In the Hindu religion and the South Asian culture, the intermingling of religion and identity begins with one of the most fundamental elements of one’s identity: their name. In the Hindu tradition, the naming of a child is a significant event, referred to as “Namakaran.” In Hinduism, an individual’s life is composed of 16 crucial and spiritually-intertwined rites of passage, beginning with birth and ending with death. Thus, life in itself is considered to be a spiritual journey. In a ceremony complete with ancient rituals, blessings from elder family members, and the consultations of…