i think during the golden days..sorry olden days when life expectancy was low due to poor health care or minimal access to quality medicines, there must have been a common feeling that any person who would live long enough to play with their 4th generation kid i.e. son's son's son or grandson's son would go to heaven and as per mythology, steps that lead to the heaven's gate are made of gold. This feeling is not just a feeling but a much celebrated function among the marvari's. I mean they literally make a "sone ki seedi" (golden stairs) and the new born kid's grand-grand-mother takes the golden stairs except that she remains on earth waiting for her turn to go up the heaven. By the way, does this world of heaven and hell really exist? I am told that at Indra's heaven (Indra is the king of gods, lord of heaven) beautiful Apsara's dance, wine is served unlimited, gambling happens etc etc. But if a person enjoy's the same on earth when he is alive then the person is sent to hell !
Before I commit any more sin by saying anything wrong about these "man made theories" on GOD lets get back to the "Golden Stairs" function. The Golden stairs function was held at my in-laws place (my brother-in-law and his beautiful wife were blessed with a baby boy). More than 100 friends and relatives attended the function. Maa (Grand-grand-mother) took the golden stairs with claps and good wishes all around. The function was more like a felicitation ceremony for a mother by her son, for nurturing him throughout the childhood and even into adulthood, for always keeping him above her own comfort and happiness, for teaching him the values to be a good human being, enabling him with the best possible education to make him a successful and respected individual in the society. To me the function is a nice way to make a old lady feel very very special because it is very rare that a 80+ old lady can be a reason for celebration with 100+ guests, I am sure "maa" felt very special on that day and kudos to her son for giving her this day
As part of the function, each one was given a return a gift, closer the relation or friendship higher the cost of the return gift. The "Golden Stairs" function was clubbed with the naming ceremony of the new born. I am not sure if there exists any country other than India where a new born does not have a name for about a month. Anyways, as part of the naming ceremony priest offered prayers to the lord for the new born's long life and then my wife (new born's Aunt) wrote the name on a betel leaf and very slowly cooed "Vedanth" in his right ear. Vedanth now has a name of his own, his birth certificate and passport can be made. Though the name was decided in advance, we were strictly advised not to address the new born as Vedanth till the function is over, its a tradition (reason I do not know)
Lunch followed the function, I checked the menu and I thought I should better wait for dinner :-). The function was not over yet, evening there were some more ceremonies, mini orchestra kind of setup was made. The lady singer sang quite a few traditional folk numbers, some of them started dancing and it was quite entertaining. There were also some individual dances and I am must say these dancers can surely join some dance based reality shows, very talented ! There was also a small skit making fun of family members which was also liked by the guests. Majority of the guests were ladies and most of them seemed to be straight out of some Hindi Daily Soaps. Everything about them was heavy, be it their makeup, their costume, their jewellery or they themselves.
Dinner followed and it was good, I had more than enough and burped ;-). After dinner, the guests leaving home were given return gift(s) for attending the function and showering the little one with love and wishes !
What next, may be "Platinum stairs" !!
