Page 16 - Oct-Dec 2019

DID YOU KNOW?
mY firST YEarS to distribute a sweet named Bobatlu
Andhra Pradesh has an old tradition
(Puranpoli) when the child turns over for
There are many ceremonies that we follow after a child is born. the first time and Aresalu (Anarsa) for
There are religious and scientific values ascribed to each. The beliefs the first steps.
are varied around the country. Diya h Vatekar, iX D, little angels school,
ishwin Kumar, Viii g, asN sr. sec. school, Mayur Vihar-i, New Delhi Visakhapatnam, andhra Pradesh

MUNDAN IMPORTANCE OF THE FIRST SHAVE

It is believed that a newborn • Rids baby of past life’s negativity
child gets his or her hair from • Bestows a long life and good fortune
God. In Hinduism, therefore,
for the normal growth of hair, • Protects the child from the evil eye
it is shaved. The baby’s hair is • Cleanses the child’s
first cut by a barber, and then body and soul
the scalp is worshipped and • Helps to keep the
blessed by a priest to start baby’s head cold,
a new life. Another belief is especially in the
that the hair that the baby Photo by: Priyanka Singh, IX C, summers
is born with carries negative Motilal Nehru Public School, • Helps relieve
energy. In Andhra Pradesh, Jamshedpur headache and pains
this ceremony is called Puttuventrukalu. Another name caused by teething
for this ceremony is Choulam.
• Improves the growth
In Islam, the baby’s hair is cut as a symbolism that of the baby’s hair
he or she is now a servant of Allah. Sometimes, silver DaV senior secondary Photo by: Greeshma, VII B, Gitanjali Devakul
equivalent to the hair is given as charity. school, Jaipur School, Kukatpally Hyderabad
Tanya Chamoli, Viii, raksha anusandhan Vidyalaya, Dehradun; Mishti
Porwal, Kles’ international school, belgavi; granth sen, seedling
Modern Public school, udaipur
MUNDAN - PERSONAL STORy
TALA NEELALU THEEyU When my brother

In Telangana, Tala neelalu theeyu ceremony involves was three years
three rituals of about an hour’s duration – the boy’s old, all our family
parents do a Ganesh puja, then the barber receives members had
some honour, and finally a havan concludes the gathered at my
ceremony. g r andfa ther ’ s
house. All of us
Vishal, VI, Oxford grammar School, Himyathnagar, Hyderabad
wore new clothes
and my brother
PAGDI was crying when
the barber cut his Photo by: Saloni Chanana, IX F, P.K.R. Jain Senior
Secondary, Ambala City
The Sikhs feel that the first hair hair. After that, a
is given by God, and therefore mixture of curd and turmeric called uptan was applied
should not be cut. They, on his head. Then my mother and grandmother both
instead, tie a religious cloth gave him a bath. In the evening, many people came to
around their head called pagdi. visit. My mother, grandmother, and aunts were seated in
ishwin Kumar, Viii g, asN sr. sec. school, a room with my brother. All the guests were coming to
Mayur Vihar-i, Delhi
Photo by: Manjot Singh, IX, Swami give him gifts and toys. He was very happy.
Vivekanand Public School, Sec-17, soumya, Vi b, Motilal Nehru Public school, Jamshedpur
Jagadhri

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