Chudakarana (mundan) (चूडाकरण)

This is the eighth of the sixteen samskaras, the life-cycle ceremonies of Hindu tradition. It is performed in the first or third year.

What it is

The first haircut, in which the child's head is shaved or a lock is cut. Parents take the child to a temple, a river or the family deity's place. In some communities the hair is offered at a pilgrimage place such as Tirupati.

What is usually done

A puja, the first cut by a barber or a priest, a bath, a sandal paste on the scalp.

Why it matters to families

The samskaras mark the stages of a life and bring the family and community together at each of them. Families keep as many as suit their tradition and their circumstances. Many keep the ceremonies that remain popular (naming, first food, first haircut, the thread, wedding and last rites) and treat the rest as a prayer of blessing.

See the full list of sixteen.

Read next

• Karnavedha (कर्णवेध)
• Annaprashana (अन्नप्राशन)

These pages describe common practice in plain words. Customs differ by region, community and family, and your own family's tradition and a priest of your community come first. Dates of auspicious times change every year: ask a priest or use a trusted panchang. Nothing here promises any result.