My good friend offered me an opportunity to cover a very special event (baby shower) for her expecting sister, Pushpa. This event was held to celebrate and bless her seventh month of her first pregnancy.
It was a very colourful event and many rites were completely unknown to me previously. Indeed, I learned the various traditional rites when google-ing for more information while writing this blog.
Being my first time, I was less familiar with certain key events, but it was a good learning experience.
Most of the pictures below were shot with prime lenses, particularly the 35 mm. The tremendous difficulty in using only prime lenses to cover a fast event made me purchase the 24-70mm f/2.8 lens a few weeks later. 
1. Tying of jasmine flower gland.
2. A wide angle view of the living hall where the ceremony was held. More and more relatives began to arrive.
The women folk were dressed with their best sarees.
3. On the floor were trays of offerings, consisting of fruits, bangles & bracelets (lots of them), sweets, jasmine flowers, and spices (betel nut and leaves).
4. The ceremony kicked off when Muttu (husband) blessed his wife by sprinkling fragrant water. This was then followed by the rest of the relatives.
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8. Slipping of bangles.
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11. Haldi-kumkum (vermillion) was put on her forehead.
12. Elaborate mehendi (henna) pattern on her hands.
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14. The savouring of sweets.
15. Fed by her mother.
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17. Now we understand why this event is also known as Valaikaappu. It literally means bangles and bracelets, and here the expecting mother was adorned till arms length.
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19. The ceremony ends with Mutukupal, a traditional Hindu rite that is practised commonly in the region of Tamil Nadu.
Mutuku means the back part of the body, and pal means milk.
The milk was first poured from a metal cup onto a shell and betel leaf.
20. Then, the milk was poured down her back, and collected onto a tray.
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More pictures: here.
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Besides, Liyin hates the Kodak 400 with a vengeance.
