Annaprasana means introducing solid food to the child, i.e. feeding rice or solid food for the first time. The meaning of Annaprasana is Anna - rice and prasana - to enter. Annaprasana is done after the Namakaran ceremony, and is considered auspicious because the baby can now have solid foods. It is believed that, with Annaprasana, the flaws that arise due to intake of impure food when as a fetus are removed. It is also believed that Annaprasana ceremony will help to propitiate speech.
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