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Customs and Tradition
The origin of the customs and traditions of Rajasthan is easily traceable to
the cantos of the Vedas, wherein specific rites and ceremonies are prescribed in
the minutest detail for the Samskaras in the life of every man and woman. The
Customs and traditions of Rajasthan are the Rajasthani version of these Vedic rites and rituals. The Rajasthani people have religiously followed the dictum of
the Vedas at every stage from birth till death. They have added some regional
rites and rituals to these Vedic ceremonies. According to the Vedas every man
has to perform certain ceremonies, known as Samskaras, from birth to death.
Sixteen in number, they mainly relate to three major events in one's life i.e.,
birth, marriage and death.
Birth
Garbhadharan (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, it is
considered a good omen for the family. 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) Ceremony
When 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. The Maharajas of Jaipur
would invite the whole of Jaipur and feasting continued for days, until every
citizen was fed. On the birth anniversaries of the Maharajas, sweets were
distributed throughout the state to all school children.
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