The Naming Ceremony
Kjai children living in the Grand Kingdom of Farid'zai do not have a personal name. Instead, they are referred to as "Njuradi ya-...", meaning "Child of ..." and only distinguished through a number given to them (if several children exist).
Whe Kjai reach adulthood, which most do in an age between 6-8 years (depending on the judgement of their parents and the local priests), they are entitled to choose their personal name in a process called the "Naming Ceremony". It is conducted yearly throughout the realm and consists of three parts:
1. A procession through town, held in the night. Priests walk through the streets and pick up those kids who have been considered ready to become adults.
2. The procession led all children to the local temple complex, where they pay hommage to their gods and are reminded by the priests about their duties as citizens of Farid'zai.
3. Afterwards, every child is called to the altar seperately, where they tell their chosen personal name in front of the gathered crowd. The crowd answers this "introduction" with a simple "welcome!"
The last part is the most important one in the ceremony and symbolizes the transition from child to adult. A bond to the parents and family is kept by taking the name of the father as well as the ancestral name of the family, usually the first known male (see naming traditions in the articles about Kjai). The ceremony ends at dawn, where the arrival of the new members of the society is celebrated with a ceremonial hunt, followed by two days of festivities and celebrations. It is seen as a good omen for further life if a newly anointed member of the Kjai society is able to hunt down a predator or other worthy foe.
The process is the same for both males and females.
It is important to note that only the Yigo ethnicity are celebrating the "Naming Ceremony" in all detail. Many Siraaj narrow the ceremony down to the public announcement of the personal names by the young adults or skip it altogether.
Related Ethnicities
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