Alati

Arati or Alati is birth ceremony performed on the birth of a Brahman child. This ceremony is performed following some particular rituals. The married women hold a copper plate with both hands, upon which they place a lamp made of a paste from rice-flour. Oil is put on the lamp and it is lighted. The widow women are not allowed to do this ritual as their presence is thought to be unlucky. The women raise it as high as the head of the person for whom the ceremony is performed. Then a number of times the plate and the burning lamp are circled in that position.

While performing this Arati, sometimes, they fill the plate with water coloured red with a mixture of saffron and other ingredients in place of the lamp. Then they describe their circle in the same as done before. It is said that the aim of performing Arati is to prevent any fascination by the eye and to prevent the accidents which arise out of so called evil eyes of the and jealous looks of certain persons. This ceremony of Arati is quite prevalent among the Hindus and especially among persons of high rank. It is said that these group of people have more enemies than private individuals, who are more exposed to the evil influence of wicked or jealous looks. Therefore, when these people return home after a public appearance, this ceremony of Arati is performed on them. This ceremony is taken as an antidote to the wicked looks, which may have been cast upon them. Due to this, the princes had to face this ceremony several times during a single day.