Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 6 1888.djvu/83

75 BIRTH CEREMONIES OF THE PRABHUS.

T the last meeting of the Bombay Anthropological Society, Dr. Kirtikar read a very interesting paper on the birth ceremonies observed among one section of the Hindoos:

He began by observing that his remarks were confined to the Prabhu community of Bombay, to which he had the honour to belong. "When it was apparent that the Hindoo lady was expecting her first baby, her "special" wishes or tastes were consulted, and she was treated with great tenderness. Nothing that would frighten her was allowed to approach her. The sight of a serpent or of a corpse was avoided; the news of a sudden and horrible death, or of a terrible accident, was studiously kept away from her. She was not permitted to be out of doors at dusk, lest the evil spirits hunting the peepul might do her harm. She was presented with flowers and sweetmeats. All the delicacies of the table, especially the various rich sweetmeats so numerous among the Hindoos, were specially prepared for her. About the fifth month, the muhurt ceremony was performed. It had no religious significance. It was a gathering of the lady relatives of the house. Sugar and flowers and new clothes were presented by the visitors. The lady concerned and the visitors were presented with sugar. The ceremonial was purely a social one. It clearly showed that Hindoo ladies had their own sphere of independent action, and that they were not the slaves foreigners painted them through sheer want of knowledge. In some families the Sohola ceremony was performed. It was a religious ceremony, in which Gunpati was invoked as the averter of evil and destroyer of all danger. Ganga and Varuna were also worshipped to ensure peace and plenty. Offerings of rice and ghee were made to the sacred fire. Supposing the confinement natural, Dr. Kirtikar said, after the birth of the baby, it was received in a bamboo tray, and honey was dropped into its