That was Kalyan being shorn of his hair. My daughter wrote

this

about the first haircut…

Traditionally, the hair is offered in a temple, but the parents didn’t want to do that.

So here we are at the haircutting “saloon”, where “gents” get their hair cut:

AM admires the baby hair one last time:

Checks its length:

The hair is wetted down: He touches his wet head! He isn't bothered at all: The shearing begins: The process is nearly complete, and is being documented by his father: It was the elder sister who was more upset, and sitting with a crumpled-up face in a corner! I had to come out and get her some mango juice and some chips; but then everyone came out, and we all had "orange kucchi ice" (orange juice sticks, utter sugar bombs!) Our friend got a share, too: We went to our friends' home, where he was bathed, and sandal paste applied to his little head: He played quite happily, wearing his new shoes: Within a few minutes, he went from being a little wispy-haired baby to being a little boy:

The full moon that night reminded me of his shiny, sandal-coloured head!