| SIGNIFICANCE OF GODH
BHARNA
Godh bharna is a very significant
event in the lives of Hindu married women. This function that is held for
and by women is celebrated with great festivity. It is a ceremony that
celebrates the first pregnancy of the bride of the house and is held in
the seventh month of pregnancy. In Hindu mythology 'godh' means the lap
of the woman and 'bharna' means to fill. Therefore, the mother and mother-in-law
of the prospective mother fill her godh, represented by the palav of her
sari with items symbolizing a good omen like a coconut marked with a red
swastika, moong, supari (betel nut) and silver coins in one rupee and quarter
rupee denominations. (According to Indian tradition, one and a quarter
is considered to be a good omen).
On this day, the prospective
mother is dressed in almost bridal finery. It is important that her mother
present all the garments that she wears at the ceremony. The ceremony is
strictly for women only. Consequently, there are only women invitees. All
the women will be dressed in traditional finery and will sing traditional
songs appropriate for the occasion.
The women who participate in
the ceremony from the side of the mother of the expectant mother will bring
five colourfully decorated metal thalis (round plates). Of these five thalis,
three thalis will contain assorted Indian sweets. The fourth thali will
contain a range of garments and jewellery. The fifth thali will be filled
with a coconut marked with a red swastika, moong, a cloth piece (red, green
or yellow) and a few coins of one rupee and quarter rupee denominations.
The ceremony begins with the
mother-to-be's entrance, dressed in traditional finery, through the front
door of her in-law's house. The participating ladies sing traditional songs
further enhancing the festive atmosphere. For each step the expectant mother
takes as she enters the house, a piece of coloured silk is placed under
her feet along with a little supari, a one rupee coin and a quarter rupee
coin. These actions are continued till she reaches the place where the
puja (worship) will be performed. An idol of Lord Ganesh or any other Hindu
God is placed at this place of worship. Traditionally, the puja area is
situated in the main hall of the house and always faces east. All the items
placed under the expectant mother's feet during her walk from the front
door to the puja area, i.e. the silk cloth, the supari and the coins, have
to be handed over either to her sister or to her husband's sister in keeping
with the dictates of tradition.
Besides the idol of Lord Ganesh,
the puja area also has a baajotth, a low four-legged wooden seat, traditionally
used for such religious occasions. The mother-to-be is made to sit on the
baajotth and a small red dot is put on her forehead for good luck. After
this, both her mother and her mother-in-law fill her godh (the paalav of
her saree) with gifts and jewellery. Her sister-in-law then offers her
a cup of sweetened saffron milk before tying a yellow thread around the
wrist of the right hand of the expectant mother. This wristband, known
as a nada chhadi, is very significant as it is supposed to protect both
the expectant mother and the unborn child from evil spirits. The elders
bless the expectant mother and her unborn child accompanied by the sound
of traditional festive tunes being sung by the women in the background.
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