Annaprashana

This is then followed by the feeding of rice in the form of a sweet pudding called kheer that is considered a holy food in Hindu religious ceremonies.

Ancient Hindu texts (Smriti) provide detailed instructions relating to the performance of this rite of passage (saṃskāra) including the type, quality, and quantity, and the cooking process for the solid food that the child should be fed.

In Malayali culture, the annaprashana is called the cōṟūṇŭ or cōṟūṇal and the ceremony is held in a temple in the child's sixth month.

[11] The baby is dressed in a traditional kasavu, placed on an uncle or parent's lap, then blessed with sandal paste, tulsi leaves, and flowers by the temple priest.

An auspicious date and time is chosen by an astrologer, usually a Hindu, and all the closest relatives are invited to witness and to celebrate.

The baby is dressed in saffron silk cloth (although modern families will often put a diaper (nappy) on, to minimize accidents.)

After the baby has eaten, she or he will undergo another extensive puja (worship ceremony) often led by a priest and accompanied by chanting from ancient scriptures.

For the rest of the day, the baby is dressed in a special outfit, usually made of red velvet and embroidered with silver and golden thread.

These ornaments include heavy silver anklets (kalli) carved with dragon at both the ends to keep the bad omens away from baby.

In some Newari communities, it is also common for sons to have upper lobe of the right ear pierced with gold ornaments with different beads.