14th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Celebrating first birthday in a South Indian temple

In South India, a child's first birthday is celebrated in a temple. The child is dressed in the traditional South Indian attire for men, a silk sarong (aka veshti) and a silk shirt. The child's head is shaved and the ears are pierced. The family walks around the main altar with the child. A donation of gold, silver, milk or ghee equal to the weight of the child is made to the temple.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2016
Date Uploaded: 07.2016
Photo Location: Swamimalai, India
Copyright: © Alli Nathan