https://www.facebook.com/pages/TasteofMysore/128939487156170?ref=hl

Reader's Request-Seemantha/Bale Shastra/Valakappu

One of my reader, who lives in Australia emailed me requesting the procedures for Seemantha/Bale Shastra/Valakappu. My friends had arranged baby shower ceremony for me recently and pictures, rituals written down below were observed on that day. 

There can be elaborate celebrations followed as per family traditions and customs as mentioned here (click), here and here. Happy beginnings call for happy endings and probably this what we hope for when all the above traditions are observed. A would-be mother is blessed by all and wished her good luck for delivering the baby. Even in west when baby shower is celebrated it means 'showering the blessings to the mother-to-be' and wishing her luck. So East or West all customs share the same idea behind the ritual.

Some of the common procedures followed across the south Indian states for Seemantha/Bale Shastra/Valakappu..

Preparation before celebrating Seemantha/Bale Shastra/Valakappu :
1. Prepare (Make ;) )/Buy (easy)  all items that would-be mother likes to eat like chakkuli, Puri unde, kodubale, nippattu, sweets ....list can go on :D
2. Buy a saree (green), blouse piece, bangles (green colored), harishina (turmeric), Kumkuma (vermilion) and flowers. Optional items which may be given are hair clips, rubber bands, nail polish, Kadige/Kajal (eyeliner)etc
3. Any gift of choice.
4. Fruits 5 varieties
5. Add more varieties if you wish to give :)
6. A chair to sit and arathi plate filled with turmeric water


 A closeup at all the items that were arranged before arathi........


On the day of Seemantha/Bale Shastra/Valakappu :
The mother-to be dresses in the new saree, green bangles and jewelary
She is made to sit on the chair and married women give her harishina, kumkuma, flowers and bangles. Bangles are put on to her hand (..name valakappu or bale todisuva shastra is probably derived from this activity). It is said that it is auspicious for the baby to hear the tinkling sound of bangles that mother wears. By 28 weeks baby listens actively and also senses light. So 7th month is considered ideal for performing this activity.
Gifts, food items are filled in her lap (probably that is why it is called Godh Bharai in North Indian states)
Every member of the family and guests fill the lap with their gifts. 
Finally aarthi is given to the mother-to be :), last but not least guests are served delicious food just like this.......



30 comments:

ವನಿತಾ / Vanitha said...

thats nice details Lakshmi:), felt nostalgic:-)
gudluck dear:)

Suparna said...

hi LG,
Helpful info. and beautiful clicks, the spread looks very homely :)
All the best!
Take care
God bless

Savi-Ruchi said...

The food was soo yummy alwa Lakshmi. I am glad that I could make it on that day :)
Good luck.

notyet100 said...

thanks for the info,..lovely post ;-)

Rekha said...

That was a sumptuous spread, I am sure you had fun celebrating the special event. Good luck!

Madhuri Krishna Bhat said...

Hey congrats! nice arrangements.

Cham said...

Gal where is ur pic :) Did ur mom gave or friends? In our side, our family we don't do vallekappu... But I was always fascinated seeing this custom ! God bless U and little one:)

Ash said...

Very informative to help guidance to those who does not have elders at home.... & to make your dreams come true....... KUDOS! on that effort taken..... :-)

Ash....
(http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)

Tina said...

Lovely post and beautiful clicks dear...

Vani said...

Lovely seemantha pictures, LG! The chutney from the previous post looks yum!

Hope you are doing well. Do you know if it is a boy or a girl?

Myvegfare said...

Hi Lakshmi, Hope you are doing well, Lovely to see the pics but where are you ? I was expecting to see you!!!, take care love, and my blessings too, wishing you all the best, Nice post too...

Radhika said...

Took me 10 yrs back with ur post. lovely spread. like cham said where are you the imp person missing.

Vani said...

Same pinch :)

Priya Suresh said...

We do the same way too, really its happens once and when i was pregnant for my first baby i really enjoyed all those beautiful and cherishable moments, that to when we celebrate far away from our own house, its really more exciting day..Hope u had a great day, take care of u...

YOSEE said...

Very informative and lovely pictures.

I hope you are keeping well. Take care. Best wishes.

FH said...

I was in UK and USA when I was pregnant both times, never got to enjoy these at all, went thru' it all all alone while hubby was busy doing his job! :(

Great post, you are good friend to help her out. Nice pics too.

Deepa G Joshi said...

those are such beautiful clicks..nice feel..

Deepthi Shankar said...

thatz detailed info Lakshmi, hope yu had fun at yr baby shower

Finla said...

I loved reading this post. and even i didn't know lot about it too.

Unknown said...

nice beautiful post..and love the pictures..

Anonymous said...

Thanks for documenting this for NRIs like us...and keeping the tradition alive and well!

Unknown said...

Ohhh nice post lakshmi every thing looks great and all the best and take care dear..

KFB said...

Hi Lakshmi,
Congratulations!!! Seemantha details chennagi barediddeera. All the best :)

Alamelu said...

Congratulations Lakshmi!!! and all the very best to you. Nice posts... all along. :-) I've been quite reglar here, just dint leave a comment thts all. But this one, called for a comment :-). Take care!

Champa said...

LG, how lucky you are. I have two kids, but never had the good fortune to have this. I loved the saree and bangles.

Shree Prasad said...

Hi Lakshmi,

Just visited your blog today.. It is a wonderful n awesome site with lots of information for ladies especially... Thanks for the posts and recipes :-)

I have remained childless for few years.. Can you let me know if u have any idea about mantras for getting baby...

Thanks in advance,
Shree.

Lakshmi said...

@Nagashree,
Thanks for visiting TOM and appreciating my work. I have posted mantra for you. May god bless you with a healthy baby.

Shree Rao said...

Dear Lakshmi..

Your site is awesome! :-)

Please post articles on what all things/items needs to be purchased for Karnataka brahmin wedding.Like pooja items, how to decorate and make nice items to be kept for vara pooje, dhare etc. how to make morada baagina, kashi yatre chatri, tamboola,aarathi plate etc look more beautiful.. Is it possible to post all or atleast few of them when u find time, next year is my sister's marriage.. wanna make the things myself.. :-)



Thanks in advance... :-)
-Shree Rao.

Madhura Prasad said...

Hi Lakshmi,

Your site is awesome!!! :-)

1 suggestion... If possible can u please post separate set of articles on recipes useful for both pregnant women and baananthi[post delivery] as it would be helpful to many ladies..

Thanks,
Madhura Prasad..

Anonymous said...

http://bharathiyasandesh.wordpress.com/2011/08/24/shodasha-samskarasthe-sixteen-sacramentsto-be-human-or-inhuman-choose-yourself/

http://bharathiyasandesh.wordpress.com/2011/08/29/shodasha-samskaras-the-sixteen-sacramentsto-be-human-or-inhuman-choose-yourself/

http://wp.me/s1CVQ2-339