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Baby Shower Traditions: Godh Bharai, Seemantham and More

Pregnancy celebrations vary widely. Learn about godh bharai, seemantham, dohale jevan and British customs, and how to blend traditions into a modern shower.

Before you use this guide: This is general educational information, not an individual medical assessment. We do not identify a clinician reviewer on this page, so please confirm personal health decisions with your doctor, midwife or paediatrician.

The modern baby shower, with its games and gift registry, is a fairly recent tradition in the US, UK, Ireland, Canada and Australia. But celebrating a pregnancy is much older and takes many forms. Families often blend their own customs with a modern party, and the result is more personal for it. The details below are general, and they vary by region, community and family, so ask older relatives about how your family does it.

India

• Godh bharai (North India): the name means “filling the lap”. Family and friends bless the mum-to-be and fill her lap with fruit, sweets, dried fruit or coconut. It is often held in the seventh month, though families differ.
• Seemantham or valaikappu (South India): a ceremony for the mum-to-be, often including blessings, flowers and, in Tamil traditions, bangles. The timing and the rituals vary by community. Some families hold it in the seventh month, and others at a different stage.
• Dohale jevan (Maharashtra): a meal in which the mum-to-be is served her favourite dishes and given gifts, in recognition of pregnancy cravings.
• Sadh or shaad (Bengal): a celebration, usually in the later months, in which the mum-to-be is served a spread of dishes and blessed by family.

UK, Ireland and Australia

“Wetting the baby's head” is a long-standing British, Irish and Australian custom in which friends and family, often the father's friends, raise a glass to the new baby after the birth. Baby showers are more recent, but they are now common. In some families, the grandmothers or aunts still host a small tea.

United States and Canada

Showers are well established and often organised by friends or relatives. A “sip and see” is a party held after the birth where friends and relatives meet the new baby.

Celebrations after the birth

In many cultures, the main celebration happens after the baby arrives. Examples include the aqiqah in many Muslim families, often held around the seventh day after the birth, and the “full month” party in many Chinese families, with red eggs and ginger, held about a month after the baby is born. Naming ceremonies are also common in many communities.

Blending traditions with a modern shower

• Ask the mum-to-be and the elders which traditions matter most.
• Include a short ritual, such as a blessing or lap-filling, within a modern party.
• Use traditional food, music, colours and clothes in your decor and menu.
• Explain customs to guests who have not seen them before.
• Keep the mum-to-be comfortable. Some ceremonies involve sitting for a long time, so schedule breaks.

A note about food

Traditional celebrations often include rich sweets and special dishes. If the mum-to-be has gestational diabetes or has been given dietary advice, she can still enjoy the occasion, and friends and family can help by offering lighter options too. Our guide to eating well in pregnancy has more.

Respect every family's way

There is no single right way to celebrate. Some families prefer not to celebrate before the birth, and that is a valid choice. Follow the parents' wishes, and keep the focus on welcoming the baby with love.

This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.