
Khatris make the mother bathe and also wash her hair, after which the whole house
is washed and smeared with dung mixture.
Sugar candy or pieces of jaggery are
distributed among all relatives and friends. This ceremony is called Dhaman.
Women from the families of friends and relatives come to offer congratulations and give money in the form of Shagan (gift) to the
child.
Khatris and Aroras from the area, now in west Punjab perform the name giving
ceremony of the child on the day of Dhaman, but some castes or tribes do it
later. The Sikhs read the Holy Book, recite a hymn and build up the child's
name on the first letter of that hymn. The Hindus call the family priest who
performs the Havan and then gives the child its name.
When the mother steps out of the house after eleven days, a rite is
performed. In Gurdaspur, before stepping out of the house, the mother throws
some cotton seeds and barley to the moon and the stars. In Malwa, this going out,
first time after confinement is considered very important. This is called Bahar
Vadhavan. This is performed on the thirteenth day. On this day the mother bathes
and washes her hair first in the urine of a cow and then with curds. After
that she dresses up and receives relatives and neighbours who come to wish the
baby luck. If the child is a son, all the functionaries and servants come to
congratulate and bring toys for him. The toys are representative of their
respective trades; for instance, the water-carrier brings a sehra (garland) made
of the mauli thread and shirin leaves; the carpenter may bring a toy-cart; the
sweeper a bow and arrow; the potter a little earthen pot etc. In return, they
are all given something in cash or kind according to their social status. The
Nain makes out of dung, an image of Vidmata (goddess of luck), wraps it up in
silk, makes a heap of grain in the courtyard and buries the image in that heap.
The midwife brings a waistband with bells and ties it round the baby's waist.
After this the mother is made to wear the shoes of the barber and go out. She sits with the child in her lap, facing the buried figure
of the goddess Vidmata and bows to it. In the evening she carries a bowl of
water outside, brings back a little grass and keeps it under her pillow.
When the child cuts his first tooth, fresh coconut is distributed. If a child
cuts his upper teeth first, it is considered an ill omen for the maternal uncle.
The maternal uncle, on seeing this child, perform a rite and touch his teeth
with a silver cup and then offer it to the child as a gift.
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