Hinduism is not just a word or term that needs to be detailed in the context of pan-Indian population. Hinduism pens down its enormous list of religious concepts to its followers, the Hindus. According to ancient historians as well as modern research scholars, Hinduism was such a religious concept and belief that has existed in India since unaccounted and pre-recorded times. The Vedas, the Upanishads, or the Aryans in Indus Valley Civilization for the first time had laid down strict scriptures that had manifested educational and intellectual motives. With passage of time, from the times prior to Christ to times after Christ, Hinduism has come down as the most prevailing and followed religion in India, also the most synonymous. Hindu customary ceremonies in India initially were things of much revelry amongst the highest section of society, with the religious volumes laying down four divisions in caste system: the Brahmans, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas and the Shudras.

It was during these ancient times in Indian history that Hinduism had flourished much, opening its wings to one and all, be it with strict measures or relaxation. Hindu Brahmans, the pandits were the ones who had detailed the true purpose of Hindu customary ceremonies in India, with the phrase implying an essential religious or ceremonious initiation of a child into the common society. And these customary ceremonies commenced from the very birth, ending in death of an individual. To begin with, Jatakarma can be considered as the first customary Hindu ceremony in India, which involves pompous and massive festivities to usher in the child into a family. Many religious mantras are followed in Jatakarma, which also assimilates in the mother of the child, who are both washed out of impurities prior to the birth-stage. Secondly comes Simantonnayana, a ritualistic Hindu ceremony which is solely dedicated to the mother in her fourth month into pregnancy, to protect her and her child from evil spirits. Rigorously following the astrological calendar, the moon`s phase is counted of prime importance in Simantonnayana ceremony.

Annaprashana is yet another customary Hindu ceremony in India, that is followed serially in the third stage in Hindu familial rituals. This very sweet ceremony is done under much fanfare and merriment, with the baby being six to nine months of age. He/she is then first introduced to solid and boiled food like rice or dal. Chudakarma, or shaving of the hair of a child is also known by several other names like Mundan. This comes as the fourth stage in a baby`s life in customary Hindu ceremonies celebrated India, which needs must be observed in the full-moon fortnight time. Karnavedha, the ritualistic Hindu ceremony of piercing the nose or ear-lobe of a child into the third or fifth year in his/her life is the fifth stage in age-old ceremonial list. It is always advised that Karnavedha should be performed before growth of a child`s teeth. Observed amongst multitudinous well-wishers, Nishkraman is the very interesting Hindu ceremony which necessitates the child to be taken out into the basking sun and fresh air and flora. Done by the mother and father of the child concerned, Nishkraman is performed also under astrological calendar.

Upanayana is that customary Hindu ceremony in India that has been abided by since the Vedic times. The concept of Gurukul is very much associated with this very ceremony. Upanayana is followed by the upper three sections in Hindu caste system, implying the boy (girls also in Vedic period) being initiated into the Brahmacharya Ashrama, where his guru teaches him the essentials of weaponry, Vedas and Upanishads. Ushered in with chanting of the Gayatri mantra, Vedrambha is that Hindu ritualistic ceremony which calls for the child to be introduced to studying of the four Vedic scriptures, considered the second stage to Upanayana. Vedrambha very much requires the presence of the child`s guru or Acharya. Warmly welcoming back the child from his gurukul or ashrama, Samavartana implies that Hindu customary ceremony in India that too is prevalent since Vedic times. Samavartana is a significant stage in a child`s life, who has grown up to be a man, ending his Brahmacharya stage, to enter into married life.

Beginning from this Samavartana stage, a man is now prepared to enter into his second stage in life, the matrimonial stage, which further possesses umpteen rituals prior and post-marriage. The wife concerned and her husband are required to go through several religious phases during this significant stage in life, perhaps continuing for the most part in one`s chronological age. Lastly comes the stage of death, of passing away in the customary Hindu ceremonies in India, which again is vastly involved and entwined in rituals post death and during cremation.