Naam Karan

Naam Karan (ਨਾਮ ਕਰਨ) refers to the Sikh ceremony of naming a child, typically conducted at a Gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship.

The timing of the ceremony is flexible and not bound by a strict schedule. The well-being of both the mother and child is paramount, and the ceremony is usually scheduled based on their health and recovery.

Steps of the ceremony
During the Naam Karan ceremony, typically, the father or a senior family member contacts a local Gurdwara to organize a brief ceremony. On the day of the ceremony, the family, guests, along with the mother and baby, participate in the congregation's weekly kirtan (devotional singing). The family arranges for Karah Prasad to be prepared for the occasion. Various Shabads (hymns) expressing gratitude, joy, and support are sung, followed by the recitation of the short Anand Sahib, consisting of six pauris (stanzas). If a Sahaj Paath (continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib) has been arranged, its completion (bhog) occurs during this time.

Following the recitation of the Anand Sahib, the central aspect of the ceremony unfolds with the naming of the baby. An ardas (prayer) is performed, invoking blessings from the divine for the child's well-being, dedication to serving the community and faith, and for bringing honor to the family and religion. The ardas also includes a request for guidance in selecting a name for the child.

After the ardas, the Hukamnama is recited. The first letter of the first word of the Hukam is traditionally used to determine the initial letter of the child's name. For instance, if the first word of the Hukam is "Sagal," the child's name would typically begin with "S," corresponding to the first letter of the Hukam.

After selecting the baby's name, the suffix "Kaur" is appended to the names of girls, while "Singh" is added to the names of boys. The gyani, or religious leader, announces the child's name to the congregation.