While visiting a house in a rural village, I stayed with the family for a few hours. During that time, I observed the family interacting with the infant. At one point, the grandmother was holding the baby and his mother brought out a small dish of oil. The grandmother removed the baby’s cloth underpants and shirt. Then with the baby face down in her lap, she began to rub oil all over the infant. This was not a timid rubbing of oil but a full body massage for the little one. She rubbed his back, legs, and arms and then turned him over onto his back to massage his chest and stomach and head. I had several thoughts as I watched this happening. My first thought was that this was a close bonding exercise and no wonder children are close to their parents. Secondly, I thought that this was also the start of this child’s great sense of balance because he rocked in the grandmother’s lap as she massaged his legs and arms and back.
After the massage, the cloth underpants and shirt were put back on the infant and he was handed to his mother. She fed him and then put him down to sleep. When he awoke, the grandmother bathed him with a little bowl of warm water, a bar of soap and a wash cloth. Using the wash cloth, soap was dabbed all over the baby and then wiped off. Afterwards, he was covered in powder. First, his back side was powdered and then his front side, including his face was powdered. The powder was applied and then gently rubbed in.
Once cleaned and powdered, he was dressed in clean clothes --- clean cloth underpants and a clean shirt. Then black oil was applied to his eyes and a dot to his forehead. I was told that this was mustard oil.
Doing a little research (when I was back in my hostel), I found out that this is called kajal or surma or kohl. I welcome any comments/clarifications from my Indian friends about this tradition…Here’s a little information that I found from an India website and also a link to Wikipedia:
Applying kohl or kajal or surma to a newborn’s eyes has been an age-old tradition in India and in many countries of the Middle East as well. Well-meaning relatives and friends may advise you to apply surma or kajal to your newborn’s eyes to ward off the evil eye and to make the eyes look bright and large. In fact, an old wives’ tale suggests that applying kajal or surma will help your baby’s become large and attractive. This is a myth!
Paediatricians recommend that your baby’s eyes should be kept free of any application as it can lead to watery eyes, itchiness, and even allergies and infections. Also, when kajal or surma is washed off during a bath it passes down through the nasolacrimal duct, which is a small opening between the eyes and the nose. This is a very tiny opening and the duct is also very narrow. Therefore, the kajal or surma can easily block it and cause infections.
Most commercially produced kajal and surma contain high levels of lead that is harmful for your baby. Prolonged application may result in excessive lead storage in the body, affecting your baby’s brain and formation of marrow in his bones. Some experts also relate the regular use of kajal and surma to anaemia and convulsions.
Furthermore, the cornea or the central, black part of the eye is very sensitive. Dirty fingers, sharp and uneven fingernails can hurt your baby’s eyes. Apart from the immediate pain and the discomfort, your baby may even lose his vision.
If you really wish to apply kajal or surma to your baby for the traditional reasons of warding off the evil eye, it is a better idea to put a small tika on the sole of the foot or at the hairline on the forehead.
Created November 2008
http://www.babycenter.in/baby/newborn/surma-kajal-expert/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohl_(cosmetics)
After the massage, the cloth underpants and shirt were put back on the infant and he was handed to his mother. She fed him and then put him down to sleep. When he awoke, the grandmother bathed him with a little bowl of warm water, a bar of soap and a wash cloth. Using the wash cloth, soap was dabbed all over the baby and then wiped off. Afterwards, he was covered in powder. First, his back side was powdered and then his front side, including his face was powdered. The powder was applied and then gently rubbed in.
Once cleaned and powdered, he was dressed in clean clothes --- clean cloth underpants and a clean shirt. Then black oil was applied to his eyes and a dot to his forehead. I was told that this was mustard oil.
Doing a little research (when I was back in my hostel), I found out that this is called kajal or surma or kohl. I welcome any comments/clarifications from my Indian friends about this tradition…Here’s a little information that I found from an India website and also a link to Wikipedia:
Applying kohl or kajal or surma to a newborn’s eyes has been an age-old tradition in India and in many countries of the Middle East as well. Well-meaning relatives and friends may advise you to apply surma or kajal to your newborn’s eyes to ward off the evil eye and to make the eyes look bright and large. In fact, an old wives’ tale suggests that applying kajal or surma will help your baby’s become large and attractive. This is a myth!
Paediatricians recommend that your baby’s eyes should be kept free of any application as it can lead to watery eyes, itchiness, and even allergies and infections. Also, when kajal or surma is washed off during a bath it passes down through the nasolacrimal duct, which is a small opening between the eyes and the nose. This is a very tiny opening and the duct is also very narrow. Therefore, the kajal or surma can easily block it and cause infections.
Most commercially produced kajal and surma contain high levels of lead that is harmful for your baby. Prolonged application may result in excessive lead storage in the body, affecting your baby’s brain and formation of marrow in his bones. Some experts also relate the regular use of kajal and surma to anaemia and convulsions.
Furthermore, the cornea or the central, black part of the eye is very sensitive. Dirty fingers, sharp and uneven fingernails can hurt your baby’s eyes. Apart from the immediate pain and the discomfort, your baby may even lose his vision.
If you really wish to apply kajal or surma to your baby for the traditional reasons of warding off the evil eye, it is a better idea to put a small tika on the sole of the foot or at the hairline on the forehead.
Created November 2008
http://www.babycenter.in/baby/newborn/surma-kajal-expert/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohl_(cosmetics)
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