Samavartana (समावर्तन)

This is the fourteenth of the sixteen samskaras, the life-cycle ceremonies of Hindu tradition. It is performed at the end of study.

What it is

The ceremony that marks the return of the student from the teacher's home at the end of his education, with a ritual bath. In modern life the nearest thing is the convocation or graduation, often with a prayer or a blessing from elders.

What is usually done

A bath, new clothes, the teacher's blessing, a gift to the teacher.

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

• Vivaha (wedding) (विवाह)
• Keshanta (godana) (केशान्त)

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.