The birth ceremony of the Munda tribe is related to the carrying out of several rituals, customs and practises performed both before and after the birth of a child. The main aim behind the performance of birth ceremony is to safeguard the child from all evils and to inculcate basic values in him.

Birth in Munda Tribe
When a pregnancy is discovered the Mundas engage in making preparations to offer sacrifices to their deity Garasibonga, believed to take care of the pregnant woman. The expecting woman`s father or brother are informed and are welcomed to her house. A date is fixed on which a fowl is sacrificed in the name of Garasibonga and offerings are made to him. The woman after the ritual is regarded as ceremoniously polluted and is forbidden from touching anyone or any objects. Members of the tribe are restricted form entering into the confinement room or to accept food room her. The state of ceremonial pollution is observed for nine days after which the umbilical cord is secretly placed in a ditch outside the house. In certain cases it is also placed inside the courtyard to prevent anybody from casting magic on it.

After a period of nine days the mother and her child is taken to a nearby pond where they are bathed upon which they are believed to be pure to prepare food and to be touched by anybody.

Chhathi in Munda Tribe
Chhathi is a purification ritual celebrated to sanitize from social uncleanness caused by the birth of a child. The ritual is celebrated after 3, 6, or 9 days after the birth of the child. In the morning the family members and the invitees get their hair shaved and later anointed with oil. The hair of the new born baby is also shaved and stored in a leaf cup. The mother accompanied by a woman arrives to a nearby pond or stream carrying with her the clothes worn by her at the time of birth as well as the baby`s hair that is later thrown into the water. After the application of turmeric and oil kept in three different leaf cups, the mother, her baby and the other woman who assisted during the delivery period take bath. After bathing the mother-in-law of the child`s mother offer water to the later by means of her joined palms. The mother then throws the water towards her back thrice from her left hand side and thrice from right hand side. They then wash their faces and return home. The mat used by the mother before Chhathi is taken to the village pond and burnt there.

The house is smeared with cow dung, lined in various patterns with dough of rice flour and then with vermillion. A low sitting stool is placed in the middle under which paddy grains are kept. The father along with the child in his lap occupies the stool surrounded by guests and the family members who shower blessings on the baby.

Naming in Munda Tribe
The day following the Chhathi is celebrated as the naming day of the child. The bhayads of the child`s father are invited for the ritual. The mother sits with the child in her lap. A big brass or bronze and in some cases leaf cups filled with water are placed before the child. A grain of pearl rice is dropped in the water of the plate to keep it floating on the surface level. Another grain of rice is dropped into the water by pronouncing a name of one of the child`s ancestors or relatives. It is closely seen whether the second grain coincides with the first. If the second grain sinks to the bottom, another name is pronounced and a rice grain dropped in the water. The process continues until the second rice grain coincides with the first one. Then the name uttered is kept as the name of the child. At times a temporary name is given to the child according to the day on which he was born. Later the procedure for keeping a permanent name is adopted.

Sutam Tol in Munda Tribe
On the naming day or on the following day, a black thread is tied round the waist of the child to protect him from evil eye and to safeguard him from life dangers or other hurdles. This ceremony has been termed as Sutam Tol.

Ear Boring in Munda Tribe
Ear boring ceremony of the child, also known as Lutur Tukui, is celebrated during any of the winter months of the first three years of the birth of the child. The person after whom the child has been named presents the child with rice, pulse, oil, beer, goat and a piece of new cloth. On the ear boring day the courtyard of the house is thoroughly cleaned and plastered. A figure of parallelogram with all its diagonals is drawn with rice flour paste. Few paddy grains are spread over the diagram and a small tool is placed on it for the child to sit on it. The father of the child first massages his head with oil and then follows the same procedure on the child. Then two appointed people, usually barbers, invited for the ceremony besmear the labule of the ear of the child with vermillion with the aid of a silver or copper ear borer. The borer is then kept twisted in the form of a ring in his ears.

At the end of the ceremony a fowl or a goat is sacrificed and blood is sprinkled on the figure drawn. Later feasting and drinking ensures followed by the guests showering their blessings on the child.