In India, Hindus, Jains, and such native religion followers believe that Sixteen Samskaras or, betterment proceeses should take place in everybody's life. Those samskaras include-birth ceremoney, naming, choulaor removing hair for the first time, upanayana or preaching the meditative hymns,marriage, etc.

Except Sikhs, other Indian religions follow this tradition.

Time of choula

Traditionally,it should be performed before the completion of the first yeat of the child. If not, it should be performed in the third year of the child,Or, it should be done in the 5th year.

It should be compulsorily be done to male children. But in some communities, it is done forfemale children also. In such cases, it is done only once in their lifetme.

Steps in choula

In all samskara ceremonies in Indian native relegious followers, 'mama'(brother of the mother) occupies the role of the performer, whether or not he pays the expences. It is his right to be the main performer.In his leadership, hair removing ceremoney takes place in the following mannwer:-

1. It takesplace either in the temple of family god/goddess or in the home premises , infront of the idol of the family god.

2 Child will be seated on a small wooden plank around which designs migh have been drawn.(rangoli).A' kalash' will be kept ready. some milk will be kept in a small vessel . To that, some ghee is mixed.The priest( archak/purohith) goes on telling relevent mantras(sacred chants) . Mama sits behind or by the side of the child.He may keep the child on his lap also, if the child is only a few months old.

3 Infont of the child, on a banana leaf, some items are placed,like- beetel leaves, areccanut,flowers etc.

4 After initial worships(this includes pouring of some ghee milk on the head of the child) ,priest ties five tufts of hairs on the head of the child.Them he permits mama to cut those hair tufts on by one with scissors. He will do so.Then, pooja materials kept infront of the boy are taken off and noe barber starts shaving the head of the child.

5 After the completion of the shaving process, the cut hairs are kept on the banana leaf kept infront, kept seperately with care, and the child is taken for bathing (for the second time.First usual bath would ahve been over prior to sitting for the ceremoney).

6 Here also, it is mama's right to pour the water first bowl of water on the child. Mother and others help in bathing.then, new clothes are puton the child and once again, the child is brought before the god, and the purohit applies solme sandal paste on the shaven head of the child.It also decreeses the irritation on the head.

7 Suitable gifts are given to priest and the mama.Barber also will get something more than his usual charge with all respects.

8 Later, the cut hairs are floated in a river, or pool, or, tank.

Thus ends tha first hair removing ceremoney of the child. Usually, It is the first occassion in which child participates with some knowledge.

The proceedure is almost same in almost all indian religions. However, some minor differences are there.

Pictures attached to this article are the photoes taken during the choula ceremoney of Akshara Prasad, son of the present hubwriter.