Valaikaapu
Encyclopedia
Valaikaapu is essentially a social ceremony and celebration and is popular with the Hindus of Tamil Nadu
. It is meant to bless the mother-to-be and her baby. It is hosted by the mother of the expecting lady on an auspicious day. It literally means bangle
s and bracelets. The new mother-to-be is decked up in all her finery. The women put bangles, mostly red and green glass ones, on the mother-to-be’s hands for her protection.
The sound of these bangles is supposed to reach the womb. Some of these have to be worn till labour starts. They are removed only during delivery and given to the midwife at the birth of a child. The women folk sing hymns and songs and put vermilion or “haldi-kumkum
” on the expecting mom’s forehead (to ward off the evil eye
) and Aarti
is performed. They say that the songs are for the benefit of both the expectant mother and the baby. Everyone gives gifts to the mother-to-be and there is playful banter and a traditional feast.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. It is meant to bless the mother-to-be and her baby. It is hosted by the mother of the expecting lady on an auspicious day. It literally means bangle
Bangle
Bangles or churi are traditional ornaments worn mostly by South Asian women in India and Bangladesh, especially Hindus. It is tradition that the bride will try to wear as many small glass bangles as possible at her wedding and the honeymoon will end when the last bangle breaks...
s and bracelets. The new mother-to-be is decked up in all her finery. The women put bangles, mostly red and green glass ones, on the mother-to-be’s hands for her protection.
The sound of these bangles is supposed to reach the womb. Some of these have to be worn till labour starts. They are removed only during delivery and given to the midwife at the birth of a child. The women folk sing hymns and songs and put vermilion or “haldi-kumkum
Kumkum
Kumkum , is a powder used for social and religious markings in Hinduism. It is either made from turmeric or saffron...
” on the expecting mom’s forehead (to ward off the evil eye
Evil eye
The evil eye is a look that is believed by many cultures to be able to cause injury or bad luck for the person at whom it is directed for reasons of envy or dislike...
) and Aarti
Aarti
Aarti , also spelled arathi, aarthi is a Hindu religious ritual of worship, a form of puja, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee or camphor is offered to one or more deities...
is performed. They say that the songs are for the benefit of both the expectant mother and the baby. Everyone gives gifts to the mother-to-be and there is playful banter and a traditional feast.