When and how should a child’s ears be pierced (karṇavedha)?

traditionally in the first, third or fifth year (odd years) on a good day, done cleanly by a trained person.

Karṇavedha is one of the sixteen saṁskāras and is done for both boys and girls in many families. Texts suggest it in the first year or an odd year such as the third or fifth, and many South Indian families do it together with the mundan or the first birthday, often at a family temple. A goldsmith traditionally pierced the ears with a thin gold wire; the right ear is pierced first for boys, the left for girls, in many traditions.

The meaning offered is twofold: it makes the ear ready to “hear” sacred sounds and adorns the child. Āyurvedic texts also mention health benefits, though these are traditional beliefs.

Practically: choose a clinic or experienced professional using sterile equipment, use gold or surgical-grade studs, and keep the area clean. A short Gaṇeśa pūjā before and a sweet afterwards make it a happy occasion. If the child is unwell, simply postpone.

One of the sixteen saṁskāras · Source: Gṛhya Sūtras and Suśruta Saṁhitā tradition

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