Rice feeding is the ceremony when a baby gets fed rice for the first time. It is a very old tradition in Hindu culture in which a baby is introduce to solid food.
When a baby becomes 6 months old, then this ceremony is held. It is scientifically proved that a baby after 6 months can digest solid foods and it is a celebration for the baby to eat solid food for the first time after eating only liquid foods and milk for 5 months.
The rituals is different for son and the daughter in case of age. The Pasni or weaning ceremony is celebrated after 6 months in case of sons and 5 months for daughters.
Pasni is celebrated at home or temple. Nowadays, Pasni is celebrated in a lavishing way. People book the venue for their baby and many guests are invited to the Pasni.
The guests bring a lot of gifts and cash for the baby. The grandparents give a gold or silver anklets to the baby. People put tika on baby forehead and give blessings along with gifts and cash.
Delicious food are prepared at home especially pudding rice that is fed to the little one. The preparation of meal is also different according to the caste of people.
People from Brahmins, Chhetri, Gurung or Magar community prepared a pudding rice (made from rice, water, milk and raisins) whereas, people of Newar community make 24-25 items that include rice and along with other delicious food they prepare altogether almost 85 items of food.
A baby don’t have to eat all the food, it is only a custom to let a baby taste rice for the first time. It is like a feast to all the guests along celebrating a child weaning ceremony or Pasni.
A baby is groomed with a beautiful dress especially saffron silk cloth for the whole day. It is a very auspicious day that’s why it is decided to celebrate on auspicious day by the priests after looking a child horoscope and astrology.
A priest is called on rice feeding ceremony to do Puja. Everyone worship with the priest and pray for the healthy and happy life of the baby. They also play a game with the baby.
They put different things on a banana leaf or silver plate like book, pen, clay, stethoscope, etc. and let the baby choose one of the items and it is believe that a baby will become what they choose in the future.
For example, if a child chooses a clay then s/he will have more land and wealthy in the future, likewise a pen represents wisdom and a writer, a book represents knowledge and a child will be very educated in the future, a stethoscope represents a doctor, etc.
In this way they play a game putting some of the items in front of a baby. It is very entertaining with cultural values ceremony in Hindu society. People celebrate it in a very lavishing way and it is getting extensive influence on modern times.
By Sanam Gurung