Birth Rites

Rites and rituals are rooted in every social & religious activity of the Sikkimese Bhutias. No social activities can be performed without following the rites and rituals respectively. Right from the new born child till the death of a person ritual practices is carried out in all respects. There are also some ritual practices to be carried out respectively during the birth, marriages and funerals of the Bhutias. On the basis of combination of individual “Lop-ta” or astrological signs and mystical marks the rituals are carried out. Traditionally specific date & time are strictly followed during the entire process from the initial stage. Rituals are performed for good luck, prosperity and good health, appeasement of house gods and guardian deities through the means of offering.

Among the Bhutias, there are no restrictions on the mother during the phuchain or pregnancy. Even after the birth, there are no restrictions as such though the mother and the child are kept in a separate room then. The mother usually goes back to her household work as soon as she feels strong enough. Three days after the birth, a lama performs a purification ritual of the child, the mother and the house. The baby is fed tiny amount of butter mixed with a few drops of honey, and from the second day onwards, it is given powdered rice mixed with butter. The naming ceremony of the baby called the phangsang or phyakay is held on an auspicious date which is set depending on the recovering mother and child. During this ceremony, the lama names the baby and is given a khada and money in return. A feast is hosted by the new parents for relatives and friends. The maternal uncle usually gifts the baby with cash and other presents. In some cases, parents seek astrologer’s help to prepare birth chart of the child in which the details of his/her life are predicted. In order to overcome the obstacles, the   parents of child perform puja from time to time according to the birth chart.

by Jigme Wangchuk Bhutia and S.D. Dokhampa