Param Sandhu
31st August 2009, 10:45 AM
The naming of a new born child takes places at the Gurdwara and usually in the presence of friends and relatives. There they recite joyful hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib to celebrate the birth of the new child and ask for blessings of good health and long life for the child. The family offers donation in the form of Karah Prashad (sacred pudding), usually prepared by the family and a Rumala (a small cloth for covering the Guru Granth Sahib). Amrit (sweet water) is also prepared and given to the infant as well as the mother.
During this ceremony Ardas is recited and the child blessed. Next, the name is chosen by taking the Hukam, the granthi (the reader of the Holy Granth) randomly opens Guru Granth Sahib to any page and reads the hymn on that page.
The first letter of the first word of the hymn is chosen. The child's name is then chosen beginning with that letter and is announced to the congregation. The word "Singh" (means lion) always follows the boy's name and the word "Kaur" (mean princess) always follows the girl's name.
http://www.thaisikh.org/image/ceremonynamkaran.jpg
During this ceremony Ardas is recited and the child blessed. Next, the name is chosen by taking the Hukam, the granthi (the reader of the Holy Granth) randomly opens Guru Granth Sahib to any page and reads the hymn on that page.
The first letter of the first word of the hymn is chosen. The child's name is then chosen beginning with that letter and is announced to the congregation. The word "Singh" (means lion) always follows the boy's name and the word "Kaur" (mean princess) always follows the girl's name.
http://www.thaisikh.org/image/ceremonynamkaran.jpg