Who Will Raise A Finger?

I happen to visit my relative's house in a small town for a family function. It was a Mundan ceremony of his newborn son. I had heard about this ceremony, which signifies the new life of a child, but I had never attended one before. I was curious to know more about this ritual and the significance it held in the lives of people.

As I entered the house, I saw that it was beautifully decorated with flowers and lights. The room was filled with the fragrance of incense sticks, and I could hear the old ladies singing the auspicious songs. They all wore traditional dresses, and their faces glowed with joy and excitement.

My friend greeted me with a smile and introduced me to his wife and their newborn son. The baby looked adorable in his tiny clothes, and I couldn't help but smile at him. My friend then explained to me the significance of the Mundan ceremony and how it was supposed to be a milestone in his son's life.

He told me that shaving the head of a newborn child was considered auspicious in their culture. It was believed to be a way of getting rid of the negative energies and promoting good health and fortune. He also mentioned that the ceremony was a way of introducing the child to the family and friends and seeking their blessings.

As we were talking, an elderly lady entered the room, and my friend introduced her as his grandmother. She was the eldest member of the family and was responsible for conducting the ceremony. She began instructing my friend and his wife about the procedure of the ceremony, and I could see how excited and happy they were.

A small pire was lit in the center of the room, and the smoke started spreading all around. The baby started crying, and my friend's wife became anxious. However, in the name of tradition, they were asked to continue with the ceremony, and the child was given a small shave on his head.

I was shocked to see how the baby was made to suffer in the name of customs and traditions. I couldn't bear to see the little one crying, and I immediately went to my friend and asked him why he was keeping his son weeping. I explained to him that this practice was outdated and could harm the child's well-being.

He looked at me with a confused expression, and I could see that he was torn between his beliefs and his child's comfort. I explained to him that we should follow traditions, but not at the cost of someone's pain and suffering. I told him that education had taught us to think critically and not blindly follow customs.

My words struck a chord with him, and he realized that he had been wrong. He apologized to his wife and child and promised to make things better. He thanked me for opening his eyes and making him realize the importance of being responsible and conscious towards their child's well-being.

The ceremony ended with a small feast, and everyone blessed the child. I could see that my friend and his wife were relieved and happy, and the baby had stopped crying. As I was leaving, my friend came up to me and thanked me once again. He told me that he had learned a valuable lesson and that he would make sure that his child's well-being was always his top priority.

I left his house with a sense of satisfaction, knowing that I had made a small but significant contribution to someone's life. I realized that traditions and customs were an essential part of our culture, but we should never forget to evaluate them critically and be responsible towards our actions.