Description Namakarana is the naming ceremony in Hinduism and a Sanskara to name a baby. According to the Grhya Sutras, Namakarana ceremony is typically performed on the tenth or the twelfth day after birth. Some texts suggest the naming ceremony be done on the first new moon or full moon day after the 10th day of birth. Alternate opinions range from the tenth day to the first day of the second year. On the day of this samskara, the infant is bathed and dressed in new garments. Their formal name, selected by the parents, is announced. The naming ritual solemnizes the child as an individual, marking the process by which a child is accepted and socialized by people around them. The rite of passage also includes a gathering of friends and relatives of the baby parents, typically with gifts and for a feast.