Simple but Lovely Indian Birthdays

by Gurdev
(Sacramento)

My family’s birthday traditions in the rural part of northern India were always modest, but lovely in their simple details. When I was very young, I remember we would have small birthday parties with a variety of Indian sweets.

Small appetizers that are easy and cost effective to make, such as samosas, would be served for a small gathering of immediate family. Relatives would work throughout the morning to prepare food to serve. Children searched around the local village to see if they could snag a balloon or two from a local shop to blow up.

The table where the food was to be served was decorated with beautiful marigold flowers. The festive bright oranges and reds added to the atmosphere of a celebration. The birthday person was to receive some marigold crushed on their forehead and between their eyes ... a gesture for good luck!

The Indian concept of a birthday party has been influenced by British colonization of India. Having a birthday cake and a small celebration are things not native to most Indian cultures.

For example, both of my parents had little idea of when their actual birth date was, because such record-keeping was not a necessity in their village or culture, as it is in the United States.

Luckily, celebrating birthdays had become an adopted tradition by the time I was born! We even had small and modest boxed cakes.

Though our birthday celebrations in rural India were sparse, often without gifts, they were also lovely in their simplicity!