Mundan (first tonsure) dates 2026
A child's first haircut — odd year, gentle nakshatras.
Mundan — chudakarana in the samskara list, barasala in parts of the Telugu country — is the first ceremonial shaving of a child's head, usually in the first, third or fifth year. Even years are avoided in most traditions.
The nakshatras favoured are the gentle and swift ones, on the straightforward reasoning that the ceremony should be brief and unfrightening for the child. Ashwini, Mrigashira, Pushya, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Shravana, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha and Revati are the usual set.
Many families perform it at a temple — Tirumala above all in the south — in which case the temple's own calendar and the family's travel usually decide the date more than the nakshatra does.
The rule used
- Nakshatras:
- Ashwini, Mrigashira, Ardra, Pushya, Hasta, Chitra, Anuradha, Shravana, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha, Revati
- Tithis (day in paksha):
- 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13
- Weekdays:
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Rikta tithis (4, 9, 14) and amavasya are excluded from every list. Dates are computed at sunrise in India (IST); the panchangam page for each date recomputes every timing for your selected city.
Dates in 2026
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
Dates in 2027
January
February
March
April
May
July
August
September
October
November
Choosing within the day
Choose an odd year by the child's age, then a gentle nakshatra on a bhadra or purna tithi. Avoid rikta tithis, amavasya, and Tuesday and Saturday in most practice.
Where the ceremony is at a temple, the temple's schedule reasonably takes precedence.
Common questions
At what age is mundan performed?
Usually in the first, third or fifth year. Odd years are preferred and even years generally avoided.
Which nakshatras suit mundan?
The gentle and swift ones — Ashwini, Mrigashira, Pushya, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Shravana, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha and Revati.
Auspicious dates (shubh muhurat) · How to choose an auspicious date