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Blessings
Puja procedures, today's auspicious timings, and a guide to major temples across India.
Satyanarayan Puja
Lord Vishnu (as Satyanarayan)
One of the most common pujas performed at home — an expression of gratitude to Lord Vishnu, usually followed by the reading of the Satyanarayan Katha (story) and a community prasad distribution.
When: Full moon days, after a wish fulfilled, housewarmings, weddings, or any occasion of gratitudeDuration: 1.5–2 hours
Satyanarayan Puja
What you need
- Vishnu/Satyanarayan idol or photo
- Panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar)
- Banana leaves or a small mandap
- Roli, chandan, akshat (rice)
- Flowers and tulsi leaves
- Incense and a ghee lamp (diya)
- Panchamrit and sheera/halwa for prasad
- Betel leaves and areca nut
Steps
- 1Sankalp (intention). Sit facing east or north, take water in your right palm, and state your name, gotra, and the purpose of the puja.
- 2Ganesh & Kalash Puja. Invoke Lord Ganesha first for an obstacle-free start, then install and worship a kalash (water pot) representing the presence of the deities.
- 3Invocation of Satyanarayan. Invite Lord Vishnu into the idol/photo with roli, akshat, flowers, and a lit diya, offering panchamrit.
- 4Reading the Katha. Recite or listen to the five chapters of the Satyanarayan Katha, traditionally with all family members present.
- 5Aarti. Perform aarti with a ghee lamp, accompanied by the Satyanarayan aarti or a general Vishnu aarti.
- 6Prasad distribution. Distribute the sheera/halwa prasad to everyone present, including those who could not attend the full puja.
Griha Pravesh Puja
Ganesha, Vastu Purusha, and the household deities
A housewarming ritual performed to purify a new home and seek blessings for a harmonious life in it, before the family formally starts living there.
When: Before moving into a new home, on a muhurat (auspicious date/time) chosen for the moveDuration: 2–3 hours
Griha Pravesh Puja
What you need
- Kalash with mango leaves and a coconut
- Ganesha idol/photo
- Cow (or a symbolic representation) to lead the entry
- Milk for boiling over on the stove
- Rangoli materials for the entrance
- Roli, akshat, flowers, incense, diya
- Navdhanya (nine grains) for the foundation corner
Steps
- 1Vastu Shanti. Worship the Vastu Purusha (the presiding deity of the site/structure) to pacify any disturbance caused during construction.
- 2Ganesh Puja. Invoke Ganesha for an auspicious, obstacle-free beginning to life in the new home.
- 3Kalash Sthapana. Place a filled kalash topped with a coconut at the main entrance or puja area, symbolizing abundance.
- 4Entering the home. The house is entered right foot first, traditionally led by a cow or with milk boiled over on a stove placed just inside the doorway as a sign of prosperity.
- 5Havan (fire ritual). A small havan is performed in the main living area to purify the space, with family members offering ahutis (oblations).
- 6Aarti and settling in. Conclude with an aarti, followed by a simple meal cooked in the new kitchen and shared with family/guests.
Navgrah Shanti Puja
The nine celestial bodies — Surya, Chandra, Mangal, Budh, Guru, Shukra, Shani, Rahu, Ketu
A ritual to pacify the nine grahas (planetary deities) of Vedic astrology, typically recommended by an astrologer after reviewing a birth chart, and often performed at a temple with a qualified priest.
When: To ease the effects of an unfavorable planetary period (dasha) shown in one’s birth chart, or before starting something significantDuration: 2–4 hours (temple-based, priest-led)
Navgrah Shanti Puja
What you need
- Nine small kalashas (one per graha)
- Nine different grains (navdhanya)
- Nine different colored cloths, matching each graha
- Samidha (sacred wood) specific to each graha for the havan
- Ghee, til (sesame), and havan samagri
- Photos/idols or yantras of the navgrahas
Steps
- 1Sankalp. State the specific intention — usually to reduce the malefic effect of one or more planets currently active in your dasha.
- 2Navgraha Sthapana. Install and invoke each of the nine planetary deities in their designated position around a central altar.
- 3Individual worship. Offer each graha its associated color, grain, and mantra — e.g., red for Mangal (Mars), white for Chandra (Moon).
- 4Navgraha Havan. A priest conducts a havan, offering each graha’s specific samidha into the fire while chanting its beej mantra, usually 108 times per graha.
- 5Aarti. A collective aarti is performed for all nine grahas together.
- 6Daan (charity). Traditionally concluded with charitable giving associated with the troubling graha — e.g., donating black items for Shani (Saturn).
Ganesh Puja
Lord Ganesha
Invoking Ganesha as the remover of obstacles — the near-universal first step of any Hindu ritual, and also its own standalone puja during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi.
When: Before starting any new venture, ceremony, or other puja; also as the dedicated Ganesh Chaturthi festival pujaDuration: 30–60 minutes (standalone); a few minutes as an opening step within a larger puja
Ganesh Puja
What you need
- Ganesha idol or photo
- Durva grass (a traditional favorite offering)
- Modak or laddoo for prasad
- Roli, akshat, red flowers (hibiscus preferred)
- Incense and a diya
Steps
- 1Avahan (invocation). Invite Ganesha into the idol/photo with folded hands and a short prayer.
- 2Offerings. Offer roli, akshat, durva grass, and red flowers, one at a time, with a mantra or simple prayer at each step.
- 3Modak offering. Offer modak or laddoo as bhog (food offering), Ganesha’s traditional favorite.
- 4Aarti. Perform aarti with a lit diya, typically the well-known "Jai Ganesh Deva" aarti.
- 5Prasad. Distribute the offered modak/laddoo as prasad to everyone present.
Rudrabhishek
Lord Shiva
A ritual bathing (abhishek) of the Shiva Lingam with a sequence of sacred substances, accompanied by the chanting of the Rudra mantra — one of the most powerful and popular Shiva rituals.
When: Mondays, Maha Shivratri, Shravan month, or to seek relief from difficulties and ill healthDuration: 1–2 hours
Rudrabhishek
What you need
- Shiva Lingam (at home or at a temple)
- Water, milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sugar (for panchamrit)
- Bilva (bael) leaves
- Vibhuti (sacred ash)
- White flowers and dhatura (where locally customary)
- Incense and a diya
Steps
- 1Sankalp. State your intention, then begin with a short invocation of Ganesha before turning to Shiva.
- 2Abhishek sequence. Pour water, then milk, then curd, then honey, then ghee, then sugar-water over the Lingam in sequence, each while chanting the Rudra mantra or "Om Namah Shivaya".
- 3Final water abhishek. A final rinse with plain water washes away the panchamrit before decoration.
- 4Decoration. Apply vibhuti and chandan, then offer bilva leaves and white flowers.
- 5Aarti. Conclude with the Shiva aarti, typically "Om Jai Shiv Omkara".
Lakshmi Puja
Goddess Lakshmi (often with Ganesha and Saraswati)
Worship of the goddess of wealth and prosperity — most prominently performed on Diwali night, when homes and shops are cleaned and lit to welcome her.
When: Diwali night, Fridays, and the opening of a new business or account booksDuration: 1–1.5 hours
Lakshmi Puja
What you need
- Lakshmi and Ganesha idols/photos
- A kalash with a coconut
- Rice, roli, and akshat
- Lotus or marigold flowers
- Sweets (mithai) for bhog
- Diyas for lighting the home
- Coins/new account books, for businesses
Steps
- 1Cleaning and lighting. Clean the home thoroughly and light diyas at the entrance, traditionally believed to guide Lakshmi inside.
- 2Ganesh Puja. Begin, as always, with a short invocation of Ganesha.
- 3Kalash Sthapana. Place a kalash topped with a coconut and mango leaves near the altar.
- 4Invocation of Lakshmi. Invite the goddess with roli, akshat, and flowers, offering sweets as bhog.
- 5Account books/coins. For businesses, new account books or a small pile of coins are placed before the goddess and blessed.
- 6Aarti. Conclude with the Lakshmi aarti, typically "Om Jai Lakshmi Mata".