MalissaHoskins at 05:04, 31 December 2025

2025-12-31T05:04:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:34, 31 December 2025
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			{{Short description\|Tamil prenatal ceremony}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=August 2020}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=August 2020}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=August 2020}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=August 2020}}
	'''Valaikaappu''' ~~<ref>~~{{~~cite book~~\|~~last=Stone~~\|first=ed.: Helaine Selin ; co-ed. Pamela K.\|title=Childbirth across cultures : ideas and practices of pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum\|year=2009\|publisher=Springer\|location=Dordrecht [etc.]\|isbn=978-9048125982\|pages=100\|url=https://www.amazon.com/Childbirth-Across-Cultures-Non-Western-ebook/dp/B003RISTJ6}}~~</ref> [வளைகாப்பு]~~ is a ceremony ~~and~~ celebration ~~held~~ by ~~Hindu, Muslim and Christian~~ women in [[Tamil Nadu]], ~~and~~ [[~~Telangana~~]] meant to bless a pregnant woman, celebrate her fertility, and ~~ensure~~ a safe birth. It is ~~hosted~~ by the ~~pregnant woman's family during~~ the ~~third trimester~~ of the ~~pregnancy in husband's birth or lived place on 7th month specially~~.<ref>{{cite book\|last=Stone\|first=~~ed.: Helaine Selin ; co-ed.~~ Pamela K.~~\|title=Childbirth across cultures : ideas and practices of pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum\|year=2009\|publisher=Springer\|location=Dordrecht [etc.]\|isbn=978-9048125982\|pages=100~~\|url=https://www.amazon.com/Childbirth-Across-Cultures-Non-Western-ebook/dp/B003RISTJ6~~}}</ref>~~		'''Valaikaappu''' (in Tamil: {{Lang\|ta\|வளைகாப்பு}}) is a [[Baby shower\|prenatal ceremony]] or celebration similar to a baby shower, practised as part of [[Tamil culture]] by South Indian women from [[Tamil Nadu]] and parts of [[Kanyakumari district\|Kanyakumari]], as well as regions of [[Kerala]] bordering Tamil Nadu, meant to bless a pregnant woman, celebrate her fertility, and prepare the baby and mother-to-be for a safe birth. It is typically held at the 5th month and 7th month of the pregnancy by the mother side of the girl in her mother’s house. It is widely practiced among both the urban and rural populations of the region.<ref>{{cite book \|last=Stone \|first=Pamela K. \|url=https://www.amazon.com/Childbirth-Across-Cultures-Non-Western-ebook/dp/B003RISTJ6 \|title=Childbirth across cultures : ideas and practices of pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum \|publisher=Springer \|year=2009 \|isbn=978-9048125982 \|editor-last=Selin \|editor-first=Helaine \|location=Dordrecht [etc.] \|pages=100 \|editor-last2= \|editor-first2=}}</ref>
	. Pregnant women will be adorned with bangles in both the hands in odd numbers. It is believed that the bangle sound induces the child's senses and brain activity. A paste made of sandalwood and turmeric is applied to the mother-to-be's hands and face to reduce the body heat and calm the mother and baby from fear and anxiety of child birth. The guests then place bangles on both of her arms, then shower her with flowers and bestow well wishes and prayers for a safe delivery <ref>{{cite book\|last=Stone\|first=ed.: Helaine Selin ; co-ed. Pamela K.\|title=Childbirth across cultures : ideas and practices of pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum\|year=2009\|~~publisher~~=~~Springer~~\|location=Dordrecht [etc.]\|~~isbn~~=~~978~~-~~9048125982\|pages~~=~~102~~\|~~url~~=~~https://www.amazon.com/Childbirth-Across-Cultures-Non-Western-ebook/dp/B003RISTJ6~~}}</ref> The women put red and green glass bangles on the mother-to-be's wrists, sing hymns and songs and put vermilion on her forehead. The woman then rests at her parents' home for the final weeks of her pregnancy.{{fact\|date=August 2020}}

	The ~~purpose of the ceremony is~~ to ~~honour and~~ protect the ~~pregnant woman, who~~ is ~~seen as vulnerable to the evil eye, malign spirits and ghosts, and to ensure the birth of~~ a ~~healthy child. Valaikaappu was originally a simple ceremony, mainly limited to the exchange of bangles. But as valaikaappu became more widely practiced, it grew more lavish~~, and ~~since the 1980s has been celebrated by most~~, ~~according~~ to ~~anthropologists who have studied the practice, with "magnificence and sumptuousness," with gifts including jewellery, saris, household appliances, mobile phones and gold ornaments~~.~~<ref>{{cite journal\|last=Petitet\|first=Pascale Hancart\|author2=Pragathi Vellore \|title=Ethnographical views on valaikappu. A pregnancy rite~~ in ~~Tamil Nadu\|journal=Indian Anthropologist\|year=2007\|volume=37\|issue=1\|pages=117–145\|url=http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/34/71/68/PDF/valaikkappu.ang~~.~~pdf\|access-date=2 August 2012}}</ref>~~		== Etymology ==
			The etymology could be related to two [[Tamil language\|Tamil]] words that mean to protect the bangles: valaiyal (வளையல்) which is typically a glass bangle, and kaapu (காப்பு), which means to protect. The equivalent in [[Malayalam]] would be (വള) for bangle.

	~~Similar ceremonies are held in other parts~~ of ~~India and in Pakistan, including among~~ [[~~Bengali people\|Bengali~~]] ~~women~~, [[~~Maharashtrians~~\|~~Marathi~~]] ~~and~~ [[~~Konkani~~]] ~~women~~ (~~who call the ceremony~~ [[~~Dohale Jevan~~]~~] [डोहाळे जेवण~~]), [[~~Punjabi people\|Punjabi~~]] ~~women~~ (who ~~call it [[Godh-Bharai]])~~, ~~[[Sindhi people\|Sindhi]] women~~, and ~~[[Marwari people\|Marwari]] women~~.<ref>{{cite ~~book~~\|last=~~Soundar~~\|first=~~Chitra~~\|~~title~~=~~Gateway to Indian culture~~\|year=~~2003~~\|~~publisher~~=~~Asiapac Books~~\|~~location~~=~~Singapore~~\|~~isbn~~=~~9812293272~~\|pages=70\|~~edition~~=~~2nd ed. (revised).~~}}</ref>		== History ==
			It is related to the more formal traditions of [[Seemantham]] or Simantonnayana dating back to the 4th century BCE, documented in the [[Kalpa Sūtra\|Kalpa Sutras]], possibly part of the [[Jainism\|Jain]] ([[Mahavira]]) and the slightly later, but contemporary, [[Buddhism]] traditions (dated earliest to 6th century BCE). It is practiced widely in South India. Valaikaappu was originally a simple ceremony, mainly limited to the exchange of bangles. But as Valaikaappu became more widely practiced, it grew more lavish, and since the 1980s has been celebrated more widely, according to anthropologists who have studied the practice. It is conducted with "magnificence and sumptuousness", with gifts including jewelry, saris, household appliances, and gold ornaments.<ref>{{cite journal \|last=Petitet \|first=Pascale Hancart \|author2=Pragathi Vellore \|year=2007 \|title=Ethnographical views on valaikappu. A pregnancy rite in Tamil Nadu \|url=http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/34/71/68/PDF/valaikkappu.ang.pdf \|journal=Indian Anthropologist \|volume=37 \|issue=1 \|pages=117–145 \|access-date=2 August 2012}}</ref>

	.		== Purpose ==
			The mother-to-be's wrists are adorned with glass bangles (red and green) in odd numbers. It is believed that the bangle sound induces the child's senses and brain activity. It is also well-known that fetal hearing begins in the 7th month.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Your Baby's Hearing and Communicative Development Checklist \|url=https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/your-babys-hearing-and-communicative-development-checklist \|access-date=2022-04-10 \|website=NIDCD \|language=en}}</ref> Women at the ceremony sing hymns and songs. A paste made of [[sandalwood]] and [[turmeric]] is applied to the mother-to-be's hands and face to reduce the body heat and calm the mother and baby from fear and anxiety of child birth. The guests then place a garland and bangles on her wrists, shower her with flowers, and bestow well-wishes and prayers for a safe delivery.<ref>{{cite book \|last=Stone \|first=ed.: Helaine Selin ; co-ed. Pamela K. \|url=https://www.amazon.com/Childbirth-Across-Cultures-Non-Western-ebook/dp/B003RISTJ6 \|title=Childbirth across cultures : ideas and practices of pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum \|publisher=Springer \|year=2009 \|isbn=978-9048125982 \|location=Dordrecht [etc.] \|pages=102}}</ref> Another purpose of the ceremony is to honor the pregnant woman and to ensure the birth of a healthy child. After the celebration, the mother-to-be rests at her parents' home for the final weeks of her pregnancy.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=namscorner.com \|date=April 8, 2022 \|title=Valaikappu lunch menu \|url=https://www.namscorner.com/valaikappu-lunch-menu-baby-shower-lunch-menu/ \|access-date=April 8, 2022 \|website=namscorner.com}}</ref>

			== Food at the ceremony ==
			According to some Tamil traditions, the mother-to-be is served seven types of rice and sweets. Rice types include [[Pulihora\|tamarind rice]], [[Chitranna\|lemon rice]], [[curd rice]], mango rice, mint rice, tomato rice, and [[coconut rice]]. [[List of Indian sweets and desserts\|Sweets]] served include a variety of [[Payasam\|payasams]] ([[Tapioca balls\|javarisi]], [[Moong\|paruppu]] payasam), fruit salad, and sweets like [[bengal gram]] [[laddu]], multigrain laddu and [[Gulab jamun\|gulab jamoon]]. A healthful laddu made of ginger, palm jaggery ([[karupatti]]<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Karupatti (Palm Jaggery) - 1 Kg. \|url=https://karupatti.com/product/karupatti-palm-jaggery/ \|access-date=2022-04-10 \|website=Best Karupatti Makers \|language=en-US \|archive-date=30 June 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630123304/https://karupatti.com/product/karupatti-palm-jaggery/ \|url-status=dead }}</ref>), [[Nigella sativa\|omam]]<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Indian Spices: Omam \|url=http://anjaraipetti-receipes.blogspot.com/2008/10/omam.html \|access-date=2022-04-10 \|website=Indian Spices}}</ref> ([[Ajwain\|carom]]), and other items is served for good digestion. The feast is centered on the health of the child and the mother-to-be, and not the guests. Vegetarian food is usually served to the guests mainly consisting of rice, [[Sambar (dish)\|sambhar]], 3 types of vegetables and a dessert.

			== Similar ceremonies ==
			Similar ceremonies are held in other parts of India and in Pakistan, including among [[Bengali people\|Bengali]] (who call it [[Shaadh]]), [[Maharashtrians\|Marathi]] and [[Konkani people\|Konkani]] women (who call the ceremony [[Dohale Jevan]] [डोहाळे जेवण]), [[Punjabi people\|Punjabi]] women (who call it [[Godh-Bharai]]), [[Sindhi people\|Sindhi]] women, and [[Marwari people\|Marwari]] women.<ref>{{cite book\|last=Soundar\|first=Chitra\|title=Gateway to Indian culture\|year=2003\|publisher=Asiapac Books\|location=Singapore\|isbn=9812293272\|pages=70\|edition=2nd ed. (revised).}}</ref> It is similar in concept to [[Baby shower\|Baby Shower]].
	==Gallery==		==Gallery==
	<gallery>		<gallery>

->Retswerb: Typo fix - Wikipedia:Typo Team/moss

2021-11-18T08:16:23Z

Typo fix - Wikipedia:Typo Team/moss

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
'''Valaikaappu''' <ref>{{cite book|last=Stone|first=ed.: Helaine Selin ; co-ed. Pamela K.|title=Childbirth across cultures : ideas and practices of pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum|year=2009|publisher=Springer|location=Dordrecht [etc.]|isbn=978-9048125982|pages=100|url=https://www.amazon.com/Childbirth-Across-Cultures-Non-Western-ebook/dp/B003RISTJ6}}</ref> [வளைகாப்பு] is a ceremony and celebration held by Hindu, Muslim and Christian women in [[Tamil Nadu]], and [[Telangana]] meant to bless a pregnant woman, celebrate her fertility, and ensure a safe birth. It is hosted by the pregnant woman's family during the third trimester of the pregnancy in husband's birth or lived place on 7th month specially.<ref>{{cite book|last=Stone|first=ed.: Helaine Selin ; co-ed. Pamela K.|title=Childbirth across cultures : ideas and practices of pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum|year=2009|publisher=Springer|location=Dordrecht [etc.]|isbn=978-9048125982|pages=100|url=https://www.amazon.com/Childbirth-Across-Cultures-Non-Western-ebook/dp/B003RISTJ6}}</ref>
. Pregnant women will be adorned with bangles in both the hands in odd numbers. It is believed that the bangle sound induces the child's senses and brain activity. A paste made of sandalwood and turmeric is applied to the mother-to-be's hands and face to reduce the body heat and calm the mother and baby from fear and anxiety of child birth. The guests then place bangles on both of her arms, then shower her with flowers and bestow well wishes and prayers for a safe delivery <ref>{{cite book|last=Stone|first=ed.: Helaine Selin ; co-ed. Pamela K.|title=Childbirth across cultures : ideas and practices of pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum|year=2009|publisher=Springer|location=Dordrecht [etc.]|isbn=978-9048125982|pages=102|url=https://www.amazon.com/Childbirth-Across-Cultures-Non-Western-ebook/dp/B003RISTJ6}}</ref> The women put red and green glass bangles on the mother-to-be's wrists, sing hymns and songs and put vermilion on her forehead. The woman then rests at her parents' home for the final weeks of her pregnancy.{{fact|date=August 2020}}

The purpose of the ceremony is to honour and protect the pregnant woman, who is seen as vulnerable to the evil eye, malign spirits and ghosts, and to ensure the birth of a healthy child. Valaikaappu was originally a simple ceremony, mainly limited to the exchange of bangles. But as valaikaappu became more widely practiced, it grew more lavish, and since the 1980s has been celebrated by most, according to anthropologists who have studied the practice, with "magnificence and sumptuousness," with gifts including jewellery, saris, household appliances, mobile phones and gold ornaments.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Petitet|first=Pascale Hancart|author2=Pragathi Vellore |title=Ethnographical views on valaikappu. A pregnancy rite in Tamil Nadu|journal=Indian Anthropologist|year=2007|volume=37|issue=1|pages=117–145|url=http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/34/71/68/PDF/valaikkappu.ang.pdf|access-date=2 August 2012}}</ref>

Similar ceremonies are held in other parts of India and in Pakistan, including among [[Bengali people|Bengali]] women, [[Maharashtrians|Marathi]] and [[Konkani]] women (who call the ceremony [[Dohale Jevan]] [डोहाळे जेवण]), [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]] women (who call it [[Godh-Bharai]]), [[Sindhi people|Sindhi]] women, and [[Marwari people|Marwari]] women.<ref>{{cite book|last=Soundar|first=Chitra|title=Gateway to Indian culture|year=2003|publisher=Asiapac Books|location=Singapore|isbn=9812293272|pages=70|edition=2nd ed. (revised).}}</ref>

.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Valaikaappu.jpg|Valaikaappu ceremony
ValaiKaappu.jpg|Bangles on Valaikaappu
Valaikaappu 002.jpg|Bangles on Valaikaappu
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Valaikaapu}}

[[Category:Maternity in India]]
[[Category:Tamil culture]]

Valaikaapu - Revision history

MalissaHoskins at 05:04, 31 December 2025

->Retswerb: Typo fix - Wikipedia:Typo Team/moss