Chudakarana (First Haircut) – Also known as Mundan Sanskara, Chdakarana means cutting the hair of the baby. This is the first time the baby’s head is shaved and nails are cut since birth. The origin of this Sanskara is found in SanskarMala. Traditionally, a child’s hair is associated with undesirable traits from past lives. For instance, some people end up having a bad temper where in both their parents and past generations have had calm people. The anger here would be a trait from the past life of the child. Chopping of the hair is considered freeing the child from past life bondages, so they are free to live this life with a fresh slate. The methods vary depending on a person’s culture and ethnicity. Usually, a feast is arranged for priests, followed by shaving the head and Pooja offerings. The child’s hair is also considered sacred and is hence disposed by mixing them with wheat flour or cow dung. A mixture of curd, milk and turmeric is then applied on the baby’s head serving as a moisturizer and antiseptic to protect the baby from any cuts caused during the Sanskara