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Info re Hindu House Blessing needed!

4 replies

HoHum264 · 04/09/2012 20:44

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone can help. My partner, daughter and I are attending a Hindu House Blessing this weekend but (excuse my ignorance) have no idea of what is involved / the meaning etc. I would like to know the importance of the ceremony, and also be able to explain this to my 5 year old.

It is my Uncle and his wifes' house and whilst my Uncle is Catholic, his fabulous wife is Hindu. This is clearly an important part of her religion which i would like to be able to understand, however Google is not offering me much in a way in which i can present it to a 5 year old!

Thanks for your help.

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DrSeuss · 04/09/2012 21:40

I don't see that it's so very complex. I would just say that they are asking God to spread love on the house and everyone who lives there, that it will be colourful and possibly a bit noisy and that it will be quite different to anything she would experience at a church. Emphasise that Hindus believe that all gods are aspects of God and that they believe in Jesus. Just go with the flow. In my experience, a willingness to take part and an open attitude are always well received.
I think that Ganges water may be involved. Maybe also incense, drums or sweets. I was given sweet rice as a housewarming gift from an Asian friend as it represented the sweetness of life she wished me in my new home. Do let me know what actually happens!

HoHum264 · 04/09/2012 22:22

Hi Dr Suess

Thanks for your reply! It probably isn't that complex but not knowing anything at all about the Hindu religion makes me feel a little inadeqaute, especially with an inquisitive 5 year old! Your explanation is really great thank you. We definietly have open minds and a willingness to take part so am really looking forward to spending the day with our family.

I would like to take them some flowers or a small gift too, but not knowing Hindu traditions would not want to offend, do you have any suggestions?

Will definitely let you know what happens! Thanks again for your help

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Cashncarry · 04/09/2012 22:56

HoHum - I'm Hindu so might be able to help although I just typed a massive post and then lost it so maybe not!

Sounds like your Aunt is having a puja (ritual ceremony) to bless her new house. I've never had a puja myself but have been to many. Just as a disclaimer, there are many different traditions within Hinduism depending on the region you come from. I'll give you my experience and having been to pujas held by others, I find the structure broadly the same...

When you get to the puja, you'll find the pundit (priest) next to an area specially laid out on the floor with the murtis (statues and pictures) of the various deities in front of him and the family concerned sitting next to him. There'll be a ceremonial fire which will form part of the ceremony. He'll chant mantras (prayers) and perhaps sing a few bhajans (religious songs) and if you have a good one, he'll explain what he's doing as he goes along. Most of the pujas I've been to have been very long so eat before you go - it's traditional to keep the day of the ceremony "clean" i.e. no meat or even fast although I wouldn't have thought that's expected of you.

At the pujas I've been to, we've been expected to sit on the floor so wear comfortable clothes and be sure not to point your feet towards the ritual area as it's considered disrespectful. Children are welcome at pujas despite their obvious distraction from the ceremony but I still find it necessary to take mine out at various points (they're 7, 3 and 1) especially in the noisy parts for instance where there's banging of a large gong or blowing on a conch shell. I also find the smoke from the fire sometimes gets to the kids a bit so it's a good idea to park yourself somewhere near a doorway so you can make a quick getaway if needed.

At the end of the puja, your Aunt and Uncle will probably go around the house with a plate of various items blessed by the pundit with a deya (lamp) in the middle to bless the rooms. At this point, someone may come round with a plate with a deya in the middle where people put their change and then take blessings from the deya by placing their hands (carefully!) over the flame and then passing it over their heads. Someone may also come around with sweetened milk - be sure to use your right hand on top of your left hand to take the milk as the left hand is considered dirty. Sometimes there's perfume and chandan marks to the head so your daughter may find that interesting too. There's always lots of different food afterwards - it may be they've catered for the English palate but I always take a few snacks in my bag for afterwards (my kids are fussy and don't like spicy food!) and surreptitiously give them to the kids when no one's looking.

So far as preparing your daughter, I've taken the liberty of googling "puja, children" for you and come up with this BBC video which looks interesting www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/puja/4799.html

If you live near an Asian area, you might want to visit a dress shop where you could find a traditional outfit relatively cheap - shalwar kameez (long top with trousers and matching scarf) is ideal at that age, I'd say. Oh and before I forget, most hindu homes have a shoes off policy (much to MN's chagrin I'm sure) so don't take Jimmy Choos or anything!

Not sure what else would help but if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer as best I can or bump for the more knowledgeable Hindus. Hope you have fun anyway - I love pujas!

HoHum264 · 13/09/2012 20:49

Hello - Firstly, thanks to cashncarry too for taking the time to put all that down (twice!), and for finding the bbc video!!

We had a lovely lovely day! We had been warned that the ceremony would take about an hour, and that it was sitting on the floor, shoes off so we were well prepared for that. We did sit near the door in the conservatory so we could go out as and when but my little one was that fascianted we barely moved!

It was exactly as you described cashncarry. My daughter was fascinated with the mantras and with the fire particularly (you can't have fire inside mummy!). The pundit was really very good and explained as he went along as my uncle does have a rather large and very British family so i for one really appreciated the effort he went to to keep us involved. The blessings from the deya was fabulous as was the food afterwards. A thoroughly good day had by all of us. It was so interesting, i really need to educate myself a little more on the religion out of respect for my aunt.

Thank you again to both of you for all your help x

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