Naming Ceremony- A Ritual, A Peace of Happiness
A naming ceremony is a procedure or a moment where a newborn is assigned with a name. It is considered to be one of the most auspicious occasions for a child as well as the child’s family. The ceremony is known by various names in different cultures. The ceremony is celebrated like an occasion along with family and friends. It is also a way to celebrate the occasion of a newborn in the family.
Various cultures have various customs and traditions to follow this vital tradition. It allows one to get the blessings of family and friends for the baby. In some religions, people also worship their respective almighty to get their blessings for a healthy and peaceful life of the child. Hence this tradition holds importance in the child’s life. It is said that a name defines the personality of a child. Therefore it is kept with lots of love and with a lot of suggestions as well.
The procedure of the ceremony
Baptism in Christianity, Namkaran or Namakarana Sanskar in Hinduism, Nool Kettu in Kerala, Baarsaa in Maharashtrians, Thottil in Tamilians or may it be any other caste or religion the purpose is to joyfully name the new member of the house. The ceremony is kept on various days according to the various cultures. Few cultures prefer to keep the ceremony on the 11th day of the birth of the child while a few prefer to keep it on the 25th or 26th day after the birth of the child. The ceremony involves suggesting various alphabets for the child with the help of the holy priest. The custom of deciding the name of the child also varies according to various cultures.
According to Hinduism, it is the paternal aunt who decides the name of the child while according to Islamic religion the parents decide the name of the child. According to tradition in Kerala, the paternal grandmother or grandfather whispers the name of the child thrice in the infant’s ear and then announces it to all. Later the procedure is followed by celebrating the occasion with meal and enjoyment with family and friends. People may also bring some gifts for the child to bless the infant with good health, happiness, and peace.
Things required in the ceremony
If it is a ceremony there are a lot of things and reparation involved to complete it. The things may vary from culture to culture but few of the things are the common ones. If the ceremony is not done according to the respective custom and tradition it is said to be an incomplete one. Hence one needs certain items or commodities to complete the ritual correctly.Let us have a glance at some of the basic things required to complete the procedure:In case of a ceremony done according to Hinduism
- Flowers
- Sweets
- Ghee (clarified butter)
- Honey
- Leaves of a mango or banana tree
- Sandalwood sticks
- Vermilion, and many more to mention.
Services required
To perform such ceremonies it is not just a cakewalk. People need various types of services right from the start until the conclusion of the ceremony.Let us have a look at the queue of various services required for the ceremony:
- People to book a hall or a venue to perform the ceremony if it is to be done somewhere else apart from the house
- Caterers
- Decorators
- Photographer
- Holy priests
- People to provide traditional things required in the ceremony
- And many other services to jot down
Therefore may the ceremony be done in any of the cultures or religions the sole purpose of praying for the child’s joy, happiness, prosperity, and good health should be accomplished.
