Upanayanam or Sacred Thread Ceremony - Part 1

Upanayanam, also known as the sacred thread ceremony. is usually performed for Brahmin boys at the age of seven or eight because that is the age when a boy stops getting the benefits of the karmas of his parents and will have to learn and perform his own karmas. The concept of "Brahman" is introduced to a young boy. The youngster is taught the secret of life through Brahmopadesam (revealing the nature of Brahman or the ultimate reality) or the Gayatri Mantra. The boy gets to wear a Yajnopavitam or sacred thread on his body. The Sacred thread has three strands each representing Goddesses Gayatri (Goddess of mind), Saraswati (Goddess of word) & Savitri (Goddess of deed).
I recently attended the Upanayanam ceremoney of my niece's son Yash at Chennai. In fact there are some religious rites that were performed the day before the actual Upanayanam. These are termed Nandi Sraddham and Uttakashanthi ceremony. The Uttakashanthi which is done for purification of mind and body and for the protection of the child. Names of the deities are chanted in the form of mantras and invoked in water which is then poured over the child. Next is the Nandi Sraddham which is basically performed to propitiate and obtain blessings of the family ancestors.During this ceremony at least 9 Brahmanas (priestly class) are invited,served food and their blessings obtained by the family.  Pictures taken on the preceding day are posted below:

The boy seated between the head priest (left) and his father (right)

Uttakashanthi: Pouring of holy water over the boy's head

Thol Thukkal - The boys uncle carrying boy on his shoulder

Pre-soaked navadhanyams or amalgamation of nine different grains kept in 5 mud pots

Pouring of milk and water on mud pots containing Navadhanyams - This is done for the prosperity and healthy growth of the boy

Boy's father tying kapu (yellow thread) to boy's wrist to protect him from evil spirits

Boy and parents doing sashtanga namaskarams  - fully prostrating and seeking the blessings of the Brahmanas (vedic scholars)

Boys father & mother washing the Brahmanas feet

Boy's father presenting gifts to the Brahmanas (vedic scholars)

The boy's father spreading his "anga vastram" (body cloth) to receive rice offerings from the Brahmanas

Closeup view of the menu served to the Brahmanas

Brahmanas being served food on plantain leaves-all of them wearing the Yajnopavitham

Pictures taken during the Upanayanam on day 2 will follow in the next post.