This ceremony is performed
when the baby is six days old. This ceremony is primarily for women and
is timed to take place late at night, say between ten o'clock and midnight.
According to folklore, there
was a belief that on the 6th day after the birth of the child, Vidhaata
(Goddess of destiny) would quietly enter the house around midnight to pen
the destiny of the newborn. Traditionally the mother of the newborn lights
a lamp (diya). This lamp along with a red pen and paper are placed on a
wooden plank for Vidhaata to write the future of the newborn.
The mother, while holding the
newborn in her arms, kneels before the lamp, which is supposed to symbolize
Vidhaata.
