Upanayana (janeu or sacred thread) (उपनयन)

This is the eleventh of the sixteen samskaras, the life-cycle ceremonies of Hindu tradition. It is performed between eight and twelve years, traditionally.

What it is

The ceremony in which a boy of a family that follows it is invested with the sacred thread (yajnopavita) and taught the Gayatri mantra. It marks the start of formal learning. It is performed by many Brahmin families and by some others, and it is called janeu in the north and poonal or munja in other regions. Customs about girls differ by community; some modern groups, such as the Arya Samaj, invest girls too.

What is usually done

A havan, shaving of the head, the thread, the teaching of the mantra by the father or teacher, and begging for alms (bhiksha) in symbol.

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

• Vedarambha (वेदारम्भ)
• Vidyarambha (aksharabhyasa) (विद्यारम्भ)

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.