Another way this tradition connects to the environment is a key ritual involved in the ceremony. During the upanayanam, a homa is lit, which is a religious fire. Sacred substances are offered into the fire while priests chant mantras, which is thought to purify the environment and participants in the ritual.
Finally, the food offered during the upanayanam varies based on location. This is because each state of India has a different cuisine, largely determined by the climate and crops grown in the region. Some parts of India are more arid. Others have more fertile soil. This changes what types of dishes are traditional to the ceremonies in the region, even if the ceremony itself might be the same.
