New
New
Year 3

Welcoming a Hindu baby

I can explain some different ways that Hindu families celebrate important moments in life.

New
New
Year 3

Welcoming a Hindu baby

I can explain some different ways that Hindu families celebrate important moments in life.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. When a baby is born in a Hindu family, there are special prayers and celebrations to welcome the baby.
  2. Hindu babies often have their first haircut (Mundan) as a special celebration.
  3. Mundan ceremony is a way for the family to wish the baby a happy, healthy life as they grow.
  4. The Rakhi celebration is where siblings tie a rakhi on each other's wrists to show love and protection.

Keywords

  • Mundan - the special first haircut ceremony for Hindu babies to wish them a healthy life

  • Rakhi - a bracelet siblings tie on each other's wrists to show love and protection

  • Blessing - a prayer or wish for happiness, health, and love that families give during these celebrations

  • Raksha Bandhan - a special festival that celebrates the love between siblings

Common misconception

Only Hindu boys have their Mundan haircut.

Both boys and girls can have their Mundan first haircut as part of this special tradition.


To help you plan your year 3 religious education lesson on: Welcoming a Hindu baby, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Share a simple story about a Hindu family preparing for a Mundan ceremony or a Rakhi celebration. The NATRE resources have a photo case study you could use. Use different materials, like colourful threads for rakhi or pictures showing the ceremonies, to make the experience multisensory.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
Hindus believe in one main called Brahman.
Correct Answer: God, god
Q2.
What is the name of the Hindu festival of lights?
Pentecost
Eid
Correct answer: Diwali
Q3.
Who is Vishnu in Hinduism?
Correct answer: a god who looks after the world
a god who makes the rain
a god who lights fireworks
Q4.
Many Hindus in a special place called a mandir.
Correct Answer: worship, Worship

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
In the Mundan ceremony, the baby’s is shaved for the first time.
Correct Answer: head, Head
Q2.
The Mundan ceremony can take place in a mandir or at ...
Correct Answer: home, Home
Q3.
All Hindu boys have their Mundan haircut.
True – all Hindu boys have this haircut.
Correct answer: False – not all Hindu boys have it.
Only girls have the Mundan haircut.
Q4.
What does a rakhi show?
a wish for good luck
a promise to grow taller
Correct answer: love and protection