O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader Arpana Bhargava recently invited us into one of life's most meaningful moments: her traditional Indian baby shower ceremony. From Jaipur—the historic walled city where she resides with her joint family—Arpana shared how her culture celebrates the journey to motherhood through rituals dating back centuries.
Arpana Bhargava has been an O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader for our Heart of India adventure for over six years.
"India is a unique country, known for its celebration, day-to-day life, beliefs, ritual, culture, and tradition," Arpana explained. "To introduce you to one such meaningful ceremony, I'm sharing with you a glimpse of my own baby shower. It was a great celebration of my journey to becoming a mother. It was a very special day in my life, and the other women in the family were also super excited."
In India, this ceremony is known as "Godh Bharai," which translates to "filling the lap," symbolizing that a woman's womb is now blessed with a child. Rooted in ancient customs, this celebration honors both the impending arrival of new life and a woman's sacred transition into motherhood.
The day began with Arpana and her family bathing and worshipping Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles in Hindu tradition. In one particularly meaningful ritual, Arpana carried a pot filled with holy water balanced atop her head—water that would later be shared with other women in the family who also hoped to become mothers.
"The daughters and daughters-in-law typically observe the ceremony while the older, more experienced women guide and make sure things take place in the right way," Arpana said. "Most of the women in our family—even the little girls—fasted for the good health of the baby."
Dressed in a stunning pink saree gifted by her mother specifically for this occasion, Arpana participated in rituals that connected her to generations of women before her. "I wash their feet and seek their blessing," she shared. "And, in return, I'm giving them home-cooked sweets."
Most of the women in Arpana’s family fasted for the good health of the baby, and she offered home-cooked sweets and washed their feet in return.
The celebration was marked by "vibrant colors and joyful energy." In one touching moment, family members formed a pathway and showered Arpana with flower petals as she walked through. "I got so emotional at this time, seeing how everyone was loving me, that I couldn't stop crying."
The ceremony continued as Arpana was seated on a specially decorated sofa, where family members of all ages performed dances and skits in her honor. "It was so amazing to see how everyone wanted to be part of my journey," she said.
The festivities culminated in Garba, a traditional folk dance where participants join hands and move in a circle. This lively dance, followed by a feast of traditional delicacies, brought the ceremonial day to a close. "It was, indeed, an evening to remember," Arpana reflected.
Arpana felt so loved by her family that, at one point, she "couldn’t stop crying."
For travelers visiting India on O.A.T.’s Heart of India adventure, understanding celebrations like Godh Bharai offers a window into the country's deep cultural traditions that continue to thrive even in modern times. These ceremonies reveal how family bonds and spiritual practices remain interwoven in the fabric of everyday Indian life.
Explore the culture and traditions of India on O.A.T.’s Heart of India adventure.
