What is Annaprashana?
The baby is fed a first morsel of sweet rice (payasam or kheer) by a parent or elder after a pooja for health, strength and a long life. In many families the child is then shown objects such as a book, a pen, gold and rice, and what the child picks is taken as a playful hint of the future.
The ceremony is a family gathering, and elders bless the child with akshata.
Benefits and best time for Annaprashana
Benefits
- Blessings for the baby’s health and growth
- Marks the start of solid food at an auspicious time
- Brings the extended family together to bless the child
When to perform
- Sixth or eighth month for boys, fifth or seventh month for girls
- On a muhurtham fixed from the panchangam and the baby’s nakshatram
Annaprashana vidhi (step by step)
- 1Ganapati pooja and sankalpam
- 2Punyahavachanam
- 3Pooja of the family deity and navagrahas
- 4Offering of the payasam to the deity
- 5First feeding of the baby by the father or an elder
- 6Placing objects before the child (optional)
- 7Blessings with akshata and harathi
Annaprashana samagri list
- Silver bowl and spoon for the baby
- Payasam or kheer
- Kalasham, coconut and mango leaves
- Turmeric, kumkum and akshata
- Flowers, fruits and betel leaves
- New clothes for the baby
- Book, pen, gold and rice (for the object choice)
Your pandit confirms the exact list after booking; you can add a Rutviju samagri kit to your order.
Annaprashana across India’s traditions
Bengali tradition
In Bengal the ceremony is Mukhe Bhaat: the maternal uncle feeds the baby payesh and a spread of dishes, and the baby wears a new dhoti or saree.
Malayalam tradition
In Kerala the Choroonu is often done at Guruvayur or a family temple, with the first rice offered to the deity.
Telugu tradition
Telugu families lay out a book, pen, gold and rice for the baby to pick after the first feeding of paramannam.
Tamil tradition
Tamil families feed the baby sweet pongal or payasam after the pooja, often at the family deity’s temple.
Hindi tradition
North Indian families feed the baby kheer from a silver spoon after the havan or pooja.
Book Annaprashana in your city
Telangana
Andhra Pradesh
- Visakhapatnam
- Vijayawada
- Guntur
- Tirupati
- Nellore
- Kurnool
- Kadapa
- Anantapur
- Rajahmundry
- Kakinada
- Eluru
- Ongole
- Srikakulam
- Vizianagaram
- Chittoor
Karnataka
Tamil Nadu
Kerala
Maharashtra
Delhi NCR
Uttar Pradesh (Delhi NCR)
Haryana (Delhi NCR)
Rajasthan
Uttar Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Chandigarh (Punjab & Haryana)
Bihar
Gujarat
West Bengal
Odisha
Why book Annaprashana with Rutviju
Verified pandits
Every pandit’s profile is reviewed and approved by Rutviju before they can take bookings. See their languages and experience before you choose.
Price shown upfront
Dakshina, fees and taxes are itemised before you pay, so there is no haggling on the day.
Live pandit tracking
Follow your pandit on a live map from the moment they start their journey, just like a delivery app.
OTP-verified pooja
You confirm the pandit’s arrival and the pooja’s completion with one-time codes.
Your language, your tradition
Choose a pandit who speaks your language and follows your family’s customs.
Samagri made easy
Get the full samagri list after booking, or add a samagri kit to your order.
How to book Annaprashana
- 1
Choose Annaprashana and a verified pandit — compare their languages, experience and price.
- 2
Pick a date and time slot and add any muhurtham preference.
- 3
Pay securely online (UPI, cards, net banking), or choose pay-after-pooja where it is offered.
- 4
On the day, track your pandit live, confirm their arrival with an OTP, and share the completion code once the pooja is done.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Annaprashana cost?
On Rutviju, Annaprashana starts from ₹1,999 as pandit dakshina for 1 pandit. The final price depends on your city, the pandit you choose, samagri and express booking, and is shown in full before you pay.
How long does Annaprashana take?
About 1 to 1.5 hours, performed by 1 pandit.
In which month should Annaprashana be done?
Traditionally in even months (6th or 8th) for boys and odd months (5th or 7th) for girls, on a muhurtham chosen from the panchangam.
Who feeds the baby first?
Usually the father; in Bengal the maternal uncle feeds the baby at the Mukhe Bhaat.
Can I book a pandit who speaks my language for Annaprashana?
Yes. Rutviju has Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali and Odia-speaking pandits, depending on the city; each pandit’s languages are shown on their profile.
In which cities can I book Annaprashana?
Annaprashana can be booked in 46 cities including Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Khammam and Visakhapatnam. Choose your city below for local details.