My First Baby shower!

I had a fantastic evening today! 4 of the elderly ladies, I will address them as 'Aunties'(some unknown to us!) had planned a Baby shower(called 'Dohal jevan' in Marathi) for me ...
untill now, I had been a spectator to such events, but today I was the chief - guest!
Going to sleep...will update the details tomorrow!
Signing off...
TM

UPDATE:
Ok, here I am again! Lets continue with the Dohal-jevan details!
I will start with a brief on this ritual. It a long posting...so have patience!

Between the seventh and ninth months of pregnancy, a grand function called ‘Dohal Jevan’ is held for the mother-to-be. ‘Dohal’ means craving for certain foods or the longing of a pregnant woman (for special foods), which has turned into Dohaal-jevan. Thus ‘Dohal Jevan’ was a means to satisfy the food cravings of the pregnant girl.
Today’s practice is rooted in the samskaar known as Seemantonnayana (seemaa+anta+unnayana). The principal reason for this samskaar is to ask the Divine to protect the baby in the womb(Garbha-Rakshana). The pregnant woman is also encouraged to maintain a positive mind and a healthy body. Many of you are familiar with the story of how Abhimanyu, while in his mother's (Subhadra's) womb, had only heard of the way to enter the ChakraVyuha, but he didn't know how to come out, and its consequences when as a youth he entered the Mahabharat war. Some of you may also know the story of Ashtavakra who had dared to correct a mistake of his father in Vedic recitation, when Ashtavakra was still a baby in his mother’s womb. There are similar examples in recent times as well. The point to be noted is that the baby in the womb is very alert to what happens outside the womb. Thus, what the mother reads, what sort of shows she watches, what type of music she listens, what food she eats, etc., have tremendous influence on the mental and physical development of the baby. Considering all this, the function is arranged to (1) pour love on to the expecting mother and (2) indirectly alert her and draw her to the necessity of nurturing her mental and physical health (maanasik & sharer swaasthya). It is to create very soothing and positive impressions on the mother. Therefore various acts have been included to put the prospective mother in a state of bliss (peace, joy, contentment etc). Who can do this better than the mother, experienced and closest sisters & friends?
The pregnant girl is traditionaly adorned with flower garlands on her wrists, neck, waist, & a flower crown. She is made to wear either green or other soothing colored garments. Special songs are sung for her, her baby & her husband.

So that was all about the ritual. On this particular evening, all 4 of the Aunties carried out the traditional dohal jevan rituals and one of them also sang for me! She had written a song especially for me & my baby!

Each had made sweetmeats & savoury dishes. My plate was full! Tweety was enjoying too as she was actively kicking! TD enjoyed too & witnessed the whole ceremony first hand.
The hosts gave us a baby-shower gift thus bringing an eventful evening to an end!
Photo courtesy:baby-shower-theme.net