Maharashtra Family Welcomes Baby Girl After Nearly 200 Years with Grand Chariot Procession

India: A family in Maharashtra’s Beed district celebrated the birth of a baby girl after nearly two centuries by bringing her home from the hospital in a flower-decorated chariot amid drums, traditional music and dancing.

The Dahiphale family of Parli Vaijnath said no girl child had been born in their direct ancestral lineage for around 200 years, spanning four generations. The newborn, named Gargi, was welcomed along with her mother, Kalpana Rishikesh Dahiphale, after they were discharged from a local hospital.

Relatives and neighbours joined a festive procession as the mother and baby were seated in an elaborately decorated chariot. The homecoming featured dhol-tasha (traditional drums), cymbals, folk dancing, fireworks and distribution of sweets. Family members performed a traditional aarti upon arrival at their Indiranagar residence.

Grandfather Limbaji Dahiphale, a school headmaster, became emotional while speaking about the occasion. “It is a great fortune to have a daughter in the family. For so many years, we had the regret of not having a daughter, and today that has been fulfilled,” he said.

Grandmother Surekha Dahiphale described the newborn as “Lakshmi” arriving at their home and said the family had decided at the hospital itself to give her a grand welcome.

Father Rishikesh Dahiphale expressed his joy, noting that while many people prefer sons, the happiness of having a daughter is unique. “Daughters are more attached to their fathers. We will raise our daughter like a flower,” he said.

The celebration has drawn praise online and in local circles as a positive message in favour of the girl child.