The cradle ceremony: thottilu, uyyala, palna, and how to do it at home

The cradle ceremony is the part of the newborn’s first function that the grandmothers wait for. The priest has finished, the name has been whispered, and now the women of the family gather round a cradle full of flowers and start singing. Everyone else gets their phones out.

It needs very little planning, but the one thing it needs, you cannot get on the morning: the cradle.

Many homes, one cradle

• Kannada homes: thottilu shastra, often on the same day as the naming ceremony
• Telugu homes: the uyyala ceremony, often on the 21st day with the barasala
• Tamil homes: the thottil ceremony, often with the naming
• North Indian homes: the palna, often with the naamkaran or barsa
• Marathi homes: the barsa, with the cradle and songs

The names change. The heart of it is the same: the baby’s first time in a cradle, blessed by the women of the family.

When

Most families do it together with the naming ceremony, on the 11th, 12th or 21st day after birth. Some do it on a separate day the elders choose. If the mother is still recovering, a later date is perfectly fine.

What happens

The details differ by family, but the common shape is:

1. The cradle is decorated and placed in the main room, usually after the naming puja.
2. A small puja to the cradle, with turmeric, kumkum and flowers, in many homes.
3. The baby is placed in the cradle for the first time, often by the grandmother. In some homes the baby is first passed under the cradle, or carried round it.
4. The women rock the cradle and sing. Traditional cradle songs (jogula in Kannada, jola in Telugu, thalattu in Tamil). The married women take turns.
5. Sweets and gifts. Many families give small gifts to the women who sing.

The baby will probably sleep, cry or do both. Nobody minds.

Sort the cradle first

This is the only real task:

• A family cradle. If there is one at a grandparent’s home, bring it out early and get it cleaned and checked. The elders will be delighted.
• Buy or rent. Wooden and cane cradles are easy to find in Bangalore. Do it in the first week after birth, not on day ten.
• Safety. Check the hooks, the ropes or chains, and the frame. A cradle that has sat in a loft for thirty years needs a look before a baby goes in it.

Simple cradle decoration

The cradle is where every photo will be taken, so this is where the decoration goes:

• Flowers on the frame. Marigold strings for the structure, jasmine and a few roses near the baby. Order for the evening before; jasmine wilts by afternoon.
• A soft new cloth inside the cradle, and a small pillow.
• A simple backdrop behind it: a cloth drape, a marigold string, the baby’s name.
• Light. Put the cradle near a window or a good lamp. Photos taken in a dark corner disappoint everyone.

Done with a local flower vendor, this costs Rs 2,000 to Rs 6,000. A decorator’s themed cradle setup costs Rs 8,000 to Rs 25,000. The ajjis will look at the baby either way.

The short version

The cradle ceremony usually happens with the naming ceremony, on the 11th, 12th or 21st day. The women of the family place the baby in a decorated cradle and sing. Find, borrow or buy the cradle in the first week, check it is safe, and decorate it with fresh flowers for Rs 2,000 to Rs 6,000. Put the light where the cradle is.