These are kept in covered bowls. The pregnant woman has to choose a bowl. The belief goes that if she happens to choose the bowl of laddoos, she will bear a son, whereas if she happens to choose the bowl of kheer, she will give birth to a baby girl. There is no stipulated set of rites to be performed. The assembled women sing folk songs about children.
Traditional songs pray for the birth of a baby boy.
The expectant mother is usually seated on a decorated swing and women cluster around her. Guests give gifts to the expectant mother, but nothing for the unborn baby, because it is considered inauspicious to give gifts for an unborn child. The baby's ear must be pierced. Ear piercing is done for both sexes. It is believed that unless the baby's ear is pierced, it cannot be named.