Ganesh Puja Vidhi (गणेश पूजा विधि)
The complete Ganesh puja: materials, installation, a simple order of the sixteen-step worship, mantras, aarti, bhog and rules for immersion.
When to do it
- On Wednesdays
- On Ganesh Chaturthi, Sankashti Chaturthi and at the start of any new work
- At the start of every auspicious task
Puja materials checklist
Puja method (step by step)
Bath and purification
Bathe and wear clean, preferably freshly washed clothes. Keep the mind calm and put your phone away.
Prepare the place
Clean the place of worship. East or north-east is considered best. Spread a clean cloth on a low wooden seat (chowki) and install the idol or picture.
Lamp and achaman
Light the lamp and incense. Take water in the right palm and sip it three times (achaman).
Sankalp (resolve)
Holding water, rice grains (akshat) and a flower in your hand, say silently your name, gotra (if known) and the purpose of the puja, then pour the water on the ground. A resolve in simple language is also valid.
Ganesh vandana
Remembering Ganesha before any puja is considered auspicious in tradition.
Install the idol
Spread a red or yellow cloth on the seat and install Ganesha. Tradition says to keep his face towards the east or west.
Invocation and seat
With folded hands invoke Ganesha and offer him a seat.
Bath and clothes
Give a symbolic bath with water or a few drops of panchamrit, then offer clean cloth (or sacred thread, kalava).
Tilak and durva
Apply a tilak of sindoor or roli. Offer 21 blades of durva, which is considered dear to Ganesha.
Flowers, incense, lamp
Offer red flowers and show incense and lamp.
Bhog
Offer modak, laddu or seasonal fruit.
Mantra japa
Chant the Ganesh mantra 108 times.
Aarti
Perform aarti with a ghee lamp. Let all family members stand together, and take the aarti at the end.
Prayer for forgiveness
Ask humbly for forgiveness for any mistake made during the puja.
Prasad and closing
Share the prasad with everyone and take some yourself. Take the blessings of elders. Immerse flowers and other puja materials in flowing water or under a tree, rather than throwing them in the trash.
Mantras
✔ Do
- Bathe and wear clean clothes before the puja
- Sit with a calm mind and faith
- Keep the bhog clean and prepared at home
- Share the prasad with everyone after the puja
- Do keep durva and modak
✘ Do not
- Do not get distracted by your phone or conversation during the puja
- Avoid anger, gossip and harsh speech
- Do not offer stale or impure flowers and bhog
- Do not place the idol or picture directly on the floor
- Tulsi is not offered in Ganesh puja (tradition)
- Do not install a broken or damaged idol
Common mistakes
- Offering tulsi leaves
- Ignoring the rule about sighting the moon on Chaturthi (in tradition, seeing the moon on Bhadrapada Chaturthi is avoided)
- Immersing a Plaster of Paris idol in water; choose an eco-friendly clay idol
Auspicious muhurat
The tithi and puja time of Ganesh Chaturthi and Sankashti Chaturthi vary by city. Check your city’s panchang. On ordinary days, Wednesday is considered auspicious for the puja.
Related aarti, katha and mantra
Frequently asked questions
How much durva should be offered to Ganesha?
Which way should Ganesha’s trunk turn?
Is tulsi offered in Ganesh puja?
What is Ganesha’s favourite bhog?
How should Ganpati be immersed?
Other puja vidhis
Note: puja methods vary by family, region and sect. The method given here is a simple, general form. Give priority to your family tradition or your pandit’s guidance.