Celebrating birthday in the Indian way

Birthday (janmadinotsavam) is usually celebrated every year on the day of janma-tithi or janma-nakshatram. For babies upto the age of 1 year janmadinotsavams are celebrated every month. The following are the important things to do on janmadinotsavam:

1. Abhyangana-snaanam
2. Nuutana-vastra-dhaarana
3. Rakshaa-tilaka-dhaarana
4. Haarati-grahana (These 4 are done to remove arishtams)
5. Smarana of Kuladevata, MahaaGanapati, Suurya Bhagavaan, Sapta-Chiranjeevis, Shashthi Devi
6. Following shlokams must be read: slokam-1, slokam-2, shlokam-3, ShashthiDeviStotram
7. Taking aashiirvaadams of elders. This is one of the most important things to be remembered always. A person becomes yashashvi only by respecting elders. Shri Krishna Paramaatma Himself says that a Nityaannadaata, Nityaagnihotri, Maasopavaasii (one who does upavaasam every month), Pativrata, Vedaantavetta, Sahasra-chandra-darshii (a gruhastha who completes 83 years) are always bowed by Him (slokam-4). Hence it is very important to always respect them and elders.
8. Another very important thing is perform daanaas. Any kind of daanam to a daanaarhi can be done. Daanam must always be done thinking “how great is this daana-grahiita for giving me this oppurtunity to do Daanam“.
9. On the 60th, 70th, 80th janmadinam one must do Ugra-ratha-shaanti, Bhiima-ratha-shaanti and Vijaya-ratha-shaanti respectively. On 83rd and 100th janmadinams, shataabhishekam and puurna-shataabhishekam must be done. The main aspects in these shaantis is Parameshvara-aaraadhana, Homams and Daanams.

Following are the things which must not be done on the janmadinam:

1. Kesha-khandanam (shaving, hair-cut etc.)
2. Nakha-visarjanam (removing nails)
3. Kalaham (quarels, fights)
4. Maamsa-bhojanam (eating non-vegetarian (taamasik) food)
5. Prayaanam (travel)
6. Himsa (cruel deeds)