Source

USA, February 11, 2005: Here are some suggestions from Meera Publications (“source”) to give your child’s birthday celebrations a Hindu touch:



1) Add “OM” or another Hindu symbol on the birthday cake along with Happy Birthday.



2) Light a lamp instead of blowing out candles. (Hindus symbolize lighting a lamp with a new life, a new beginning, or spreading knowledge. According to one source, blowing out candles was a purely commercial symbol introduced by the Kodak Company in order to have a “photo moment”).



3) During your next trip to India register your child’s birthday in one of the temples of your choice. This will bring a special something – usually a bili patra or a flower as a prasad – to your child on or around the birthday to mark the day.



4) Visit the temple on the birthday. If you can do this on every birthday, this small gesture will be ingrained in a child’s memory forever.



5) Teach your child to take the blessings of the elders – parents included – in the family by touching their feet. If grandparents are away, have your child call them to seek their blessings.



Of course, just like everything else in child rearing, this is much easier if you start when the child is young.



Some of the other topics discussed in this newsletter are: Traits of a Happy Family; Vasant Panchmi – the spring festival and Book of the month. To subscribe to this free newsletter write to mail@meerapublications.com

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