13 - Keshant Samskara

Keshant is a coming of age Samskara for boys. Keshant meaning ‘cutting the hair’ is the thirteenth of the 16 Samskaras in Vaidic Tradition. This Samskara is connected with the first shaving of a student's beard when he is about 16 years or when the first facial hair grows.

The similar coming of age Samskara for girls is Ritushuddhi. It is performed after a girl’s first menstruation. She is dressed up and given sweets and fruits while women sing songs and celebrate.

Until this point, all the Samskaras performed are same for boys and girls. From this Samskara it is marked that now the path will be different for males and females.