Padma Lakshmi Shaves Daughter Krishna's Head

Child's first haircut is the eighth of 16 Hindu sacraments

Padma Lakshmi already appears to be instilling a sense of tradition in daughter Krishna.

The Top Chef host's 2-year-old is sporting an extremely close-cropped hairdo, apparently the result of the child's first haircut, or Mundana, the eighth of 16 Hindu sacraments.

So, what does it mean?

Shaving a child's head—traditionally sometime between the ages of 2 and 4—signifies the letting go of past burdens to allow the child to move cleanly into the future.

Sure enough, Krishna Thea Lakshmi turned 2 on Feb. 20. (Lakshmi's rep had no comment regarding the photos of the star shopping with Krishna—named after one of the most venerated Hindu gods—in NYC's SoHo neighborhood.)

Mundana also literally translates as tonsure, a symbolic renunciation of worldly fashion and esteem practiced by multiple religions.

Then again, what's more stylish than an adorable 2-year-old rocking a pixie cut?