Birth continues life on the earth. This is why the occasion of a child’s birth becomes celebration. Parents, kith and kin walk on cloud nine. The extreme delight springs out. Their lineage continues with the birth of their heir.

What is Naamkaran Sanskaar?

Naam stands for name while Karan implies ‘to affect’. The conjunction of these two determines the name of the infant.

Deciding name of the infant on an auspicious date and time is ‘Naam Karan’. Performing it in a ritualistic way as per customs is ‘Sanskaar’.  Its motto is to keeps the evil spirits away from the infant.

How Hindus observes ‘Naam karanam’?

Each culture and community follows different format for observing this ceremony. In Hindus, they do it in Aryans’ way. It’s an ancestral ritual.

Some schedule fifth (Panchvi) or sixth (Chhathi) day post birth whereas some choose the day between twelfth and forty days. This celebration can be a familial affair or grand celebration. Some conduct this ritual in the presence of at least five women while for some it’s a lavished grand celebration.

Hindus consult or book the priest online for deciding an auspicious date and time (Shubh Mahurat). On that pious day, the parents get ready in the new attire. Women in the family make the baby bath before the ceremony.

The ritual begins with the cradle. Ladies sing traditional songs. The aunt covers the baby and the caravan of the ladies visit the well with him/her. But the urban lifestyle has no place for well in the household. So, the mother is accompanied to the tap or water source. She worships it with rice, turmeric powder, betel leaves and nut.

Afterwards, the mother and the baby return. Baby’s aunt gifts gold or silver amulet, anklets, necklace and cloths for the infant. She gifts cradle also. She whispers the name in baby’s ear.

Subsequently, the grand feast takes place. All the guests bring souvenir for the mother and the baby.

How child’s name is decided in Hindus?  

As per Indian Astrology, the priest draws the horoscope of the newly born. After reading it, the initial letter is found. Later, the family decides his/her name with the same initial letter. The decided name depicts the upcoming personality of the baby.