THE GOAN | PANAJI
“If it is a girl, celebrate with barfi or jalebi; if it is a boy, laddoo or pedha.” While sweets have long been associated with the arrival of a newborn, the reason for celebrating is beginning to matter more than the child’s gender. For many families, the biggest joy lies in having a healthy mother and baby, regardless of whether it is a boy or a girl. As the International Day of the Girl Child approaches, parents look back on the birth of their daughters, sharing the emotions, memories, and little moments that made the day unforgettable.A long-awaited joy
For Mrudula and Shavan, the birth of their daughter brought overwhelming happiness, especially as theirs was a family with a majority of boys. “We were all really looking forward to having a baby girl,” says Shavan. Although people kept telling Mrudula she would have a boy during her pregnancy, she always felt otherwise. “I always prayed for a girl and wanted her to be a girl. And there she was,” she says. Shavan recalls being emotional and nervous when he first held his daughter. “I cried when I first saw her and held her,” he says. The couple had also thought about the values they wanted to pass on to their daughter, while recognising the challenge of balancing those inherited from older generations with changing times.
A journey of love
For some families, celebrating a daughter is a continuation of the love and acceptance they have grown up with. “My parents have two daughters and three granddaughters, and both sets of grandparents have showered us with love, never once expressing the absence of a boy,” says Sonia. From travelling with her daughters and watching them sing, dance and play sports to cheering them on at performances, motherhood has brought her immense happiness. Seeing them do well in their Class 10 and 12 examinations and confidently choose their own courses has made her especially proud. “Being their mother has been one of the most beautiful journeys of my life,” she says.
Breaking stereotypes
For Anwesha Singhbal, mother of a “2.5-year-old wonder”, having a daughter was something she deeply wished for, especially as she believes gender equality still has a long way to go. “People often ask me if I am a feminist, sometimes with a smirk, as though being one is a crime,” she says. While she is glad to see families genuinely celebrating their daughters, it pains her to see educated couples go through two or even three pregnancies in the hope of having a boy. “And here I am, hoping to raise my only daughter in the best possible way. It is not easy, but it is a journey I embrace with all my heart,” she says. Her daughter’s arrival brought joy to family and friends, who visited their home every day after her birth, as it had been a long time since a baby had arrived among them. Anwesha believes growing up surrounded by people has shaped her daughter’s love for company, as she enjoys community gatherings and spending time in the neighbourhood. For Anwesha, raising her daughter means giving her the freedom to grow, the confidence to question and the courage to be herself, so that she is celebrated for who she is rather than judged by the gender she was born with.
Simple celebrations
The joy of welcoming a daughter, however, need not always come with grand celebrations. For Yash and Isha, it was a simple treat that marked the grand occasion. Yash still remembers the nurse pricking the baby and making her cry, but what stands out most for him is how the family celebrated her arrival. “The birth of our baby girl was celebrated by eating a Chocobar!” he says. He adds that having a daughter has made no difference to how their family views or treats a child, with no distinction between a girl and a boy.
Double the happiness
For Vijay and Usha, the happiness of welcoming a daughter was something they had looked forward to even before their first child was born. Their joy only grew when they welcomed a second daughter, as having girls was something they had both wished for. “The first time, we always wanted a daughter, and the second time too, we were very happy to have another girl,” says Usha. Vijay shares the same sentiment, saying he was always happy to have two daughters rather than two sons.
Beyond celebrations
While every family celebrates a daughter’s arrival differently, the joy of welcoming her is only the beginning. As concerns over the safety of women and girls continue to spark protests across the country, these stories also serve as a reminder of the world girls grow up in. Beyond the celebrations, what matters is that every girl feels safe, valued and cherished in the place she calls home.
