Punyahavachanam is a purification ceremony. It is performed
on the eleventh, thirteenth, fifteenth or sixteenth day after the birth of a
child. It is also performed before an important event or after an untoward
incident. It mainly involves sprinkling of purificatory water. These are the following steps in Punyahavachanam:
Vighneswara Puja – Worshipping of Ganesha
Kalasha Puja – Worship of Kalash – worshiping the water in
sacred pot which will be used for Punyahavachanam
Dhupa and Deepa – offering the incense and the light with
wicks dipped in ghee. This is offered to the water in sacred pot.
The pot is then worshipped with flowers.
The pot is then worshipped with camphor
In the final step, water is sprinkled on the heads of the
performer, people present and on all auxiliary objects.