Upanayanam is a sacred Hindu ritual known as the "sacred thread ceremony" or "thread initiation ceremony." It is a significant milestone in a young boy's life and marks his formal entry into the student stage of life called Brahmacharya, a formal beginning of a student's quest for knowledge, spirituality, and self-realization.

During the Upanayanam ceremony, the boy receives a sacred thread called the "Yajnopavita," which is worn diagonally across the torso. This thread is made of cotton, and its three strands symbolize various aspects of life—duty towards oneself, duty towards society, and duty towards the divine. The ceremony involves several rituals, including recitation of Vedic mantras, prayers, and the symbolic changing of the boy's name.

Poonal, also known as Yagnopaveetham or Sacred Thread, is a significant element in the Upanayanam ceremony, a coming-of-age ritual for young boys in Hinduism. It holds immense importance in the life of a Brahmin, Kshatriya, or Vaishya, marking their initiation into the study of Vedas and the pursuit of knowledge. The Sketch below shows the scene where the father help the son wear the sacred thread, while the mom watches over, praying and blessing the son in the presence of the yagna or the sacred fire and the mantras of the ritual.