In Barwad village of Belagavi district, Karnataka, a family challenged social norms by celebrating the birth of a baby girl with a grand public procession. Social worker Sambhaji Thorwat and his wife Suman Thorwat organized the celebration to welcome their granddaughter. The newborn, named Vaibhavi, was joyfully brought home in a festive procession featuring traditional music, fireworks, flower showers, and the sharing of sweets.
The procession, starting from the Lakshmi Temple in Ganganagar and ending at the Thorwat residence, was accompanied by rhythmic beats of halgi, ghumke, and zhanj. Streets adorned with rangoli saw residents joining in as petals were showered on the mother and child. Initially mistaken as a celebration for a boy, onlookers were surprised and impressed to learn that the festivities honored a girl child, with many joining the procession in support.
Following the ceremonial ‘gruhapravesh’, ‘jalebis’ were distributed throughout the neighborhood to spread joy and a social message. The parents expressed gratitude for the warm and extraordinary welcome. Grandmother Suman Thorwat likened the newborn’s arrival to the blessings of Goddess Mahalakshmi entering their home.
Sambhaji Thorwat emphasized that the celebration aimed to challenge the stigma surrounding the birth of girls. He highlighted the importance of valuing daughters equally, emphasizing that in a country where Goddesses Mahalakshmi, Durga, and Bharat Mata are revered, girl children should be welcomed with pride. The family’s initiative aimed to inspire society to celebrate the birth of girls with the same enthusiasm as boys.
