Namkaran (Naming Ceremony)
🛕Hindu Tradition
🕒On the selected auspicious naming day, usually a few days or weeks after birth.
What is this about? (History)
The Namkaran Sanskar or naming ceremony is a joyous event where the newborn child is formally given a name, accompanied by blessings, gifts, and a ceremonial presentation by the family.
Things to Buy / Requirements
- Henna
- Pithi (Wheat flour, Turmeric, Olive oil (Winter)/Ghee, Water mixed on Copper Thali)
- Buttermilk, Roli, Kumkum, Moli, Dry henna, Coin
- Shagun from mayka (Blouse, Slipper, Child's clothes, turmeric applied on center and 4 corner potra, Henna, Pithi, Punchiye)
- Thali
- 2 Stool
- Shagun/Neg
- Yellow Cloth
- Jaggery bheli, Sone ki sidhi
- Chuchak (Clothes, Gold chain, kada, ring, - for both mother and child, silver plate, spoon, bowl, glass,etc)
- Khola (Khola silver bowl packed with khopra, badam, mishri, 500 INR)
- Jaggery lapsi
- Gaddi
- For Lakhesri: Ghugri, water, Candle, Lac ke kade
- For Chhoti choti ka Neg: Moli, Sindur, Jaggery rice
- For Bache ka Neg: Red duppata Red duppata, bajre seeds, 1 rupee coin, 1 kodi
Step-by-Step Instructions
1
If a baby boy is born, then Mangalsaad is performed a day before before Naamkaran. In Mangalsaad, Songs and hymns of Gods/Goddesses (inc Kul Devi) are sung.
2
Henna is applied to Mother before the Naamkaran ceremony. The mother's head is washed with buttermilk mixed with Roli, Moli, dry henna, and a coin.
3
Shagun from Mayka should arrive the day before naamkaran. Pithi is formed of Wheat flour, Turmeric, Olive oil (Winter)/Ghee, Water mixed on Copper Thali. Whereas, Punchiye is formed of pearls, black/blue cheer, gold ghumre, tied on thread).
4
Daughter in law is adorned with saree and jewellery on the day of Naamkaran.
5
Chacha of the baby catches bhabhi's palla. Then the bhabhi gives shagun to him.
6
If a baby boy is born, then the Bhua draws swastik on both the doors of kitchen and beats thali with belan. She is also given Neg.
7
Its better to get the sankhiya done on the thali before anybody beats it. Then the grandmother beats the thali near the child's ear.
8
2 stools are put on the courtyard. Mother takes the child on her lap and sits on one of them facing the sun, whereas the father sits on another stool.
9
Get the naming done by brahman during the shubh muhrat.
10
Mother's brother adorns her with yellow clothes. And the brother gets Neg from his sister's sasural.
11
Sister and Bhua does the arti and gets the Neg.
12
Get the janam kundli created by the priest.
13
If baby boy is born and great grandparents are alive, then Sone ki nisrani is done. Gold stairs are put on the jaggery bheli. Both the great grandparents touch it through their feet.
14
Chuchak is received from the bahu's mayka. They also give juwari and besh to the in laws of the daughter.
15
During naming ceremony, the mayka of bride does the khola of the baby.
16
Take out the ghur lapsi in 4 parts in a plate 1 for each 4 gods/goddess.
17
The mother and baby is taken to kitchen where they are given dhog from puja. The bahu is made to sit on gaddi and given lapsi.
18
During 3-4pm, Lakhesri is done: Bahu is made to wear lac ke kade. Her hands is circled around flaming candle for sometime and then sparkled with some water on it. The ghugri is tied on the bahu's handkerchief.
19
Then Chhoti choti ka neg is done: The jethani or choti saas of bahu, puts moli in choti, sindur on maang, and gives bite of ghur chawaledi to bahu. Then they go to mandir, and get dhog and then bahu seeks blessing from the doer.
20
Then bache ka neg is done: Red duppata is taken where bajre seeds, 1 rupee coin, 1 kodi and bache is put and then made to swing 7 times. 4 kunwari girls hold the duppata from corners.
21
Take out the baby and then the materials on the duppata is made to bounce.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q:Can the naamkaran sanskaar be performed in Jain Viddhi?
Yes. You can get it done by a Jain monk.
Q:Can we use readymade swastik or other stuff?
Yes.
Q:If for any reason, during birth, mother is no more, what will change?
The entire tradition is not followed. Just a simple havan is done.
Q:What if enough Kunwari girls are not their?
Then the same can be done by kunware Boys.
Q:Is chhoti choti ka neg, lakhesri, bache ka neg to be done on same day?
Yes. All to be done on Naamkaran itself.
Q:Can the shagun vary or is strictly by the book?
Yes, shagun can vary.