Namkaran (Naming Ceremony)
🕒 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
- Buttermilk, Roli, Moli, dry henna, and a rupee coin (for mother's bath)
- Turmeric to color the baby's clothes (Potra)
- A decorative toy parrot (to hang in the house)
- Two stools (Paata)
- Yellow cloth (Peela) to cover the mother
- Chhuchhak gifts from maternal family (gold chain, silver plate, clothes, etc.)
- Jaggery Lapsi
- Lacquer bangles (Lakhesari)
Step-by-Step Instructions
1
First Day: The mother's head is washed with buttermilk mixed with Roli, Moli, henna, and a coin.
2
The baby's clothes (Potra) are colored yellow with turmeric.
3
Naming Day: A toy parrot is hung in the house. Two stools are placed facing the sun.
4
The mother sits with the baby in her lap on one stool, and her husband on the other.
5
A Brahmin extracts the auspicious name. The mother's brother covers her with a yellow cloth (Peela) and gifts are exchanged.
6
Chhuchhak: The maternal family (Pehar) presents gold, silver, clothes, and other gifts to the mother and child.
7
Jaggery Lapsi is offered to four specific deities in four different pots.
8
Lakhesari: The mother wears lacquer bangles that are ceremonially heated over embers or a candle, then cooled with water.