Nwaran

Nwaran is a baptism ceremony celebrated in Nepal.

Nwaran is celebrated in the Hindu tradition on the 11th day after a child is born. This ceromany is performed to give a birthname to a child according to his/her lunar horoscope which is usually not the name by which he/she is known. Typically, a priest is invited to perform the ceremony at home,and he finds the child's lunar horoscope from his birth details, as the mother is still recovering at home with the child. In fact, until the mother or child is 'purified' (from past birth etc in the religious sense), they should not visit the temple.

One can also perform a nwaran on the 21st or 41st day after birth if for some reason the 11th day was not observed.

If performing the pooja at home, here are some tips from a priest that are given: Before the pooja: Please wash the Pooja materials, keep it clean and ready in the Pooja place. You can select a place for the Pooja, depending on the number of people you are going to call. The Pooja should be done facing east or west . Carpeted area is okay if you are not going to have the Havan (Homam). Spread a clean, washed cloth like a bed sheet, in the Pooja area. If you are going to have the Havan (Homam) do not do it in the carpeted area. It is safe to do the Havan on a wooden, vinyl or tiled floor.

After: After the Pooja, you can clean up the Pooja place after the sunset or next day. Take out all the fruits and flowers. You can use the fruits as Prasad. Please dispose of the Pooja flowers and Paan leaves in your backyard near the trees. Kalash coconut, the Pooja vasthra (cloth), the coins, the rice packed separately, and all other grains mixed together, should be given to the temple within 11 days. Please give them neatly packed. Do not take the used fruits, flowers and pan leaves inside the temple.

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