Bhat‐dhara—catching rice: A folk milestone in the development of Bangladeshi children: An investigation of parental beliefs and decision making in introducing young children to family meals

This ethnographic study explores bhat‐dhara ("catching rice"), a cultural milestone in Bangladesh, indicating the child's readiness for family meals. Following focus group discussions on bhat‐dhara concepts, a household rice allocation rule and child heights were obtained from 30 participating families with children aged 2–9 years. Criteria for bhat‐dhara include: eruption of two‐year‐old molars; ability to walk; carry 1–2 kg weight; name and reach for foods, and self‐feed; and a linear appearance. Girls reach bhat‐dhara earlier than boys. A two way causal relationship is suggested between malnutrition and late bhat‐dhara. The bhat‐dhara adaptation may contribute to the following survival mechanisms: protection of infants from cholera through prolonged reliance on breast milk; provision of staple foods for girls to survive toddlerhood despite an ideology that trains them for scarcity; and sanctioning practices that withhold food from weak and unaffordable infants who fail to reach bhat‐dhara.

Key words:

• Cultural milestone
• readiness for food
• infant feeding
• motor development
• Child growth
• malnutrition
• ethnography
• gender bias
• Bangladesh