Re: The pregnancy party....Athawansa

[ Follow-ups ] [ Post Follow-up ] [ The Henna Page Discussion Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Kree Arvanitas on September 20, 1999 at 02:34:29:

In Reply to: The pregnancy party....Athawansa posted by Catherine Cartwright JOnes on September 11, 1999 at 18:21:44:

This is a great story - but I am still wondering about the safety of doing a large amount of henna on a pregnant belly. I have read that its not safe in the third trimester up until about the last two weeks of pregnancy because henna, as a coolant, can actually lower body temperature and trigger labor. I would rather not be responsible for somebody going into labor too soon! I tell my clients that if they don't mind going into labor at any time, I'll do the henna, or if they are up to about 6 1/2 or 7 mo's along.
Any further information about this would be appreciated. I have done a couple of pregnant bellies - but only for very late term pregnancies.
Any feedback on this? This aspect of doing henna seems at least as important as giving accurate black henna info.
Ciao, Kree

: Since people seem curious about the floor patterns,(Mandana and
: Rangoli) as they go hand in hand with the henna patterns...here's a
: snip from "Art of Rajasthan" by Jogendra Saksena again....

: "The child birth ceremony in Rajasthan starts long before the child is
: actually born. On the first day of the 8th month called Athavansa, a
: pregnant woman is annointed and then bathed in perfumed water, her
: hands and feet are decorated with lovely Mehndi designs and then she
: is bedecked with gorgeous clothes and ornaments. After this is over,
: she is seated on a cauki (wooden seat) and blessed by placing in her
: lap sweets, dry and green fruits and a coconut. This ceremony is
: called "god bharna" i.e. filling of the lap. On this day a particular
: Mandana called Athvansa-do-cowk is drawn on the beautifully finished
: ground. It is not necessary that this particular design alone should
: be drawn in all the compartments of the house, which are cleansed with
: cowdung on this ceremonial day.
:
: "After child birth, the third and the sixth day's ceremonies, called
: "carua" and "chathi" respectively, are not so important as is the
: "Suraj" ceremony, celebrated on the 10th day. On this day the mother
: "jacca" comes out of her apartment for the first time with the
: newlyborn babe in her lap, to glance at the sun in the sky. This
: ceremony, known as the "Namakarana Sanskar Divas" or the name-giving
: day, takes place after the "havan' is over and the child is baptised.

: "Whole house is cleansed and floors are besmeared with cowdung on the
: Suraj ceremony day, earth is mixed in the dung for producing the
: seasonal efect. Then the floors of various rooms, apartments and
: courtuqrd in the house are decorated with Mandanas, herein
: "Suraj-ko-cowk", a particular design for this day, figures
: priminently. "Suraj-ko-cowk" is circular in form and similar to a
: "Kunda" scribed on the "Makar Sankranti" day. As a symbol of the sun,
: a circle of a "Kunda" is quite relevant, and significant on this
: occasion."

: I have these and other designs ready as pattern sheets for henna
: artists.....just email and ask, and I'll send them to you free as
: gifs. What you use to besmear and cleanse your house on ceremonial
: occasions is your own decision.

Follow-ups:

Re: The pregnancy party....Athawansa CAtherine Cartwright Jones 04:16:17 9/20/99 (0)

Post a Follow-up

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: This is a great story - but I am still wondering about the safety of doing a large amount of henna on a pregnant belly. I have read that its not safe in the third trimester up until about the last two weeks of pregnancy because henna, as a coolant, can actually lower body temperature and trigger labor. I would rather not be responsible for somebody going into labor too soon! I tell my clients that if they don't mind going into labor at any time, I'll do the henna, or if they are up to about 6 1/2 or 7 mo's along. : Any further information about this would be appreciated. I have done a couple of pregnant bellies - but only for very late term pregnancies. : Any feedback on this? This aspect of doing henna seems at least as important as giving accurate black henna info. : Ciao, Kree : : Since people seem curious about the floor patterns,(Mandana and : : Rangoli) as they go hand in hand with the henna patterns...here's a : : snip from "Art of Rajasthan" by Jogendra Saksena again.... : : "The child birth ceremony in Rajasthan starts long before the child is : : actually born. On the first day of the 8th month called Athavansa, a : : pregnant woman is annointed and then bathed in perfumed water, her : : hands and feet are decorated with lovely Mehndi designs and then she : : is bedecked with gorgeous clothes and ornaments. After this is over, : : she is seated on a cauki (wooden seat) and blessed by placing in her : : lap sweets, dry and green fruits and a coconut. This ceremony is : : called "god bharna" i.e. filling of the lap. On this day a particular : : Mandana called Athvansa-do-cowk is drawn on the beautifully finished : : ground. It is not necessary that this particular design alone should : : be drawn in all the compartments of the house, which are cleansed with : : cowdung on this ceremonial day. : : : : "After child birth, the third and the sixth day's ceremonies, called : : "carua" and "chathi" respectively, are not so important as is the : : "Suraj" ceremony, celebrated on the 10th day. On this day the mother : : "jacca" comes out of her apartment for the first time with the : : newlyborn babe in her lap, to glance at the sun in the sky. This : : ceremony, known as the "Namakarana Sanskar Divas" or the name-giving : : day, takes place after the "havan' is over and the child is baptised. : : "Whole house is cleansed and floors are besmeared with cowdung on the : : Suraj ceremony day, earth is mixed in the dung for producing the : : seasonal efect. Then the floors of various rooms, apartments and : : courtuqrd in the house are decorated with Mandanas, herein : : "Suraj-ko-cowk", a particular design for this day, figures : : priminently. "Suraj-ko-cowk" is circular in form and similar to a : : "Kunda" scribed on the "Makar Sankranti" day. As a symbol of the sun, : : a circle of a "Kunda" is quite relevant, and significant on this : : occasion." : : I have these and other designs ready as pattern sheets for henna : : artists.....just email and ask, and I'll send them to you free as : : gifs. What you use to besmear and cleanse your house on ceremonial : : occasions is your own decision.

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow-ups ] [ Post Follow-up ] [ The Henna Page Discussion Forum ] [ FAQ ]