Indian Baby Shower

Hey everyone! We had our Indian baby shower on October 10, 2010 at the Hindu Temple & Cultural Center from the house. It was interesting and different to say the least. My parents got to come up here. Tim's parents and family were cooking for the shower a month in advance and stayed up the night before to prepare all the food for the shower. The priest performed a special pooja or prayer for the baby and our family. I didn't understand a word, and Tim was overwhelmed repeating everything without a break. Well, here's the pictures from the shower. (I'll try to explain what was going on to the best of my ability. Everything is a different type of blessing.)

 My parents and in-laws before the baby shower!

 All my little cousins and brother-in-law. I'm "bhabhi" or "sister-in-law" and very important!

 My aunt Mittal and her kids. She helped us get ready for the shower.

 My mother-in-law and I.

 My sweetheart.

 Tim and I praying during the opening part of the baby shower.

 The priest tying a prayer bracelet on Tim.

 Me holding the sheet to protect my shadhi during the ceremonies for luck.

 The females of the family making me into a goddess. In Indian religion and culture, a pregnant woman is considered as high as one of their goddesses. (Or at least that's what the priest told me...)

 This is the ceremony where items for luck (wheat, sugar, money, a coconut, etc.) are placed in my shadhi and dropped into the dish 7 times. Part of the ceremony is not dropping any items on the ground.

 My grandmother and I.

 At the very end, we were given fruits for blessing. The red marks on my face were from my brother-in-law marking my cheeks for a blessing.

 Tim and I feeding each other the first bites of cake. After, a majority of the family feed us a bite of cake for goodluck.

 Our cousin Nisha performing a dance for entertainment.

Before eating, a lot of people did "garba" or danced to music. Depending on the beat, some dances were faster, others slower.