Annaprasana

I DO NOT CHECK MY BLOG REGULARLY ANY MORE, PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME QUESTIONS GIVING THE DATE OF BIRTH.  MY CHILD IS AN 8-YEAR-OLD NOW AND I HARDLY REMEMBER HOW CONFUSING AND COMPLICATED EVERYTHING WAS BACK THEN.. I STILL KEEP THIS BLOG UP JUST FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT NEED HELP.. BUT PLEASE DO NOT EXPECT ME TO RESPOND AND ABUSE FOR NOT RESPONDING.

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What got me going about this blog is my hunt for this post by Sushma.. the rice/pulse mix for the starters.. just after annaprasana, babyki pettadaaniki semi-solid consistency toti rice. The hunt after 'n' number of previous page hits was a success and there I saw quite a few questions on baby cold/cough/fever repeating time and again.. primarily due to lack of time to check the previous page in a thread with posts more than a 1000, came the idea of collating the data at one place for my reference as well as for those who might need it... okay okay let me put an end to the blah blah and get to the point of post.

Usually, it coastal AP, India, we go for annapraasana or introduction to solids in 6th month.. 6th month 6th day kanaka cheste nakshatram, vaaram, muhurtam dosham lekundaa cheseyyocchu ani nammakar. Some also go by even months for boy babies and odd months for girl babies, look at muhurtham and all and start off.

I personally went with the first choice 6th month 6th day. The ceremony as per Hindu rituals includes a preliminary pooja and also placing of a few things infront of the infant to see what he/she holds or catches first time. The items include
1. Book.
2. Pen.
3. Fruit/food items.
4. Gold.
5. Money.
6. Knife.
7. Some play item.
8. Flowers.

Items might vary as per the custom/tradition of the area.. I had these things.


The items in this pic are the aftermath of the event... got no decent picture without me or the baby, if anyone can provide the items pic, would be glad to replace

The kid is laid on a carpet on the floor with these things laid out at equal distance and whatever he/she holds 1st is the area of interest for his/her rest of their lives is the belief. I dont believe it personally, 'cos the kids tend to go for whatever is closest to them or whatever is eye-catching but the fun part of it made me go for that. By the way my little one (LO) went for a combo.. bananas placed on top of book and pen, touching all three at once and pulling out the bananas.. multitasking ;).

Then comes the part where the parents, mother and father, feed the baby annam paayasam/paravannam with a finger ring, usually father's or some elderly person in the family, preferably God-idol unna ring, dipped in the bowl and making the baby lick and officially the baby is started on solids from that day. Then grandparents, relatives, friends etc., whosoever present at the event site will feed the baby and bless him/her..


Manchineellu, paala buvva, official first meal.The recipe to the porridge (paravannam is simple).

No elaborate cooking... just plain and simple cooking rice to paste consistency with milk instead of water and jaggery and a little honey and a little ghee to top it. no nuts/nut powder or elaichi..

Most of the babies do not actually crawl by 6th month, so not an issue.. it is just a ritual or a formality, keep stuff near the baby let her/him touch it and go ahead with feeding regularly.

PS:  For those in doubt regarding a confusion in the dates, pls. scroll through the comments and calculate accordingly.  I dont really see comments on a day to day basis and end up seeing some comments way past the date some of you want to know... there are a few examples, figure it out through that.

I DO NOT CHECK MY BLOG REGULARLY, SO PLEASE REFRAIN FROM ASKING QUERIES ABOUT DATES.