Literally it means milk but what is implied is yoghurt. Whenever a lady is in the family way,
she needs to inform her in-laws so that due care is taken of her health, diet and other comforts. It
was difficult for her to convey this news to her in-laws with the same ease with which she could to
her mother or sister in her parental home. Therefore, after her parents get the information, she was
asked to carry two gadvis (metal pots) full of yoghurt and place one each in front of her father-inlaw
and mother-in-law. This was meant to be a signal to them that now is the time to take extra
care of their daughter-in-law. Alas! this custom has lost its original significance and has turned into
a bad social custom. A huge quantity of yoghurt is now-a-days expected to be received from the
parents of the girl, which is distributed among the relatives as if to give publicity to the event. A
gala feast is also organised by the family and the lady concemed comes from her parents' home
with new dresses and other costly gifts.
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