(Shankar Chatterjee)
Festivals and celebrations are lively representations of culture, tradition, and the spirit of a community/society. Diverse festivals and celebrations are a global phenomenon that unites people, preserves the rich fabric of human heritage, and promotes unity among the people irrespective of caste, creed, and religion. This article presents a cradle ceremony that took place in a gated community in Hyderabad, India, on January 17, 2025. Before that, a few lines about the cradle ceremony are presented.
A cradle ceremony is usually performed within one month of the baby’s birth. In this ceremony, a black spot is put on the baby’s forehead to ward off evil. Some also hold a prayer ceremony for the Almighty God to bless and protect the baby. The naming ceremony, or namakarana, is sometimes conducted on the same day. While some families might consult an astrologer for a suitable name for the baby, others might choose an ancestor’s name or name their child after their favourite Hindu deity. On this occasion, relatives and friends are invited to celebrate with scrumptious food and beverages. Cradle ceremony, i.e., ‘uyyalo lo veyyatam’ in Telugu, literally means placing the newborn baby in the cradle. This is one of the first functions of a newborn baby.
In the olden days, the baby was delivered at home with the help of a midwife, and the newborn was placed in the cradle on an auspicious day. With the passing of time, the delivery of a baby takes place in a maternity hospital, and the newborn is placed in the cradle by the nurse within hours of delivery. However, this is not taken into account. Traditionally, the cradle ceremony was celebrated on the 11th day or 21st day from the day of delivery.
On January 17, 2025, a cradle ceremony for a female was organised at a function Hall at Aziz Nagar, Hyderabad. The parents of the female baby are Raghav Reddy (father, an engineering graduate presently looks after his father’s established business) and her mother, Udaya Sree, also an engineering graduate. The grandparents of the female baby are B. Bhagyalaxmi ( paternal grandmother), Bhoopathi Reddy ( paternal grandfather), C. Sugunavathi ( maternal grandmother), and Malla Reddy ( maternal grandfather). In the cradle ceremony of January 17, 2025, the function started at 7. 30 PM. All the guests, around 1000 people, blessed the baby. The functional hall was decorated with alluring lights and enthralling items like flowers, clothes, etc. The music and songs were adorable. Many vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes were prepared, including various beverages, and were served bountifully and tasted very tasty.
Before conclusion, it may be mentioned that Bhoopathi Reddy and his family members are permanent residents of a gated community known as Libdom Villa (Raj Reddy Valley), Bandlaguda Jagir, Hyderabad, which is spread over an area of 17 acres of land having all facilities – indoor and outdoor games, gym, park, swimming pool, function hall, etc. Altogether, 190 families (a few might be unoccupied) live in this gated community. The residents are of different religions, castes, and languages (people of various States), representing a mini-India in the true sense, and residents celebrate all festivals amicably. I am proud to be one of the residents of this lively and marvellous campus, which is, in a true sense, a mini-India.
(Dr Shankar Chatterjee is a former Professor & Head (CPME), NIRD & PR, Hyderabad, India)
