Chola is a Sikh naming ceremony held after a child's birth. Invitations announce the date, gurudwara location, and invite family and community to witness the naming ritual.

About Chola

Chola is a Sikh naming ceremony performed typically within weeks of a child's birth. The ritual takes place at a gurudwara (Sikh temple), where the child is formally named. A priest opens the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy scripture) at random, and the first letter of the passage guides the child's name—parents choose a name beginning with that letter. The ceremony is followed by karah prashad (blessed pudding) distributed to all attendees. Invitations must include the child's name (if finalized before the event), the gurudwara name and address, date and time, and the family's names. Some families add a brief note about the significance of the name chosen. Community attendance is central; invitations go to extended family, friends, and neighbors to share in the blessing.

Cultural context

Chola is a core Sikh life-cycle ritual marking the child's formal entry into the community. It reflects Sikh beliefs in divine guidance and the sanctity of the Guru Granth Sahib. The ceremony is joyous and inclusive, welcoming all who wish to celebrate the new life. Gurudwaras serve as the setting, emphasizing the child's spiritual foundation within the faith.