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Re: The pregnancy party....Athawansa
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Posted by Kree Arvanitas on September 20, 1999 at 02:34:29:
In Reply to: The pregnancy party....Athawansa posted by Catherine Cartwright JOnes on September 11, 1999 at 18:21:44:
This is a great story - but I am still wondering about the safety of doing a large amount of henna on a pregnant belly. I have read that its not safe in the third trimester up until about the last two weeks of pregnancy because henna, as a coolant, can actually lower body temperature and trigger labor. I would rather not be responsible for somebody going into labor too soon! I tell my clients that if they don't mind going into labor at any time, I'll do the henna, or if they are up to about 6 1/2 or 7 mo's along. Any further information about this would be appreciated. I have done a couple of pregnant bellies - but only for very late term pregnancies. Any feedback on this? This aspect of doing henna seems at least as important as giving accurate black henna info. Ciao, Kree : Since people seem curious about the floor patterns,(Mandana and : Rangoli) as they go hand in hand with the henna patterns...here's a : snip from "Art of Rajasthan" by Jogendra Saksena again.... : "The child birth ceremony in Rajasthan starts long before the child is : actually born. On the first day of the 8th month called Athavansa, a : pregnant woman is annointed and then bathed in perfumed water, her : hands and feet are decorated with lovely Mehndi designs and then she : is bedecked with gorgeous clothes and ornaments. After this is over, : she is seated on a cauki (wooden seat) and blessed by placing in her : lap sweets, dry and green fruits and a coconut. This ceremony is : called "god bharna" i.e. filling of the lap. On this day a particular : Mandana called Athvansa-do-cowk is drawn on the beautifully finished : ground. It is not necessary that this particular design alone should : be drawn in all the compartments of the house, which are cleansed with : cowdung on this ceremonial day. : : "After child birth, the third and the sixth day's ceremonies, called : "carua" and "chathi" respectively, are not so important as is the : "Suraj" ceremony, celebrated on the 10th day. On this day the mother : "jacca" comes out of her apartment for the first time with the : newlyborn babe in her lap, to glance at the sun in the sky. This : ceremony, known as the "Namakarana Sanskar Divas" or the name-giving : day, takes place after the "havan' is over and the child is baptised. : "Whole house is cleansed and floors are besmeared with cowdung on the : Suraj ceremony day, earth is mixed in the dung for producing the : seasonal efect. Then the floors of various rooms, apartments and : courtuqrd in the house are decorated with Mandanas, herein : "Suraj-ko-cowk", a particular design for this day, figures : priminently. "Suraj-ko-cowk" is circular in form and similar to a : "Kunda" scribed on the "Makar Sankranti" day. As a symbol of the sun, : a circle of a "Kunda" is quite relevant, and significant on this : occasion." : I have these and other designs ready as pattern sheets for henna : artists.....just email and ask, and I'll send them to you free as : gifs. What you use to besmear and cleanse your house on ceremonial : occasions is your own decision.
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