The Other part of the 12/2010 Home Trip

We reached agartala on 3rd. On 5th Dec, we went to my in laws and they had a party on occasion of li'l Reimaan's arrival and that went pretty well. Lot of gifts, blessing, kissing, hugging left us bit uncomfortable. But that's the way it is, when a new born arrives and that too from their most lovable lady. We on the other hand were battered with 2 obvious observations - "You have lost too much hair" was for me and "You have put on lot of weight" was for Tumpi. Also everyone want to have us on either lunch or dinner or even Breakfast, so much so that someone offered to come at 1pm and have lunch and leave at2pm, since we were busy. We ended up accepting some offers from close relatives and started obliging.
Next morning we had Chicken Biryani for Breakfast as we could not give a Lunch slot to them. Reimaan was doing good as Tumpi gave him some sponge bath and we took off for another Lunch sitting. Once we returned after an hour, Reimaan was having 102 fever... we gave him some paracetamol drops but didn't know the quantity. We waited for 2 hrs for the fever to come down, in the meantime my mom and dad came and we took him to a senior Pediatric Specialist. The amount of paracetamol was more this time and the way to give him was also changed (we diluted all the medicines and gave him). The doctor suggested a Chest x-ray for the li'l one and it showed there was nothing serious. That night also Reimaan had fever again, and he only got out of that spell next morning. It was scary for us but with Ma and Baba around I was not worried that much. Those times, make you feel how much a presence of a doctor around can ease your life. Me and my brother never went to a doctor all our childhood. In 3 days time Taan would fall sick, and he already knows "nothing works like Dadu Sunil's medicine".
So this would mean, we cancelled all the invitation and stay home for the big occasion on 10th. The plan was to finish the ceremony in the afternoon and invitees would come for dinner. Reimaan did what he does well. he was very active on 9th, and I felt that he would sleep mostly on 10th.

Annaprasan Ceremony

Commonly referred to as First Rice, the ceremony is usually carried out when the child is about 6 months of age. The grandmother prepares a small bowl of paayesh (boiled rice, milk & sugar) which is blessed in a brief puja. The child is held in his Maternal Uncle's lap, who symbolically feeds him the same.

It was planned when my folks were in Bangalore and we found 10th Dec was an auspicious date. As planned we flew to Agartala on 3rd Dec. And with every travel home, there are lot of debates and discussion on day-to-day plans. This time we went after 2 yrs and for only 10 days. Tumpi didn't get enough leave and Reimaan was not 100% fit but the else part to the travel was not there... so we went ahead.

The day started bit late for Reimaan as he woke up at 830 am. Tumpi gave him a qiuck sponge bath and made him ready to visit the LaxmiNarayan Badi, a temple in heart of Agartala where auspicious things are started. The temple closes at 1 pm and we reached there by 1245. What was surprising was the number of 5/6 month old that were present at that time...nearly 20-30 kids were having their Annaprasan there... our plans of finishing it fast seemed impossible as there were no queues and to get a glimpse of the idol was a scamper, forget about doing a small puja... Reimaan was dressed like a typical Bengali groom. Then I asked Tumpi to show the pujari to show a 100 rupees note, and it worked. that guy sort of called us to come in front and performed the puja... the 100 rupees note was donated and we went back home, satisfied.

Next up was the main occasion where Subho (Tumpi's brother) would symbolically feed Reimaan.... It went well with some really coool pictures as Reimaan will open his mouth to grasp everything that's shown to him... Another important part of this was Reimaan was given a choice to choose something from a plate where a book, a gold bangle, some silver stuff, and sindoor was placed. Idea was, whatever he touches is what he would become in future... he took the whole plate !!! All these are captured... coming soon in next blog.

In the evening was the big social function where close to 200 people were invited and that went well with lot of unknown faces showering blessing packed in gifts. Unnecessary but a custom, it seems. As most of the invitees turned up, it was a good occasion but we wait to see Reimaan's health the next day further to announce. Photos and Videos will speak more... than my words.