[Psalm82:3]

We're set to begin adoption by February, and in the meantime while we wait I want to learn more about their customs and culture- especially as it relates to the adoption itself.
We've heard that with adoptions in India they do a special giving and recieivng ceremony in the orphanage when you pick up your child. I'm so curious to learn more about this custom, but I can't find any info at it. Can anyone tell me a little more about it?

[sak9645]

Actually, the "Giving and Receiving Ceremony" is a Vietnamese practice. Vietnam is no longer open to Americans.

Sharon

[Psalm82:3]

Thanks Sharon. That's good to know. We have a cousin who was adopted from Vietnam a few years back, and it was a country we'd considered in the past.

I'm pretty sure that India has some sort of adoption ceremony as part of the Hindu religion. We'd heard of one couple being part of such a ceremony when they adopted- it could have been just their specific orphanage, and not a country-wide practice...? From what I heard it involved placing bindi's on the adoptive parents foreheads and they agreed to love and care for the child. That's all the info I have though, which may be all the ceremony is anyway. Just curious if anyone has gone through this ceremony and can offer any more details and cultural perspective.

[bigboy1967]

Hi Psalm82:3

I believe each orphanage does a ceremony, some are long and some are very short. But what you described is pretty standard; some just make it much more elaborate.

Bigboy