When you're with the right people, and surrounded by those who really want you to be happy, even the simplest ceremony can be eventful. :)
The bangles ceremony is an Indian version of baby shower. It is usually done during the 7th month of first pregnancy. Why only first pregnancy? I don't know and no one seems to know the answer either :P
The main highlight of the ceremony are the colorful glass bangles adorning the mother-to-be arms. My bangles ceremony was held on the first Sunday of October at my in-laws home. About hundred of close relatives and friends turned up for the event. The preparation, however, started months back! For the first time, I actually enjoyed preparing for something. Since the ceremony was being held at my in-laws side, host of relatives, neighbors, and friends got together to help my husband and myself to prepare for the ceremony. Most of the time, the husband hardly plays any role in this ceremony as it was considered exclusively for "women only". But then, my husband was the main mastermind behind all the work.
He prepared the house and decorated the living room very nicely for the ceremony. Weeks before the ceremony, we made plans for the food catering and gifts for the guests. We decided to forgo the usual "nallungu set" and bought 24cm stainless steel plates instead. The plates was the base for the gift set which consisted the yellow thread, some glass bangles, packed laddu, and a coin pouch which was handpainted. Each coin purse had some sweets in it and was tagged with our thank you note.
It was a joyous event for me. I felt happy seeing my family, friends and relatives coming together to put the event in place. My husband also got for me and the baby a gift which was very thoughtful :) By the end of night, my arms were filled with colorful glass bangles! A friend baked a really delicious red velvet cake for me to celebrate.
We ended the ceremony with the cake cutting and feeding ceremony. :))
