NAAMKARAN

Things required:
1. Urn full of water.
2. Kumkum
3. Haldi (turmeric powder)
4. Garlands
5. New clothes
6. Coconut
7. Rice grains
8. Sweets
9. Cradle (optional)

For the prasad, halva is made. Sweets and fruits are also kept for prasad. After the havan, the priest determines an alphabet that the child's name would begin with, consulting the janam kundali or the horoscope of the child. The prasad is distributed to all the people present. After this, vegetarian lunch is served. All the relatives bless the child with gifts.

MUNDAN

Things required:
1. Havan samagri
2. Laddoos as prasad
3. Sweetned dough for collecting hair

Shaving of the hair of the child is done either in the first or the third year. It is done only for a male child. A havan is performed. All the close relatives participate in the havan. Normally, laddoos constitute the prasad. After the havan, the barber cuts the child's hair. The paternal grandmother keeps the first few strands of hair. Rest of the hair is collected in sweetened dough and immersed in flowing water.
After the hair on head are shaved, the paternal grandmother gives a bath to the child using curd. Then the child wears new clothes, given by the paternal grandmother.

The maternal grandparents give gifts to the child and to all the other close relatives of his father. The child is usually given a chain or a gold bangle by his maternal grandparents. This is a big event for the Punjabis. It takes place in the morning and an elaborate lunch follows, which usually includes dal makhni, shahi paneer and other rich Punjabi vegetarian dishes and halva.

JANEU

This is to evoke the gods for raksha or protection and marks the identification of the individual as a Hindu. A pooja is performed on the occasion. Usually, this is performed at the time of marriage.

VIDYARAMBH

A small pooja is performed by the immediate family. Gayatri mantra is chanted by the parents and repeated by the child.