Baby's 21-day party: Indian/Hindu/Orissa

[NotQuiteCockney]

We are going to a 21-day party for our new nephew, this weekend. His dad is Indian-born, from Orissa. His family is Hindu, not very devout. They like Ganesha.

It's not a party at a temple, it's at the baby's aunt's house. So I'm expecting it to be more of a party than a religious thing.

But I'd like to just know what to expect. Should I be bringing a gift for the hostess? The baby? The parents? (I already gave the baby gifts when I met him, so I'm not really prepared ...)

[flamesparrow]

Bumping this for you... partly because I want to ask - what does a 21 day party celebrate?

[NotQuiteCockney]

I think it's like a baptism. I gather it normally involves a temple trip, but I don't think this one does, or if it does, it will happen without us. I think.

[Kelly1978]

are they south indian? I'm not sure about a 21 day party. Is it for a namakarana samskara?

[NotQuiteCockney]

They're from Orissa, which is in the south, I think.

[Kelly1978]

googled and orissa is bengali. I don't know a lot about bengali traditions. The hindu naming ceromony is namakarana though, and usually involves a havan and rituals for giving baby a name. Gifts are given to baby and sometimes relatvies too. Bracelets or bangles for the baby are traditional among some hindus. Sorry, prob not a lot of help, dp is gujarati!

[NotQuiteCockney]

Oh, may well be bengali, but they're certainly Hindu, not Muslim.

Well, I can expect it to be pretty casual, anyway ...

[Kelly1978]

prob be fun. Though jsut because it is at the hosue doesn't mean it won't be religious. They are often done in the house and pay brahmin to visit the house. dp's family have had havan in the conservatory!