Ganesh Puja in Varanasi

Ganesh Puja samagri list

• Ganesha idol or framed picture
• Red or yellow cloth for the chowki
• Kalash with mango leaves and a coconut
• Durva grass (traditionally 21 blades)
• Red flowers and a garland
• Sindoor, roli, haldi and akshat (unbroken rice)
• Sandalwood paste
• Janeu (holy thread)
• Panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar)
• Modak or laddoo for naivedya
• Seasonal fruits and betel leaves with supari
• Ghee diya, cotton wicks and camphor
• Incense sticks (agarbatti)
• Ganga jal

The Pandit confirms the final list for your family's vidhi, and Pandit ji can arrange the samagri in Varanasi at an additional cost, agreed after discussion.

Ganesh Puja vidhi, step by step

1. 1Purification and preparation. The space is cleaned, a chowki is set with a red or yellow cloth, and the idol or picture of Ganesha is placed facing the devotees, with a kalash and diya.
2. 2Sankalp. The Pandit takes a sankalp in the name of the family, mentioning gotra, date, place and the intention for the puja.
3. 3Avahan and pranapratishtha. Ganesha is invoked into the idol or image with Vedic mantras. For a new clay idol, a short pranapratishtha may be performed as per custom.
4. 4Shodashopachara puja. Sixteen traditional offerings are made, including water, panchamrit snan, vastra, sandalwood, sindoor, durva grass, red flowers, incense and lamp.
5. 5Path and naam japa. The Ganapati Atharvashirsha, Ganesh stotras or the 108 names of Ganesha are recited, often with the mantra Om Gan Ganapataye Namah.
6. 6Naivedya. Modak, laddoo, fruits and other prasad are offered to Ganesha with devotion.
7. 7Aarti and prarthana. The family performs aarti together, followed by pushpanjali and a prayer for forgiveness of any omissions in the worship.