Jalandhar: 8 families celebrated Maghi with their newborn babies

Jalandhar: While Punjabis celebrate Maghi as an auspicious occasion and the beginning of the new year, at least eight families in Jalandhar celebrated it with the arrival of a new member. Of the eight newborns, six were boys and two girls. The birth of the babies today made the families even more happy. Manoj Kumar, a hairdresser from near Kishanpura Chowk, said he had planned to name his daughter ‘Mannat’. “I hope everyone in our family will accept this name. We had a son earlier and we wanted a daughter this time. With the arrival of ‘Mannat’ our wish has been fulfilled. There couldn’t have been a better day than Maghi for the birth of our baby”, he said. Gurpreet, a resident of Nakodar, also gave birth to a baby girl and named her ‘Anayara’.

“On this special day of Makar Sankranti Anayra has completed our family. Auto driver Jagjit Singh and his wife were blessed with their third child – a son. “We already have an 11-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old son. I had told my wife Priya that I wanted a third child and she fulfilled my wish today,” Jagjit said. Makar Sankranti had no special significance for Aarti and Bablu, a couple hailing from UP. “When we came to the ward with our baby ‘Aniruddh’, the nurse told us that it is a holy occasion in Punjab,” Bablu said. Gagan Mishra and Kanchan, a couple hailing from Bihar, were blessed with a son ‘Anand Kumar Mishra’. Gagan, who is a tailor, said, “Maghi is not our festival, but since we have been in Punjab for the last few years, we know that it has some special significance. The day has become important for us as our first child was born on this day.”