Annaprashana is the Hindu ceremony marking a baby’s first feeding of solid food.
The Sanskrit name refers to beginning to eat food, and the rite usually introduces grain or another culturally significant first solid. It represents the child’s transition from an exclusively milk-based diet to eating ordinary food with the family.
The timing varies by regional custom, family tradition, and the child’s development. In many communities it is performed during infancy, often around the sixth month, although the exact age is not universal. A priest or elder may bless the food before the baby tastes it.
Annaprashana is different from Godh Bharai, which is a prenatal celebration, and Namkaran, which is a naming ceremony after birth. It is also not the same as Jatakarma, an initiation rite associated with the newborn period.