North Indian Pujas & Pandits

North Indian ritual practice covers a wide stretch of the country, from Punjab and Haryana to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The mantras are in Sanskrit, but most families expect the Pandit to explain each step in Hindi, or in a regional language such as Bhojpuri or Awadhi, so that everyone at home can follow along.

Whether it is a Satyanarayan Katha on Purnima, a havan for a new home or Rudrabhishek during Sawan, many North Indian families have a clear sense of how the puja was done in their parents' home. We connect you with a Pandit familiar with the North Indian vidhi who can follow those expectations while respecting your own family's customs.

In many North Indian homes a puja begins with Ganesh Pujan, kalash sthapana and the worship of the Navagraha, followed by the main deity. The kalash is commonly topped with mango leaves and a coconut wrapped in red cloth, and a sankalp is taken with the family's gotra. A havan with ahutis of ghee and samagri often closes the ritual, followed by aarti and prasad.

Katha plays a large role. The Satyanarayan Katha, for example, is usually read in Hindi or recited from the Skanda Purana with a Hindi retelling, and the family listens together before the aarti. Sundarkand Path, Hanuman Chalisa and Durga Saptashati Path are also common, especially on Tuesdays, Saturdays and during Navratri.

Customs still vary from region to region and family to family. A Punjabi family, a Bhojpuri speaking family from eastern Uttar Pradesh or Bihar, and a Marwari family may each have their own way of doing the same puja, so it helps to share any specific practices with the Pandit in advance.