The Mundan ceremony or Mundan Sanskar is a Hindu ritual that involves the tonsuring of the baby’s head. This ritual of doing away of the hair retained from birth is performed, Sikhs and Muslims too. This tonsuring is done after the baby completes his first year and anytime between three years of age. One particular point that is required to be strictly observed, the ritual should take place in an odd year and an odd month. Usually the Mundan is done on the 7th, 9th and or the 11th month.

Some parents want to perform the Mundan on the banks of the holy river Ganga, but these days due to pressing time and other issues, the ritual is carried out at home too. A Brahmin or a priest is called over and he organises a ‘Havan’ or a ‘Homa’. A barber who actually specialises in this ritual of Mundan is called over or the baby is taken to the nearby temple, where he or she gets his or her head shaved.