Valaikapu

Valaikapu or the bangle ceremony for an Expectant mother is a special ceremony held on the third trimester of a pregnant woman. The ceremony celebrates her fertility, ensure a safe birth, healthy child, and to honor and protect the pregnant woman from the evil eyes, spirits and ghosts. During this ceremony the mother is dressed in red new sari, new jewelries and a fancy headdress.. The highlight of this ceremony is wearing of the new glass bangles by the mother to be. These bangles are mostly of red and green colour. These bangles are removed only after the delivery of the baby and is then given to the mid wife. The sound of the bangles are supposed to reach the unborn baby in the womb and induces the childes senses.

This ceremony is hosted from the mother to be side of the family. After the ceremony the woman then lives with her parents for the final weeks of her pregnancy.