Hanuman Puja Vidhi (हनुमान पूजा विधि)
How to worship Hanuman: Tuesday-Saturday puja, materials, sindoor-chola, Hanuman Chalisa recitation and rules.
When to do it
- Tuesdays and Saturdays
- Hanuman Jayanti
- Remembering him in times of trouble
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.
Worship Hanuman
Bathe the idol of Hanuman with water and apply a tilak of sindoor and oil.
Flowers and bhog
Offer red flowers. Offer boondi laddu or jaggery-chana as bhog.
Hanuman Chalisa
Recite the Hanuman Chalisa. The tradition is to read it 1, 3, 7 or 11 times with faith.
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
- Offer sindoor to Bajrangbali
✘ 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
- Avoid tamasic food and improper conduct
Common mistakes
- Reading the chalisa too fast without feeling
- Worshipping out of fear; Hanuman is a symbol of courage and service
Auspicious muhurat
On Tuesdays and Saturdays, puja can be done in the morning or evening. Check the panchang for the time of Hanuman Jayanti.
Related aarti, katha and mantra
Frequently asked questions
What should be offered to Hanuman?
Can women worship Hanuman?
How many times should the Hanuman Chalisa be read?
What should be eaten on Tuesday?
When should the sindoor chola be offered?
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.