According to the Vedic literature, Mundan, also known as Chudakarana is the eighth of sixteen samskaras. The Mundan ritual is generally conducted when the child is one year old. However, depending on the culture and the preferences, the ceremony can be conducted in any odd year until the child attains the age of seven.

The Mundan ritual signifies the elimination of any sin or bad karma associated with the child from its past life. It will allow the child’s soul to start its journey in the new life in pursuit of its own destiny without the negative influences associated with the previous births.

In this ritual, the child’s hair from birth is shaved for the first time on an auspicious date and time under the supervision of a purohit. The purohit performs a pooja or a homa with the child seated in front on its mother’s lap to invoke the blessings of the gods. Following the pooja, the purohit will either cut a portion of hair or shave the child’s head leaving a small tuft of hair while chanting the sacred mundan samskara mantra. However, it is also common for a professional barber to shave the child’s head once the purohit completes the shastra by symbolically cutting a small portion of the hair during pooja.

The shaven head of the child is then washed with holy water and a paste of sandalwood and turmeric is applied. The hair removed during the ceremony is then disposed of as per the purohit’s advice.