The annaprashana (Sanskrit: अन्नप्राशन, romanized: annaprāśana), also known as annaprashana vidhi or annaprashanam, is a significant Hindu rite of passage (Saṃskāra) marking an infant’s first intake of food other than milk. The term annaprashana translates to ‘eating of cooked rice’. In Vedic Hindu culture, a child is not allowed to eat rice until the annaprashana ceremony has taken place. This ceremony highlights rice as a symbol of life-sustaining nourishment and sacred food, often in the form of kheer. Celebrated across Bangladesh, Nepal, and India, the annaprashana remains an important milestone. It is known by different names in various regions, such as mukhēbhāt in West Bengal, cōṟūṇŭ in Kerala, bhāt khulai in Himachal Pradesh, and pasni in Nepal.

Etymology

The word annaprāśana is derived from two Sanskrit words: anna, meaning ‘cooked rice’, and prāśana, meaning ‘feeding’. In English, this ceremony is often referred to as the grain initiation or rice-feeding ceremony.

Ceremony Details

Arrangements for Annaprashana

The annaprashana ceremony involves a puja followed by rice feeding. It is organized in consultation with a priest who selects an auspicious date when the child is between five to eight months old. Traditionally, odd months are considered auspicious for baby girls (month 5 or 7), and even months (month 6 or 8) for baby boys.

The Ceremony Process

On the day of the ceremony, the child is bathed, dressed in ceremonial attire, and placed on the parents’ lap. Prayers are offered to deities for the child’s good digestive powers, speech, and mental development. The rice feeding follows, where the child is given a sweet pudding called kheer, a holy food in Hindu religious ceremonies. Ancient Hindu texts (Smriti) provide detailed instructions for this rite, including the type, quality, quantity, and cooking process for the food that the child should be fed.

Regional Variations

Bengali Hindu Culture

In Bengali Hindu culture, the annaprashana is an elaborate ceremony called mukhēbhāt (‘rice in the mouth’) or mamabhāt (‘maternal rice’). The child’s maternal uncle or maternal grandfather feeds them rice. This ceremony can be held at the maternal uncle’s or grandparents’ home or as a grand event in a banquet hall. The religious rites may be conducted by a priest at the same event or separately before the larger gathering. The rice feeding includes traditional attire, a headdress (topor), and a specific variety of foods including kheer, five different types of fried foods, and a fish dish. The kheer is customarily prepared by the baby’s mother or grandmother and served in a silver vessel. Conch shells are blown, and women in attendance engage in ululation to mark the occasion’s holiness as the maternal uncle or grandfather feeds the child.

After the feeding, a game is played where the baby is offered a banana leaf or silver plate containing symbolic objects: soil (property), a book (learning), a pen (wisdom), and coins (wealth). The object picked by the baby is believed to signify a prominent aspect of their future. Elder relatives and guests then take turns feeding the child a small portion of kheer, offering blessings by placing rice seeds (dhaan) and grass stalks (dubba) on the baby’s head.

Malayali Culture

In Malayali culture, the annaprashana is called cōṟūṇŭ or cōṟūṇal, typically held in a temple during the child’s sixth month. Cōṟu means ‘rice’, and unnuka means ‘to eat’. The baby is dressed in traditional kasavu attire, placed on an uncle or parent’s lap, and blessed with sandal paste, tulsi leaves, and flowers by the temple priest. A banana leaf plate with food, including rice or kheer and banana, is placed in front of the child, and the baby’s uncle, father, or grandfather feeds them first. It is also traditional for the baby’s father to dip a gold ring into each food item and touch the ring to the baby’s tongue. Following the rice feeding, there is a lighthearted tulabhara where the child’s weight is measured to ensure it matches the weight of the family’s offering to the temple and deities.

Conclusion

The annaprashana ceremony is a cherished tradition in Hindu culture, marking an important milestone in an infant’s life. While the rituals and customs may vary across regions, the essence of seeking blessings for the child’s health, development, and future remains central to this beautiful rite of passage.