Wednesday, April 20, 2011

EAR PIERCING





Ear piercing ceremony is normally done when the child is young. Both the girls and boys get their ears pierced. The auspicious dates for piercing would be odd numbers like 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Ear piercing is done by making the child sit on the laps of his maternal uncle. In Indian families, after the parents, maternal uncle is the next very important person to the child who is believed to have equal rights over the child’s welfare. Maternal uncle here refers to the brother of the mother. In case of the mother not having brothers, then the ceremony will be conducted using cousin brother.
Piercing is done by a professional whom is normally hired for the ceremony. He is referred as Patarr. ThePattar tricks the child into eating a banana and then while the kid is enjoying the banana, he quickly pierces the ears. Gold earrings are used when the child’s ears get pierced. Relatives are invited for the ear piercing ceremony. Some people celebrate this ceremony very grandly by calling their friends along. An auspicious date will be picked from an astrologer in order to hold this ceremony.
Once the piercing is done, the child starts to cry. Normally, sweetmeats or rock sugar is stuffed into the child’s mouth to stop him from crying. Sweetmeats are used as this is a happy, joyous occasion to be marked in the child’s life.
Shaving the head bald is also one custom in the Indian tradition. In most cases, the shaving and piercing are done together at the same time. Staunch families who pray for the well being choose to have this ceremony conducted in the temple. Some choose to have a more private one at home. In Singapore, well off families choose to do it at Community Centres or Clubs.

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