Ceremony to Honor Motherhood
The future mother is asked to sit on a comfortable padded chair and to put on her head a flower garland. Then to sing a song that celebrates being a mother or becoming a mother. You can also sing quietly the "Baba Nam Kevalam-mantra".
Four or more women, mothers, surround the future mother, with a candle and a water container in one hand, a platter in the other where you can wash the future mother's feet, a third oil, and a fourth flower petals. Other women also come to the circle. The director of the ceremony states:
Ceremony Example:
We are here to celebrate and bless (name of future mother). This is a circle of mothers, some of us are still virgins, some mothers, some grandmothers, wise women. Some of us have borne a baby in our womb like you and have given birth like you will soon. Some of us have not given birth. But we all nourish the land, grow plants, trees, care for living beings, people, small and large. As caregivers, we are mothers, we feed the body, mind, and spirit. This circuit of mothers is here to bless your motherhood.
The woman with the candle says:
Come bless this mother and child. Let the face become strong and pure in your hearts!
She takes a bowl of water above the candle and close to her mother.
A woman with a bowl of water says: May Water bless this mother and child! May your heart flow in the rhythm of the great sea, washing away all that is an obstacle! She washes her mother's feet.
The woman who has the oil says:
May the Earth bless this mother and child! Wander charmingly in the mighty mountains and deep valleys, move in beauty, treat everything sacred!
She lubricates her mother's feet.
The woman with the petals of the flower says:
May the Air bless this mother and child. Glide in hurricanes, rejoice in the power of the moving spirit, dance in a light breeze while enjoying the small joys of the spirit!
Sprinkles the petals of the flowers on top of the mother.
Mothers share their experiences of motherhood, hug.
Four or more women, mothers, surround the future mother, with a candle and a water container in one hand, a platter in the other where you can wash the future mother's feet, a third oil, and a fourth flower petals. Other women also come to the circle. The director of the ceremony states:
Ceremony Example:
We are here to celebrate and bless (name of future mother). This is a circle of mothers, some of us are still virgins, some mothers, some grandmothers, wise women. Some of us have borne a baby in our womb like you and have given birth like you will soon. Some of us have not given birth. But we all nourish the land, grow plants, trees, care for living beings, people, small and large. As caregivers, we are mothers, we feed the body, mind, and spirit. This circuit of mothers is here to bless your motherhood.
The woman with the candle says:
Come bless this mother and child. Let the face become strong and pure in your hearts!
She takes a bowl of water above the candle and close to her mother.
A woman with a bowl of water says: May Water bless this mother and child! May your heart flow in the rhythm of the great sea, washing away all that is an obstacle! She washes her mother's feet.
The woman who has the oil says:
May the Earth bless this mother and child! Wander charmingly in the mighty mountains and deep valleys, move in beauty, treat everything sacred!
She lubricates her mother's feet.
The woman with the petals of the flower says:
May the Air bless this mother and child. Glide in hurricanes, rejoice in the power of the moving spirit, dance in a light breeze while enjoying the small joys of the spirit!
Sprinkles the petals of the flowers on top of the mother.
Mothers share their experiences of motherhood, hug.
