4. Jātakarma
Welcoming the newborn
Jātakarma is done at birth. Traditionally the father touches the baby's tongue with a little honey and ghee (often with a gold ring or spoon), whispers a blessing for intelligence and long life into the ear, and gives the child a secret name.
Today, with hospital births and medical advice against giving honey to infants, many families only whisper “oṃ” or a prayer in the baby's ear, or write “oṃ” on the tongue with a clean finger and a drop of water. The baby's exact birth time is noted for the horoscope.
At birth