What is Namakaranam?
It is one of the sixteen samskaras. The name is often chosen from the first letter of the baby’s birth nakshatra pada, and the family deity’s name is whispered along with it. Telugu families call it Barasala, and in many homes the baby is placed in a cradle (uyyala) for the first time on this day.
The story of Namakaranam
What is Namakaranam (Naming Ceremony)?
Namakaranam is the naming ceremony of a newborn — usually on the 11th, 12th or 21st day — in which the father whispers the chosen name in the baby’s right ear after Punyahavachanam and prayers for a long, healthy life.
It is one of the sixteen samskaras. The name is often chosen from the first letter of the baby’s birth nakshatra pada, and the family deity’s name is whispered along with it. Telugu families call it Barasala, and in many homes the baby is placed in a cradle (uyyala) for the first time on this day.
Benefits
- Blessings for the child’s health, long life and good fortune
- Purification of the home after birth (Punyahavachanam)
- A family celebration that formally welcomes the baby
When to perform
- 11th, 12th or 21st day after birth, or on a muhurtham
- Avoiding Amavasya, Rikta tithis and eclipses
How Namakaranam (Naming Ceremony) is performed
- Ganapati pooja and sankalpam
- Punyahavachanam to end the birth impurity
- Navagraha pooja for the baby
- Writing the name on rice in a plate
- Whispering the name in the baby’s right ear
- Cradle ceremony (where followed), harathi and blessings
Benefits and best time for Namakaranam
Benefits
- Blessings for the child’s health, long life and good fortune
- Purification of the home after birth (Punyahavachanam)
- A family celebration that formally welcomes the baby
When to perform
- 11th, 12th or 21st day after birth, or on a muhurtham
- Avoiding Amavasya, Rikta tithis and eclipses
Namakaranam vidhi (step by step)
- 1Ganapati pooja and sankalpam
- 2Punyahavachanam to end the birth impurity
- 3Navagraha pooja for the baby
- 4Writing the name on rice in a plate
- 5Whispering the name in the baby’s right ear
- 6Cradle ceremony (where followed), harathi and blessings
Namakaranam samagri list
- Kalasham with mango leaves and coconut
- Plate of raw rice (to write the name)
- Turmeric, kumkum and akshinthalu
- New clothes for the baby
- Honey and a gold ring
- Fruits, flowers and sweets
- Betel leaves and nuts
Your pandit confirms the exact list after booking; you can add a Stuti Mandir samagri kit to your order.
Namakaranam across India’s traditions
Telugu tradition
Telugu families celebrate Barasala on the 21st day, placing the baby in the uyyala (cradle) and writing the name on rice in a plate.
Tamil tradition
Tamil families do the naming (peyar sootum vizha) with Punyahavachanam on the 11th or 16th day, whispering the name three times.
Kannada tradition
In Karnataka the naming (namakarana) is done on the 11th day with the cradle ceremony (thottilu shastra).
Marathi tradition
Maharashtrian families celebrate Barsa on the 12th day, with the baby placed in the cradle and the name announced to the women of the family.
Hindi tradition
North Indian families do Namkaran Sanskar with havan, usually on the 11th day or later on a muhurat.
Bengali tradition
Bengali families combine naming with Annaprashan (mukhe bhaat) in many homes.
Book Namakaranam in your city
Telangana
Andhra Pradesh
- Visakhapatnam
- Vijayawada
- Guntur
- Tirupati
- Nellore
- Kurnool
- Kadapa
- Anantapur
- Rajahmundry
- Kakinada
- Eluru
- Ongole
- Srikakulam
- Vizianagaram
- Chittoor
Karnataka
Tamil Nadu
Kerala
Maharashtra
Delhi NCR
Uttar Pradesh (Delhi NCR)
Haryana (Delhi NCR)
Rajasthan
Uttar Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Chandigarh (Punjab & Haryana)
Bihar
Gujarat
West Bengal
Odisha
Chhattisgarh
Uttarakhand
Punjab
Jammu and Kashmir
Jharkhand
Assam
Why book Namakaranam with Stuti Mandir
Verified pandits
Every pandit’s profile is reviewed and approved by Stuti Mandir before they can take bookings. See their languages and experience before you choose.
Price shown upfront
Dakshina, fees and taxes are itemised before you pay, so there is no haggling on the day.
Live pandit tracking
Follow your pandit on a live map from the moment they start their journey, just like a delivery app.
OTP-verified pooja
You confirm the pandit’s arrival and the pooja’s completion with one-time codes.
Your language, your tradition
Choose a pandit who speaks your language and follows your family’s customs.
Samagri made easy
Get the full samagri list after booking, or add a samagri kit to your order.
How to book Namakaranam
- 1
Choose Namakaranam and a verified pandit — compare their languages, experience and price.
- 2
Pick a date and time slot and add any muhurtham preference.
- 3
Pay securely online (UPI, cards, net banking), or choose pay-after-pooja where it is offered.
- 4
On the day, track your pandit live, confirm their arrival with an OTP, and share the completion code once the pooja is done.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Namakaranam cost?
On Stuti Mandir, Namakaranam starts from ₹3,100 as pandit dakshina for 1 pandit. The final price depends on your city, the pandit you choose, samagri and express booking, and is shown in full before you pay.
How long does Namakaranam take?
About 1.5 to 2 hours, performed by 1 pandit.
On which day is Namakaranam done?
Traditionally on the 11th or 12th day after birth (21st in some families), or on a muhurtham the pandit fixes from the panchangam.
Can the pandit suggest a name by nakshatra?
Yes. Share the baby’s date, time and place of birth and the pandit tells you the nakshatra letters.
Can I book a pandit who speaks my language for Namakaranam?
Yes. Stuti Mandir has Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali and Odia-speaking pandits, depending on the city; each pandit’s languages are shown on their profile.
In which cities can I book Namakaranam?
Namakaranam can be booked in 85 cities including Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Khammam and Visakhapatnam. Choose your city below for local details.