India is a country of vast cultures and traditions which have been passed to us through our ancestors and we are passing them to the next generation as well. What are the rituals performed for a new born baby? Giving him first gold ornament, giving him first colour dress, teaching him first written words, giving him first rice grain or his first birthday - everything is associated with family members, relatives and of course celebrations and rituals. In this article I am giving you a brief description of Chorunnu- a Hindu ceremony performed in Kerala for a six month child. It's known as Annaprashan in Bengal. 'Chor' means rice in Malayalam and 'unu' means meals. Hence the name Chorunnu.

What's the significance of Chorunnu?

Actually, it's a change of phase from liquid food to solid food. That means, a baby is grown to adopt the life style of an adult. As kids are most important and parents notice even the minute change of the baby from cooing to walking, it's sure, they will celebrate this occassion, inviting
everyone near.

How is it conducted?

It's believed that kids are incarnation of God and since they have a special 'Chaithanya', new born babies are never taken to temples in Kerala. After six months, when they are adopting human changes they are given normal food, which marks the beginning of a new phase of their life. So, kids are taken to temples only after completing six months and that also, for Chorunnu function. Close relatives will also be present. Earlier, when traditional joint families existed, kid's uncle gave the first grain to the kid. It was conducted in family also. Now everyone prefers a temple nearby.
Guruvayur Sri Krishna temple is very famous for this function. It's conducted in mornings only.

After pooja, kid is taken to the front of the deity. Kid wears a cream colour Kerala dhoti, same is his father. At first, father of the baby sits down placing him/her in his lap. A vegetarian meal, after pooja will be served by the main priest of the temple in a traditional plantain leaf. It contain different curries along with salt, red chillies and rice. Father serves him rice by adding both salt and chillies and obviously, the kid will cry. It's believed that the kid should cry, marking the beginning of a human life full of struggles and experiences. Also, seeing the big crowd he may fear a little more. It takes a lot of time for the parents to comfort him.

Thulabharam of fruits or ghee or anything of your wish

As soon as a baby is given his first rice food, thulabharam is conducted. It's just an offering to the temple. Flowers, banana, ghee, sugar, rice, fruits or anything of devotee's wish can be given as thulabharam. Thulabharam is an offering to temples for the fulfillment of one's wishes and it can be done for both children and adults. Amount equal to the weight of the person is given as offerings. Obviously, adults require large amount equivalent to his mass comparing kids. Kid is seated or placed on one pan of the weighing balance and offerings in the other pan. Add the offerings till the weight equals. The offerings are normally used by temples or later auctioned.

After Chorunnu he is taken home

Now rituals are over and family will return back. Kids will be given normal rice food after that along with salt and chilli added side dishes. At first, lower quantity of solid food is given and gradually, it's increased. Yes, slowly he is adopting himself to the life style of normal man.

Story behind my profile picture

It's none other than my daughter and that photo was taken during her Chorunnu ceremony when she just completed six months old. Every member here likes that picture a lot and that's the reason why I decided to write it as an article. As I promised, we conducted Chorunnu ceremony of my daughter in the near by Siva temple. We took her early morning along with a few relatives and she was visiting a temple for the first time. Her grand parents were also present. Just before the ceremony, her dress was changed and she wore a small Kerala dhoti with silk border. Since morning pooja had just ended,  there was a small crowd. They also gathered around to see the ceremony. First her father sat on the floor, before Lord Siva, carrying her in his lap. Main priest of the temple is called poojari, potti or swamy in Malayalam. Potti served her rice in a banana leaf along with salt and chillies. He gave her a ' chandan teeka' on her forehead and asked her father to give her food. As instructed, my husband gave her a ball of rice, adding salt and chillies. As soon as she had it, she began to cry. The ceremony ended. Then, it was our job to comfort her.

Next ritual was 'thulabharam' and it was my father's wish to do her thulabharam with an expensive and rare type banana. She has not begun to sit that time, as she was just 6 months old. So, my husband hold her in one pan by giving her a small support. Though one bunch of banana was sufficient enough to equalize her weight, my father asked to put the other one too, as it was his wish to give them both to the temple. Now also, she cried. Also, seeing the crowd she was frightened a little. After the ceremony was completed we returned home and had a small vegetarian meal.