Godh Bharai

Godh Bharai!

I was indisposed for some time.  I was recuperating from my illness,  when the door bell rang.  I slowly got out and opened my door.  My neighbor Mrs. D had invited me for  ‘godh bharai’  fuction in the eve.  Her daughter in law’s Seventh month of pregnancy was to be celebrated followed by bhajans(ladies sangeet.)     

Godh bharai is a baby shower celebrated during pregnancy to welcome the unborn baby to the family and bless the mother-to-be with abundant joys of motherhood. In Hindi, godh bharai literally means to 'fill the lap' with abundance. Traditionally godh-bharai is a women-only gathering.

I was excited to attend.  So I dressed up and knocked her door at the invited time.  Lots of women and children in colorful sarees and dresses, had gathered. No sooner I presented the rose bunch, an aroma of rose essence filled the drawing room.  She, (mom-to-be) looked beautiful in the embroidered silk saree.  The jewellery added charm, her hairs were neatly spread over her shoulders.  Ladies one by one applied kumkum tilak and garlanded her with fresh flowers.  Sweets and dry fruits and five kinds of fresh fruits were neatly tucked in her lap, blessing the unborn child and  the pregnant mum-to-be.  A silver thali and bouls filled with different delicious dishes were offered to her.  She barely tasted them and was summoned for relaxation.  The hub-ub had created exhaustion.

India is rich in traditions in diverse cultures .

 Each community has religious culture. They may differ slightly but the essence remains the same to bless the unborn baby and shower the pregnant mum to be with blessings and gifts. 

The new generation is going for western culture.  But ,when it involves the family, traditions are followed though with brief sermons.  The whole community gets together .. big or small young or old all enjoy the family functions with much fanfare. 

It’s a joyous get together forgetting the materialistic world the inbetween misunderstanding…quarrels. 

The sound of the dholak reverberated.  A rhythm created …mellow voices sounded in praise of almighty.

Spirits elated, one transcends the path of devotion, with ease.  The creator of this beautiful Universe is evoked with love,to bless the unborn child and his mother.

Infant’s life sleeps in the womb of the Mother.  The pangs of pregnancy are clear on her face.  The tired eyes needs rest for a short while. All twenty four hours and nine months  she carries her child with smile.  Ushering ‘him’ or ‘her’ to this beautiful world of Existence. 

None can explain this Magical Mystery of Birth.  How did life breathe in the foetus. 

Similarly how life emerged in the womb of Mother Nature.  N no of theories and researchers will go on and on   discoveries after discoveries will unearth the hidden treasures of Nature but …how life breathed in the cell remains unanswered. Reminising Rabindranath Tagores verses:

“I cannot remember my Mother,…..

but when in the early autumn morning

the smell of the shiuli flowers floats in the air,

the scent of the morning service in the

temple comes to me as the scent of my mother.

I cannot remember my mother

only when from bedroom window

I send my eyes into the blue of the distant sky,

I feel that the stillness of my mother's gaze on my face

has spread all over the sky.”

We are left with respect, and folded hand to the Creator

A  humble prayer,  WHO AM I ?  WHY AM I HERE ? Oh! Mother I love YOU!

By Prajakta Dighe

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