The birth of a child is always considered auspicious and every child has got a different identity and hence, it is required to provide a name to the child. The naming ceremony of the child marks the beginning of the journey of his life. The Namkaran ceremony means just that and it is the first real ceremony held for the newborn child by the Hindus. "Nama" literally means name and "Karana" means to make, to effect.

This ceremony is mostly held on either the 11th, 12th (when the child`s horoscope is formally drawn up), or one hundred and first day of the birth of the child depending on the different caste rituals. Though according to different convention, it is also held after 2 or 3 weeks of the child`s birth or it can be held on any day after the 10th day and before the first birthday. Since it is a happy occasion, all the friends and relatives are invited to be a part of this ceremony.

According to the Grihyasutras, there are certain requisites to selecting a name for the baby. This is the name that the child is will be called. It depends on the culture, religion & education of the family, and should be auspicious.

According to the Rig Veda, a child of either sex should be given four names:
1. Nakshatra Name: This is given according to the constellation, or Nakshatra, the child is born under. Each constellation has a name, and several letters of the Sanskrit alphabet are also assigned to it. The Nakshatra name could therefore be the name of the constellation itself, or begin with any of the letters assigned to that constellation.

2. Name of the Deity of the Month: Each month of the Hindu calendar is associated with a particular deity, which usually has several names. The child`s second name is one of the names of the deity of the month in which it is born.

3. Name of the Family Deity: Every Namkaran family has one deity who has been worshipped for generations. The name of this deity is given to protect the child from evil.

4. The Popular Name: This is the name that the child is known by. It depends on the culture and education of the family, and should be auspicious. According to the Grihyasutras, there are five requisites to naming a child: the name should be easy to pronounce and sound pleasant; it should contain a specified number of syllables and vowels; it should indicate the sex of the child; it should signify fame, wealth, or power; and it should be suggestive of the caste of the family.

However, this system is rarely followed these days. The usual practice is to give one formal name and, if necessary, a short name by which the child will be called. The usual practice is to give one formal name and, if necessary, a short name by which the child will be called. Some people coin a suitable name from a combination of the parents` names. In certain communities, the first child is named after the paternal grandparent; in others, the first son is given the same name as the father.

The reason for the naming ceremony to be after the 10th day, is specifically since, the first ten days of the post-natal period are considered "impure" time for the mother and child. Thus, on the day of the ceremony the mother and child are given a ritual bath and the house is cleaned and purified. After this, the mother swathes the baby in a piece of new cloth, applies kajal to its eyes and makes a little beauty mark on the cheek. Then, at the auspicious time, the newborn is placed in the cradle decorated with colorful flowers and ribbons. All the women gather around the cradle and sing the traditional naming ceremony songs rhyming with the newborn`s name. Traditionally, the female participants used to bring rice grains and sugar along with toys to mark this auspicious event.

The Namkaran puja involves, other than the child and priest, the father, mother, and sometimes the paternal grandmother. It is either held at home or in a temple where the priest offers prayers to all the gods and to the Agni, the elements, and the spirits of the forefathers, and entreats them to bless and protect the child. He also places the sheet on which the child`s horoscope is written, in front of the image of the deity, for its blessings. Then the baby is then placed in the father`s lap to be blessed and then he whispers the chosen name in the child`s right ear, by using a betel leaf or its silver imprint, or a few leaves of kusa grass to direct the words in his ear. After the naming ritual is over, friends and relatives who have come for the ceremony, bless the child and touch some honey or sugar to its lips. It is a moment of all-round happiness if the baby smacks its lips.

In certain Hindu communities the naming ceremony of the newborn takes place after three months. The baby can no longer be placed in a cradle up to three months old. In these ceremonies a sturdy colorful (red or green) piece of cloth is used to hold the baby. This cloth is also filled with items of good omen - such as nagarvel paan (green chewing pan), supari (betel nuts), haldi (turmeric), dry cuts, moong and coins of one rupee and quarter rupee denominations. (In Hindu mythology one and quarter is a sign of good luck).

In some Traditions, the aunts (the father`s sisters) hold the four corners of the cloth in which the baby lies. The aunts then gently swing the cloth, imitating the movement of a cradle, while the female participants continue singing traditional songs. A typical song sung at a naming ceremony is: "Oly Jholy Pipal Paan, Fui e Padyu Baby Nu Naam".