Baby and child · Every tradition
Mundan ceremony: the baby's first haircut, at a temple or at home in Bangalore
Somebody has said the baby’s hair “has to come off” before the first birthday, or the third, and that it has to happen at the family temple, or Tirupati, or at home, depending on which grandparent you ask. The baby has no opinion yet. They will have a strong one on the day.
Here is how the first haircut is usually done, and how to make it quick and calm.
What it is
The mundan (mundan sanskar in Hindi homes) is the child’s first full haircut, usually a full shave of the head. The Sanskrit name is chudakarana. Tamil families call it mottai. In Kannada homes it is often called chaula, and in Telugu homes the first hair offering is often made at Tirupati.
The idea is a fresh start: the hair the baby was born with is removed and offered, often at a temple. Many families believe the new hair grows back thicker. (Your paediatrician will tell you it does not. Your mother will tell you it does. Smile at both.)
Which age
- North Indian families often do it in an odd year: the 1st, 3rd or 5th.
- South Indian families often do it in the first year, sometimes as a vow to the family deity.
- Some families wait until a vow can be fulfilled at a particular temple.
The priest or your elders will pick a good day. February to April is the busiest season, especially at the big temples.
Temple or home
- The family temple (kuladevata). Many families make the first hair offering there. It can mean a trip out of Bangalore.
- A pilgrimage temple. Tirupati is the most common for Telugu and many Kannada families. Kukke Subramanya and Dharmasthala are common for families from Karnataka. These temples have their own tonsure halls, timings and fees, and on a weekend in season, long queues.
- At home. A barber comes to the house, often with a short puja by a priest. Easiest for the child, and the most comfortable for elders who cannot travel.
Many families do the shave at home and offer the hair at the temple later.
What happens
At home, the usual order is:
- A short puja. Ganapati puja and sankalpa, if your family does one.
- The first lock. In many homes, the father or the maternal uncle cuts the first small lock with scissors.
- The shave. The barber shaves the head, with the child in a parent’s or uncle’s lap.
- Sandal or turmeric paste. Many families apply sandal paste on the head afterwards to cool it.
- The hair. Kept carefully, to be offered at a temple or put in a river, depending on your family’s custom.
- A bath, new clothes, and lunch.
Some families leave the first haircut for the boy’s upanayanam, years later. The ear piercing is often done on the same day as the mundan. See the ear piercing ceremony guide.
Keep it quick and calm
- Timing. The child should be fed and rested. Never at nap time.
- The lap. A parent or the maternal uncle holds the child firmly but gently. Some families put the child in a high chair. Do whatever the child accepts.
- Distraction. A favourite toy, a song, or a video on a phone. This is not the day for screen-time rules.
- The barber. Ask for a new blade, opened in front of you. A quick, confident barber who has done many children is worth paying more for.
- Small cuts happen. Keep clean cotton and an antiseptic ready.
- Photos. Take the “before” photo the day before. On the day, nobody remembers.
What it costs in 2026
Planning numbers for Bangalore, not quotes.
Barber at home: Rs 500 to Rs 2,000. More if they travel far or come early in the morning.
Priest: Rs 3,000 to Rs 8,000 for a short puja at home, if your family does one.
Lunch: Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 for close family, depending on headcount and the caterer’s minimum order.
Temple trip: the temple’s fee is usually small. The real costs are travel, a stay if it is outside the city, and the day off work.
Realistic totals:
- At home, close family only: Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000
- At home with a puja and lunch for 30 to 40: Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000
Want the barber, the priest and the lunch sorted in one call?
Tell us the child's age and the plan
That is exactly what Event Maami is for. A maami will call you back, help you plan it at home or around a temple trip, and send you a clear cost. No charge for the conversation.
The short version
The mundan is the first haircut, usually in the 1st or 3rd year. Do it at the family temple, a pilgrimage temple, or at home with a barber. Keep the child fed, rested and in a familiar lap, and ask for a new blade. At home with close family, plan for about Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000. Many families do the ear piercing the same day.
A note on the numbers
These are realistic 2026 Bangalore planning bands. Temple fees and travel vary a lot. Always get an itemised quote before you commit.
Common questions
At what age is the mundan done?
Most families do it in the child's 1st or 3rd year. Many North Indian families prefer an odd year (1, 3 or 5). Many South Indian families do it in the first year, often at the family temple. The priest or elders pick a good day.
Where is the mundan done?
At the family temple (kuladevata), at a pilgrimage temple such as Tirupati, or at home with a barber and a priest. Many Bangalore families with roots in Karnataka go to temples such as Kukke Subramanya or Dharmasthala. Home is the easiest for the child.
How do we keep the child calm?
Do it when the child is fed and rested, not at nap time. Have a parent or the maternal uncle hold them in their lap. Keep a favourite toy or a phone video ready. A quick, confident barber matters more than anything else.
How much does a mundan cost in Bangalore?
A barber at home charges roughly Rs 500 to Rs 2,000. A priest for a short puja is Rs 3,000 to Rs 8,000. With a small family lunch, the total is usually Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000. Temple trips add travel and the temple's own fee.