Our Family Traditions-Cradle Cermony(21st day after delivery)

Second Tradition:Cradle Cermony( 21st Day after Delivery)

Procedure

• Cradle is decorated by flowers, pattu saree,balloons,toys etc.!

• Parents & In-laws sent new clothes for new born. And my mom brought me a beautiful uppada pattu saree & Dress

• Couple and kiddos wear newclothes and take blessings from god/goddess & elders.

• Blessings given to new baby and family from all near and dear. In the end ladies sing mangalaharthi song by showing diya to baby and family. Little money will be given to the once who sang.( this is for all relatives/fds to see the new born and give blessing for healthy and long life)

• Next mother should cover her head with SareePallu ( this tells how women should be when she steps out) and ##carry the cotton seeds to water well. Once she reaches the well those seeds need to be planted near by.Then puja has to be done to well(this is due to water is integral part of life) and bring one mug of water from well back to home##.

• I did not find any well nor cotton seeds to plant near by so i did puja to water pitcher, Chanting the stotram

NEELA DHARA MEEKU, PALA DHARA NAAKU

5 timesand brought one mug of water inside

• Keep mangalharathi and water at god place.

• Place taamboolam in the four corners of the swing, (beetle leaves, nut, 2 bananas,coins with a flower).

• Place the baby in the cradle.Blessings with akshinthalu(rice grains mixed with pinch of kumkum &haldi) and rock the cradle three times.Same is followed by other family members.

On this day mother is allowed to eat all types of food. Absolutely no restrictions

Our Family Traditions-Purudu(11th day after delivery)

First Tradition Purudu(11th day after delivery)

Procedure that I followed in USA: Day starts with first bath after delivery with turmeric powder ,basin and oil.My mother prepared Last mug of hot water with few drops of Eucalyptos oil,starting couple of days after delivary. I liked the smell of this water,after bath I slept for so many hours). Natural way taking of bath in india is adding Neem leaves & Zinda tlismath leaves and its believed that the water is going to be medicine rich. But here in US,Didn’t find any Once bath is over below procedure started in the early evenings. (Done by my mom, Kudos to her

Items/things needed

- Boiled rice - Spinach fry (Any Green Color) -Lots of Kumkum & Pasupu - Garlic/vellulu pods garlands - Handmade rice kundhulu + vathulu+ oil - Black thread - Kajal - New clothes for mother and baby

Procedure

- Tie the garlic garlands to hands and neck for both mother and baby. Garlic helps to produce milk for mother and baby to get rid of colds.

- Apply kumkum to mother and kajal for baby(forehead, under leg ). It helps to take out bad evil/bad eyes for baby and mother.

- Tie the black thread to hand/leg. In case if boy one more thread comes over on tummy ,its called molathadu.

- Make mother and baby sit in the middle of room facing east.

-keep boiled rice,green leaf curry and diya on four sides of the chair and one diya in middle.

- Take one tin apply haldi and kumkum and keep some coins.

-Cover the mother and baby with bed sheet.

- Ask maid( my mom did this becoz no maid is available) to make five rounds around the chair and singing names(preferably names of god/goddess/kuldev ) each time loudly.

- Once done my mom took all the stuff and left without turning back.

- Mother and baby should take bath and wear new clothes.

- Have a fun gala time.

Our Family Traditions-Postpartum Food & Medicines

Postpartum Food and Medicines to take(Follow this diet atleast for 3-6 months after Delivery)

1. Drink Milk 3-4 times a day. Add a Pinch of Saffron Once a week.

2. Eat Bread, Nuts(Kaju, Almond, Pista ,Dates& More..), Ghee

3. Have Garlic,Methi,Pudina(Mint), Jeera,Spinach, Tomato,Dondakaya, Beerakaya,Kakarakaya, Beets & Carrots. NonVeg: Egg, Kheema, Chicken can be consumed.

4. Consume with Half cup of rice or with 2 Rotis/Chapathis.

5. Minapappu Idli’s, Brown rice dosas, Quinoa upma etc can also be consumed.

6. Consume variety of fruits: Apples, Strawberries, Banana etc..,

Postpartum Medicines:

1. Prenatal Multivitamin Tabs daily once(Brought in US)

2. Kasturi Pills(After bath two tabs Daily) ###Ayurvedic Medicine Brought from India by In-law to reduce cold###

3. Sowbhagya Sonti Lehyam(Daily One spoonful early in the morning & at night) ###Ayurvedic Medicine Brought from India by In-lawfor energy###

4. Pachak Methi Nimbu Tabs-Baba Ramdev (Fenugreek Tablets) ###Ayurvedic Medicine Brought from India by Mom for Milk Supply###

5. Talisadi Churna(For reducing cold- Cosumed with Honey) ###Ayurvedic Medicine Brought from India by Mom###

6. Triphala Churna (For Digestion-Consumed with Honey) ###Ayurvedic Medicine Brought from India by Mom###

7. Gripe Water(Reduce Gas for babies) ####Brought from India####

Home Made Remedies:

1.For Cold & Cough:

- Consume Allam Rasam with Honey Early in the morning will reduce Cough. - Vamu,Jeera,Saunf Roast & grind to a fine powder and consume with Honey or in first bite of rice with ghee. -Kharakaya pwd with tbsp of milk -Boil Water with Vamu####For babies less than 6 months-reduce cold & Gas Pain#### -Saffron strand in Mothers milk####For babies less than 6 months-reduce cold#### -Steamy Bathroom Room Will Clear the pores & Congestion

2. For Joint Pains after Postpartum: The Best Remedy Take a cloth and keep a slice of Lemon,Pasupu & Salt and tie it. Take a Hot Pan, add little oil and place the cloth. Now apply the cloth on desired area. Repeat this for few times.Pain will vanish hopefully forever

3. Vomitings & Loose Motions Consume Sago(Sabudhana) & ORS-Electrolyte solution (Brought from india) or Water with Salt & Sugar!

Our Family Traditions- Baby Shower

First i am gonna start with very First Tradition: Baby Shower(This is performed in either 5th /7th/9th month of Pregnancy)

For me it is performed at 9th month of pregnancy as my mom visited me during this time.It was a Surprise party at my friends place and I had lots of fun.Kudos to my Mom for arranging it. We had a potluck party and my mom prepared Tamarind Pulihora.She brought all he stuff from India and some misc decorative items were brought here chupa chupi by my Lovely Hubby. All my fds prepared Yummy Delicious food:) Procedure:

5 Varieties of Fruits(Apples-Green &Red, Pom, Oranges,Pears)

5 Varieties of Sweets(Sunnudalu, Arisalu,All mixed sweets) ##Brought from India##

5 Varieties of Snacks Hot( Appalu, Murukulu, Sanna Muruku,Chakkali,Boondi) ##Brought from India##

5 Colored Bangles- Red,Green,Pink,Green,Gold ##Brought from India##

5 Colored Flowers

All kept in front of me in a trays and handed over to me one by one. All friends kept 2 bangles on each side.They all gave Mangala Harathi to me and sang songs. Had yummy lunch took all stuff and came back My Mom gave them little goodies(Bangles,Kumkum Set,Sweets,Fruits,Steel Plate brought from india) for all arranging the party.

Our Family Traditions

Dear Medha & Myna,

Our elders follow many customs and traditions,most of them I do not know. I followed few.Its really surprising to know they have not written any where and its more shocking that they do not pass to future generations. I do not know what songs should we sing and dance for bathukamma nor postpartum related stuff.I do not know the reason behind many customs and traditions. Now on wards I am gonna write what customs and traditions our household does and follows (as it defers from house to house ). We stayed in USA for all these events.So that when you become big and have your own families and settle somewhere else, it may help you. Moreover customs are made by us and we have complete rights to alter it if it is meaningless. Festivals means to have fun with family gathering , temple visits to thank almighty for what we have