(Recorded at Bhudwal village in Bihar)

Childbirth songs are sung in anticipation of a child’s birth, during the birth, and for six to twelve days after a boy,s birth. The songs are ri­tuals in themselves, acts of reverence toward the deities, praying for and rejoicing in the arrival of a child.

The generic name for childbirth songs is sohar (variants: sobhary sohaly and sohtlo). This inclusive term comprises sadhysariya, mangal git, badhdty carua, piparyajawdtn, and a few other song forms. The words sohar, sariya’ and mangal actually appear in many songs. Many of the names of these song forms designate the ceremonies they describe and, are sung at appropriate times during the pregnancy/birth cycle.