Dahi Chiura ceremony is the special tradition for a woman during her pregnancy. It is a very heart-warming moment for the mother-to-be. When a mother is 6-7 months pregnant, then this ceremony is held.
During this ceremony a mother-to-be is visited by her family and relatives. People bring food and gifts for her and her forthcoming baby. A mother-to-be is fed with dahi-chiura (yoghurt and flatten rice or beaten rice).
Dahi-chiura is considered as good luck in Nepali culture and the properties of yoghurt helps to maintain a healthy life. Yoghurt is very rich in minerals, vitamins, protein, calcium and other probiotics traits help in boosting immune system, healthy bones, teeth and digestive system whereas, beaten rice is rich in vitamin B which helps to stay energetic and very beneficial for mental health.
Due to this traditional belief and beneficial properties of yoghurt and beaten rice it is feed to the mother-to-be so that the mother becomes healthy and gives birth to the healthy child.
Besides Nepal, Dahi-Chiura ceremony is celebrated in other countries as well but with different name called ‘Baby Shower’. Dahi-Chiura ceremony is similar to the baby shower where mother-to-be gets special treatments and guests give her a lot of gifts for her and her unborn child that are helpful in the growth of the baby.
By Sanam Gurung