About Annaprashana Pooja
About this puja
Annaprashana is the ceremony of a baby’s first solid food, one of the sixteen samskaras. It is traditionally done in the sixth or eighth month for boys and the fifth or seventh month for girls, at a muhurtham from the panchangam.
The baby is fed a first morsel of sweet rice (payasam or kheer) by a parent or elder after a pooja for health, strength and a long life. In many families the child is then shown objects such as a book, a pen, gold and rice, and what the child picks is taken as a playful hint of the future.
Why families book it
- Blessings for the baby’s health and growth
- Marks the start of solid food at an auspicious time
- Brings the extended family together to bless the child
Good times to do it
- Sixth or eighth month for boys, fifth or seventh month for girls
- On a muhurtham fixed from the panchangam and the baby’s nakshatram
What the pandit does
- Ganapati pooja and sankalpam
- Punyahavachanam
- Pooja of the family deity and navagrahas
- Offering of the payasam to the deity
- First feeding of the baby by the father or an elder
- Placing objects before the child (optional)
- Blessings with akshata and harathi
Annaprashana Pooja samagri list
- Silver bowl and spoon for the baby
- Payasam or kheer
- Kalasham, coconut and mango leaves
- Turmeric, kumkum and akshata
- Flowers, fruits and betel leaves
- New clothes for the baby
- Book, pen, gold and rice (for the object choice)
Annaprashana near you
Read the full guide to Annaprashana — meaning, vidhi, samagri, best time and cost — or see local details for your city.
Questions devotees ask us
How much does Annaprashana Pooja cost?
Annaprashana Pooja with a verified Stuti Mandir pandit starts from ₹3,100 as pandit dakshina. The price can be a little higher outside the metro cities, live video pujas cost less than a home visit, and the full bill is shown before you pay.