Heena's baby shower was the first traditional Gujarati baby shower I have been given the opportunity to photograph. From the Godh Bharai, to the sisters-in-law tying rakhi, to the brothers-in-law playfully hitting the expecting mother, this whole ceremony was absolutely beautiful. Heena and her family took just as much time to make sure every ornament lay appropriately on their outfit as they did to prepare all the details on the dessert table. It was so much fun to capture this colorful and joyous occasion while learning about the cultural elements of this ceremony.
Ceremonial Walk
Upon arriving at the baby shower, the expecting mother walks upon a cloth placed on her path to the entrance of the event. As she walks to the door, she drops coins that symbolize prosperity for her family as they enter a new phase of their life. From behind her, all the girls in her family are seen collecting these coins as a way of inviting the same prosperity into their own lives.
Godh Bharai
Godh Bharai literally translates to "fill the lap". During this ceremony, a cloth is placed in the lap of the expecting mother and another married woman who has not yet had children. The cloth is filled with rice, lentils, nuts, and coins, all of which are meant to bring health and safety to the mother and her child. The contents of this cloth are exchanged between the two women 7 times.
Rakhi & Last Reminder
The sisters-in-law of the expecting mother tie a rakhi to her wrist to symbolize their support for her as she begins her journey into motherhood.
The brothers-in-law of the expecting mother playfully hit the mother with a towel and in return are playfully slapped. This symbolizes the mother telling her brothers that they will have to accept the responsibility of being an uncle to her child, and her brothers reminding her not to forget them when she has a child of her own.
