07 February,2011 08:44 AM IST | | Hitlist Team
On the occasion of the tonsuring of his babies and their naming ceremony
Sanjay and Maanayata Dutt had the mundan ceremony (see box) for their babies Iqra and Shahran at home last week.
The couple sent token gifts to 500 friends politicians, friends, B-town folks, corporate friends and family members to announce their happiness and the announcement of the babies names (naamkaran).
A box of laddoos accompanied, the Bhagvad Geeta - the holy book of the Hindus and Quran the holy books of the Muslims.
The Quran and Bhagvad Geeta were sent as Sanjay's father Sunil Dutt was a Hindu and mother Nargis was a Muslim. Sanjay follows Hinduism and his wife Manaayata practises her religion
What is a mundan?
The mundan ceremony is the first haircut of the baby and is an important tradition in India where relatives and friends are invited to bless the child.
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The mundan ceremony is considered a purification ritual and is done on a specific day at an auspicious time that is decided by the priest based on the time of the birth.
Some believe that a mundan bestows a long life, a better future and also protects the child from the evil eye.
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Shaving the head is termed as Ayushkarma in Sanskrit and means enhancing the longevity or the life span of the child.
