LUDHIANA: Pregnancy is perhaps the only time when you can walk up to a woman and comment on her increasing waistline without getting angry looks.
The celebrations gets even more interesting when you have friends like Sonal and Akash, who can go to any length to make you and the yet-to-arrive baby special. Last week, the couple dismissed the concept of women-only baby showers and invited husbands saying fatherhood is just as important.
While waiting for the arrival of the baby, Ludhiana women are going a little modern turning the otherwise uneventful last days of pregnancy into something fun. While the traditional women-only 'godh bharai' is still prevalent, this Indian baby shower has gotten a new makeover in the city.
"The regular 'godh bharai' ceremony has more to do with family. Friends are usually not involved in it. However, baby showers have everything to do with friends and fun. In the traditional ceremonies, the girl already feeling sick due to the bump and baby kicks is made to wear a heavy saree, put on jewelry and sit and smile like a doll. But baby showers are different. Friends organize it for the would-be mom and it involves games, activities and laughter," says Sonal Setia, a fashion designer from Model Town.
Games during such events include estimating the diameter of the would-be mother, pouring strawberry sauce, mustard sauce, or melted chocolate in the diaper and then guessing it, having juices from feeding bottles and wrapping a member with a roll of toilet paper in a mock diaper.
"We attended a baby shower a month go where even the husbands were invited. In one of the games, the husbands were made to guess the diameter of their respective wives and the mom-to-be. Most of the husbands over-estimated their wife's diameter and came up with almost double her size. Also, there were some who had measured almost the same diameter for the wife and the pregnant friend. They must have had a hard time back home," laughs 27-year-old Drishti Khurana, a homemaker from Civil Lines.
The fun-factor isn't the only reason why these baby showers are organized in the city. Several would-be mothers sometimes also get helpful tips such events.
FAQs
While the traditional women-only 'godh bharai' is still prevalent, this Indian baby shower has gotten a new makeover in the city. "The regular 'godh bharai' ceremony has more to do with family. Friends are usually not involved in it. However, baby showers have everything to do with friends and fun.
Is Godh Bharai and baby shower the same? ›
Commonly known as ''Godh bharai'' in India, a baby shower in our country is mostly a loud affair and thus, you need to plan it the right way to keep it subtle and comfortable for you.
Is Godh Bharai necessary? ›
Yes, blessings and prayers are commonly offered during the Godh Bharai puja. Family members and guests may offer prayers for the health and well-being of both the expectant mother and the unborn child. Blessings for a smooth pregnancy, safe delivery, and a healthy baby are often invoked during the ceremony.
Can we do Godh Bharai in 5th month? ›
When is godh bharai done? It depends on the community the family belongs to. In some families the ceremony is held when the mother-to-be completes her seventh month of pregnancy. It is believed that after the seventh month, the baby and mother are in a safe phase.
Is Godh Bharai done for a second baby? ›
Hey, in all customs Godh bharai is only for the first child.. But nothing wrong it getting done for second baby too.
What is the new term for baby shower? ›
This party is often (cutely) called a 'Sprinkle' instead of a shower since the family welcoming the new child likely already has many of the items needed (though not always!). Immediate family and very close friends are usually included.
What is the Gujarati style of baby shower? ›
The traditional baby shower in a Gujarati household is known as Shrimant ( literal meaning of the word is wealthy, for the baby shower it means the abundance & wealth we wish upon the baby and the family) or Khodo Bharavo ( Literal meaning is to fill the mother to be's lap with…
What cultures don t do baby showers? ›
In Jewish tradition, baby showers were taboo. Neither Halakha or Jewish law forbids gifts for an unborn child, but custom effectively prohibits them. Such gifts once were thought to draw the attention of dark spirits, marking the child for disaster.
In which week of pregnancy is godh bharai done? ›
It's usually done when the mom-to-be completes 7 months of pregnancy and enters into the eighth month. It is celebrated in both Indian and western culture.
Is it okay to skip a baby shower? ›
Theres nothing wrong with skipping baby shower, its not compulsory.
Traditionally the godh bharai rasam is hosted either by the parents or parents-in-law of the expecting mom. However, it is always better for a close friend or a distant relative to host it so that there is less pressure on the immediate family and they can also take part in the celebrations without any worries.
Is 7 months pregnant too early for a baby shower? ›
The short answer is that there's no "right" time — some parents opt for a shower early on in their pregnancies, while others wait until a week or two before their due dates. Ultimately, the timing of your baby shower depends on what works for you, your family and the person hosting the event.
Who not to invite to your baby shower? ›
The modern baby shower has no strict rules: You can invite whoever the family wants to be included. Just be sure to clearly state whether or not you're accommodating +1's.
Is it common to have 2 baby showers? ›
It really all depends on the circ*mstance. If a mother-to-be is expecting a baby soon (a year or so) after her first, “it's perfectly fine to have a second baby shower,” said Lizzie Post, etiquette expert, great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post and co-host of the podcast, Awesome Etiquette.
Is it rude to have a baby shower for second child? ›
Holding a baby shower for the second baby is very common. So much so that it has the name “Baby Sprinkle”. So holding a second baby shower, or baby sprinkle is not only acceptable, it's encouraged. I'm also asked if you should get a gift for the second or third baby shower.
What to wear in Godh Bharai? ›
Baby Shower (Godh Bharai) in India
A pooja is held for the wellbeing of both the mom-to-be and her child. Everyone in the family and friends rejoice at the function. People wear designer dresses, jewelry, and Mehendi to look colorful and happy.
What is baby shower called in India? ›
In India, baby showers are also known as godh bharai and many people also hold a pooja for the expecting parents and the baby. In godh bharai, the mum-to-be with jewelry and her lap is filled with gifts, fruits and sweets.
What is Godh Bharai ceremony? ›
A baby shower or Godh Bharai, is an occasion where the mom-to-be is showered with lots of love and is pampered. It's called by different names in different places like Valaikaapu in Tamil Nadu, Godh Bharai in northern parts of India and Shaad in Bengal.
Does the Indian culture have baby showers? ›
Indian baby showers add that traditional element coupled with fun and enjoyment to the pregnant woman's life. It is her special day where she feels loved and is totally pampered. It is also a day to catch up with family and friends and enjoy wholeheartedly before the baby comes on board.
What gifts are given in Godh Bharai? ›
Find Godh bharai gifts, such as gift baskets and hampers, traditional jewelry, religious gifts, flowers and a lot more to bless the mother and the child-to-be.
