Indian Baby Shower Photography

On occasion I will get photo work from a studio that I have worked with in the past. When the opportunity comes you say yes and make a couple of bucks. I am never afraid to take on a different or challenging assignment, in this case it was an Indian Baby Shower

My experience with baby showers has been the common western / christian traditional shower. mother to be walks into  a room, a bunch of women yell “Surprise!” , they drink punch, and coo over little baby outfits.  This was the polar opposite of what expected.

In the Indian culture the baby is blessed in a ceremony before the birth. This is done in a temple with about 300 of their closest friends and family. As the child is being blessed the parents look on attentively and close family surrounds them. On the other side of the room the rest of the crowd chats and eats, almost ignoring the whole event.

Blessing the unborn child

The Dad and Mom to be sit on a stage while the child is blessed and the smell of flowers and incense fill the air. the mother is panted and milk is poured over Indian deities, the mother is gently slapped in the face by young men, and strings are tied to the wrist.  As you look through the pictures please bear in mind I am an old Irish Catholic  and i am documenting this event from a truly unique perspective.

Celebrating the event.

As with any event in any culture when ever you get a a large group of people together you’ll get dancing, games being played and a renewal of the bonds that exist in community. please enjoy my pictures