On 27/8, Rishikesh and Kalpana Dahifale of Parli, Beed district, Maharashtra, India, welcomed their daughter, named Gargi. When the mother and baby were discharged from the hospital, relatives prepared a yellow flower-decorated chariot for their return. A procession followed behind, continuously beating drums and scattering flowers on the road. Many local residents also joined the procession.

The family stated that Gargi is the first baby girl born into their lineage in approximately 200 years, spanning five generations of only sons.

The Dahifale family welcomes the first granddaughter of their lineage in Parli city, Beed district, Maharashtra, India. Photo: *Bhaskar English*

Limbaji Dahifale, Gargi's paternal grandfather, shared that for many years, the family had regretted not having a daughter. "Having a baby girl in the house is a great blessing. Our long years of waiting have finally been rewarded," he said.

Surekha Dahifale, the baby's paternal grandmother, referred to her granddaughter as "Lakshmi Devi" — the name of a goddess symbolizing wealth and good fortune in Hinduism.

Rishikesh expressed that the feeling of having a daughter is very different from what he had imagined. The father affirmed that the entire family would care for Gargi with the utmost diligence.

A video of baby Gargi's welcoming ceremony quickly went viral on social media, drawing attention amidst the prevailing preference for sons in India. Statistical reports from the country indicate that during the 2022-2024 period, the birth ratio was 918 baby girls per 1,000 baby boys. Although this figure has increased from 896 during the 2015-2017 period, it remains below the natural ratio (approximately 952 baby girls per 1,000 baby boys).

By Ngoc Ngan (Sources: Times of India, NDTV, Lokmat)