Puja (worship) is the most important daily Hindu practice. Most Hindus do puja at home every morning and many also visit a mandir (temple) on special days. The home shrine is usually kept in a clean, quiet space and contains murtis of the family's favourite gods.

The Five Offerings

A traditional puja includes the panchopachara - five offerings:

Incense for the sense of smell.
Light (a diva or oil lamp) for sight.
Water for taste.
Food for the body.
Flowers for touch and beauty.

The most well-known part of puja is aarti, when a tray of lit lamps is moved in a circular motion in front of the murti while a hymn is sung. Mantras (sacred sounds, often beginning with Om) are chanted. At the end, food that has been offered to the gods becomes prashad - now blessed - and is shared among the worshippers.

Although a priest leads puja in the temple, at home the daily ritual is usually carried out by women. Puja is an expression of bhakti - loving devotion to a personal god.

Y8 Hinduism

Puja at Home