We were invited to the home of a couple we haven't seen since April. They didn't communicate clearly that it was to celebrate their daughter's first birthday party, which was October 11th. They did mention sacrificing a goat, though.
Apparently, I should've dressed to the hilt in my best dress, bangles, etc. They almost made me change out of my traditional Hindustani apparel into a family member's dress.
The function was a belated thanksgiving offering to Allah for the birth of a baby. This party is called [ah-KHI-kha] and is to be celebrated seven days after a baby is born. If you have a son, you sacrifice two goats, and if you have a daughter, you just sacrifice one goat. This function can be delayed for poorer families until two days before that son or daughter's wedding. In South Asia, that goat becomes an addition to biriyani (rice dish) and the function/party lasts most of the day. For us it went from 5-10pm.
The auntie above was in her own little heaven holding sleeping Emma as I ate biriyani.
Emma made friends with a 13-month-old boy named Imahdaht, whose nickname is Immo. She stood up and took a step toward him and held the pack of tissues in his hand. Immo put his hand on top of Emma's and both smiled.
From that moment on, the joke was that we should start arranging their marriage. Immo could instantly become American and move to the USA with his white bride and an amazing dowry no doubt from his American inlaws. And Emma could be a true Hindustani lady with a proper wedding and volima/receptions. I told them we won't talk (or even think) about weddings until Emma's 25 and out of school.
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