Upanayanam
Folks,
Gautama is supposed to have performed upanayanam for Satyakama right there in the ashramam itself without any fanfare.
Before my time kshavaram during upanayanam must have meant a proper brhmachari kshavaram. After the first madyanikam, regular sandya vandanam was pretty much automatic.
During my time it was common to see upanayanam getting combined with wedding ceremony. Kshavaram meant a little sliver of the top of the forehead getting shaved off -- I was teased by my classmates for weeks. Sandyavandhanam followed for a few months or years, but soon forgotten after going to college. But we retained the basics such as acamanam and pranayamam so come Upakarma time, when vadyar says acamanam we understood what he meant and did it.
These days kshavaram means a few strands of darbai is placed on the forehead and it gets cutoff, leaving no sign of any shaved forehead. Sandyavandhanam, what is that? What could be characterized as திரு திருன்னு முழிக்கிறான் is the only way to describe the reaction you get from these children when asked to do acamanam during upakarma.
Over the years, there has been an increase in grandeur and expense in conducting upanayanam and a steady decline in anushtanam of any kind, which is supposed to be the very point of the whole function.
Some years ago I was watching an orthodox young kid learning the sandhyavandanam manthras from his father. I have also seen many of my relatives hiring vadyars to come and teach their newly enrthreaded kids sandyavandhanam, which they themselves never do.
Dear rjvv sir, please do not take this as a comment directed at you, I wish you and your family all success with the performance of upanayanam for your son.
Cheers!