Traditional Significance Behind 60, 70 & 80th Birthday (2024)

India and celebrations are synonyms. From weddings to birthdays, we go out of our way to pack as much joy, fun and celebration on special occasions as possible. Within the TamBrahm community in Chennai and beyond, there are selected birthdays with great importance. They are:

• Sashtiabthapoorthi – 60th birthday
• Bheemaratha Shanthi – 70th birthday
• Sathabhishekam – 80th birthday

These occasions filled with fun are often celebrated by renewing vows. Typically, the children book the best brahmin wedding halls to commemorate the day. Let’s take a look at the significance of these days in detail.

When a person completes the 70th year of their life, Bheemaratha Shanti is performed. These are rituals and poojas planned and organised by the couple’s children or grandchildren.

Often the 70th celebration happens in the wedding hall so that every family member can commemorate the occasion. The ceremony involves praying to their particular family god and nine homas, which include:

• Ayush
• Lakshmi
• Danvantri
• Ganapathy
• Amurtha Mrityunjeyar

The celebrations continue with Ayul Shanthi Homams and Kalasa abhishekam. Ayul Shanthi is meant to give the couple health and strength. It also lends longevity to their life. It is also a way to boost the couple’s spiritual path by washing away any bad karma. Following the ceremony, the couple exchange garlands, which is when God blesses them.

Overall, the day’s significance is to thank the maker for a healthy life that has been free of trouble.

READ THIS: Sangeet – An Exciting Wedding Tradition

When a person completes his or her 80th year, sathabhishekam is performed. Often it is done seven to eight months after turning 80. Like the 70th celebrations, this is also performed to add more years to the couple’s life, health, and strength.

The story behind sathabhishekam is that a couple has passed 1000 full moons in their life by this point. They now are truly on the spiritual path. More than that, they are considered blessed because they have persevered on a journey that now has three generations in the family.

The rituals of the day are similar to the 70th celebration. A wedding hall is booked so that everyone can witness. The family deity is worshipped after which the couple pays respect to the homas, Lakshmi, Ayush, Ganapathy, Amurtha Mrityunjeyar, and Danvantri.

Following this, Kalasa abhishekam happens, and finally, the wreaths are exchanged. In some Hindu communities’, maangalyam is also performed. This is the tying of the nuptial chain.

The very final ritual is taking the blessings of the couple who are considered avatars of Shiva and Parvathi at this junction. This is a critical part of the celebration because it is believed that you get good karma after being blessed by someone who has completed 80 years.

The Vedas say that these rituals are pariharam, meaning the best remedy to a number of problems like:

• Illnesses
• Health issues

It also gives the couple more mental and physical strength besides adding more life. The partner of the person turning 60, 70 or 80 also gets mangalya bhagya. Another benefit of the celebration is eradicating sins and bad karmas, so they don’t impact the coming generations.

Lastly, performing the ceremony helps people attain moksha – the final goal of all human life. It is for all these reasons you should definitely consider celebrating the occasion.

Organising these milestone occasions at home is not possible in Chennai because space is limited. The celebration involves almost every family member and friend so that the elders can bless them.

It is recommended to opt for a hall like Chennai Convention Centre for the rituals. Located in a prime place, the wedding hall has ample parking facilities. With AC halls available in different seating capacity, you can have elaborate sashtiapthapoorthi, Bheema Ratha Shanthi and Sathabhishekam ceremonies.

From food to decoration to photography, the convention centre plans the entire day so that you are free to enjoy the occasion. Ready to book the hall? Call now!