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Mundan ceremony

Mundan or Chadakarana is the next auspicious child’s “first hair” removal ceremony that is performed after Annaprasana and Namakarana. As per the Hindu tradition Mundan ceremony is performed in the 1st year, 3rd year or 5th year of child age, usually this ceremony is conducted before the completion of three years of age of the boy child. Mundan ceremony was prescribed only for boy child but now-a-days it has become a practice to have the ceremony done for girl child as well.

Mundan ceremony involves three rituals of about an hour’s duration these are
1.  Kids parents offer "Ganesh puja"; it is a worship of the Hindu elephant god Ganapati or lord Ganesha
2.  Havan, a purifying fire ritual with a devotional prayer known as the Ayushya Homa mantra and Aarti is performed
3.  Feast and distributing gifts. The last ceremony of distributing gift is often recognized as a social aspect of the Mundan and is generally termed as a Samskar

Barber who shaves the child's head receives honor gifts or money, depending upon the parents social and economically status

In Northern part of India, the Mundan or Chadakarana ceremony is mostly performed in temple of Goddess Durga's preferably located on the hills. In South India, Trupati is the most often visited place for Mundan. People visit Lord Balaji's temple at Tirupati for Mundan Another most visited place for Mundan in south India is Lord Murugan's temple at Palani

Mundan or Shaving the head is termed as "Ayushkarma" in Sanskrit, Ayushkarma means enhancing the life span of the child. Child's hair at the time of birth are weak and not fully covered over whole head. After Mundan the roots of the hair are strengthened and later strong hair grows on baby head

Small hair is generally left at the back known as "Shikha", this is supposed to protect the part of the brain which helps in development of memory

Also See
»   Namakaran, The baby naming ceremony
»   Annaprasana - Baby first solid food feeding ceremony
»   Baby's first birthday celebration