Samskaras

thumb|The Upanayana ceremony in progress in Nepal. Traditionally, this ritual was for 7, 9, and 11 year olds in South Asia, but is now practiced for all ages as seen above.

rites of passage described in ancient Sanskrit texts

thumb|An 1820 painting showing a Hindu funeral procession in south India. The pyre is to the left, near a river, the lead mourner is walking in front, the dead body is wrapped in white and is being carried to the cremation pyre, relatives and friends follow

Namakarana () is the naming ceremony in Hinduism and a samskara (rite of passage) to name a baby.

Hindu religious sacrement and infant haircut

thumb|Annaprashan offerings

Jatakarman (Sanskrit: जातकर्मन्; IAST: Jātakarman; lit. 'natal rites') is one of the major samskaras in Hinduism, that celebrates the birth of a child. It is typically a private rite of passage that is observed by the new parents, relatives of the baby and close friends.

Garbhadhana (, ) (literally: attaining the wealth of the womb) is the first of the 16 saṃskāras (sacraments, rites of passage) in Hinduism.

marriage rituals in the Hindu culture

thumb|Different varieties of sweets served on a Pumsavana function in Kerala.

Nishkramana (, ) (literally, first outing) is the sixth of the 16 saṃskāras (sacraments) practiced by the Hindus. On the day of the Nishkramana, a square area in the courtyard from where sun can be seen is plastered with cow dung and clay and the sign of svastika is marked on it. The mother of the child scatters grains of rice over it. The child is brought by a nurse, and the ceremony ends when the father makes the child look at the sun with the sound of the conch-shell and the chanting of Vedic hymns. According to the Manusmriti (II.34), in the fourth month after birth, the Nishkramana of the

The Samavartana (, ), also known as '''', is a rite of passage in the ancient texts of Hinduism. Performed at the close of the Brahmacharya period, it marks the graduation of a student from Gurukul'' (school). It signifies a person's readiness to enter grihastashrama (householder, married life).

Simantonnayana (, ) (literally: parting the hair) or Simantha, is the third of the 16 Saṃskāras (sacraments, rites of passage) in the ancient texts of Hinduism. It is observed in the last trimester of pregnancy to wish for safe delivery and is similar to a baby shower.

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Keshanta (, ) (literally, cutting the hair) is the thirteenth of the sixteen saṃskāras (sacraments) practiced by the Hindus. This saṃskāra is connected with the first shaving of a student's beard when his age is about 16 years. The procedure of this saṃskāra is almost the same as that of the Chudakarana. This saṃskāra was also known as the Godana (giving a cow) or the Godanakarman (rite of giving a cow), as the student offered a cow to the teacher at the end of the ceremony. According to the Manusmriti (II.65), this saṃskāra should be performed for a Brahmin in the sixteenth year (from concept

Karnavedha (, ) or Karnavedham is one of the sixteen major samskaras (sacraments) known as "Shodasha Samskaras" of Hinduism. It is an ear piercing ceremony that is typically performed between the first and fifth years of life. This can also be performed during later years. thumb|left|250px|Karnavedham of Brahmin boy (both ears pierced) Brahmins, especially those studying the vedas, undergo karnavedha and the other samskaras during their lifetime. The samskaras are mentioned in the Brahmana portion of the vedas. Some scholars advise that the performance of karnavedha should be considered just a

thumb|260x260px|A Malayali girl sits with a Brahmin before the vidyarambham ceremony on Navaratri

Hindu rite of passage for young female

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