Devotional practice
Puja guides
Clear, step-by-step guides to performing puja at home — with a samagri checklist you can tick off as you prepare, short mantras, the right aarti, and festival puja timings calculated from the Panchang.
Daily Puja at Home
A short daily puja at the home shrine is the heart of Hindu household worship.
LAKSHMI AND GANESHADiwali Lakshmi Puja Vidhi
On the Amavasya evening of Diwali, families welcome Goddess Lakshmi, along with Lord Ganesha, into a clean, brightly lit home.
GANESHAGanesh Chaturthi Puja Vidhi (Ganesh Sthapana)
On Ganesh Chaturthi, families bring a clay image of Ganesha home and install it (sthapana) with prana pratishtha, worship him for 1½, 3, 5, 7 or 10 days, and then immerse the image (visarjan).
VISHNU AS SATYANARAYAN (LORD OF TRUTH)Satyanarayan Puja Vidhi
The Satyanarayan puja and katha honour Vishnu as the Lord of Truth.
SHIVAMaha Shivaratri Puja Vidhi (Four Prahar Puja)
On Maha Shivaratri devotees fast and keep vigil, worshipping the Shiva linga in each of the four praharas (quarters) of the night.
DURGANavratri Ghatasthapana and Durga Puja at Home
Navratri begins with ghatasthapana — the installation of a sacred pot (ghata or kalash) that invokes the Goddess for nine nights, often with barley sown in soil beside it.
KRISHNA (BAL GOPAL)Janmashtami Puja Vidhi (Midnight Krishna Puja)
Krishna was born at midnight in Mathura, so on Janmashtami devotees fast through the day and celebrate his birth at nishita kaal with abhishekam of a small image of baby Krishna (Laddu Gopal), who is then dressed, placed in a decorated cradle and offered fifty-six or more dishes.
PARVATI, SHIVA, GANESHA AND THE MOONKarwa Chauth Puja Vidhi
On Karwa Chauth married women fast from sunrise until moonrise for their husbands’ long life and well-being.
GANESHA, VASTU PURUSHA AND THE HOUSEHOLD DEITIESGriha Pravesh Puja Vidhi (Housewarming)
Griha pravesh is the ceremony of entering a new home for the first time.
SARASWATISaraswati Puja Vidhi (Vasant Panchami)
On Vasant Panchami, the fifth day of the bright half of Magha, students, artists and musicians worship Saraswati, goddess of knowledge, music and speech.
Customs vary between regions and families; these guides describe widely followed home practice.