What Simantonnayana means
In this sanskara the husband ritually parts his wife's hair with a porcupine quill or a sprig, with mantras for her protection and happiness. It is a celebration of the mother, whose calm and joy are believed to nourish the child.
Its popular forms — godh bharai in the North, seemantham and valaikappu in the South, dohale jevan in Maharashtra — fill the mother's lap with fruit, sweets and bangles, and women sing songs for her.
How it is performed
- Worship. Prayer to Ganesha and the family deity.
- Parting of the hair. The husband parts the hair upward from the forehead with mantras.
- Music and blessings. Women sing; elders bless the mother.
- Gifts. The mother's lap is filled with fruit, sweets and bangles (godh bharai / valaikappu).
Simantonnayana today
This is among the most widely kept pre-birth ceremonies today, usually as a family celebration in the seventh or eighth month.
Rituals differ by Veda, region, community and family. For the ceremony itself, follow your family priest (purohit).
Frequently asked questions
Is Simantonnayana the same as a baby shower?
Its popular forms — godh bharai, seemantham, valaikappu — are traditional Indian celebrations of the expectant mother, similar in spirit to a baby shower.
Why are bangles given in valaikappu?
The sound of glass bangles is said to soothe the child in the womb and cheer the mother.