Usually performed on the 11th day after a baby is born to purify the mother and child.

This is perhaps the most common reason. Following the delivery of a child, the home is considered ritually impure for a specific period. Punyahavachanam is typically performed on the 11th, 13th, 15th, or 16th day after birth, ceremonially welcoming the new life and mother back into the community. This day also often coincides with the Namakarana (naming ceremony) for the newborn.