Pooja: Rituals of Hindu Worship Ceremony

by Avadhesh Sharma SEO Analyst

The ceremonial worship among the Hindu community is called pooja. The rites and rituals of pooja range from daily rites in brief practised in every Hindu household to elaborate rituals practised in the temples. The simplest form of pooja generally consists of offering fruits, flowers and few other elements to an image or idol of a God.

The components required in a pooja vary widely among the different communities within the Hindus, sects, time of the day, part of the country, needs of the worshipper and also according to the religious text followed. Different pooja kits are available in the market that serves convenience. The idol or image of God is approached as a royal guest and the upacharas or attentions are performed maintaining every kind of sanctity.

Steps of Pooja

The detailed rituals of pooja include several upacharas. The steps involved in the pooja vary according to the religion, setting, tradition or the time of the pooja. This variation is observed mainly for the way the deity is hosted. As explained earlier, the deity is treated as a royal guest and the devotees as hosts. The deity is taken care with offering foods, flowers, hymns etc.

The different upacharas might include the various steps which the pooja samagri suppliers are well aware of, for packing the pooja kits. The steps are as follows-

1. Avahana or the invocation, where the deity is invited to the worshipping ceremony with respect and from the bottom of the heart.

2. Asana, that is the almighty God is offered to seat on a raised platform.

3. Padya, where the feet of the deity are symbolically washed.

4. Water from the holy Ganga is offered for washing the body right from the head.

5. Arghya, where water is offered to the deity so that she might wash her mouth.

6. Snana or abhisheka where water is offered for the symbolic bath.

7. Vastra or clothing, where a new cloth is wrapped around the image or the idol and the ornaments are fixed to it.

8. Gandha, where perfumes or attar is sprinkled and kumkum or sandal paste is applied.

9. Offering flower and garlands is called pushpa daan along with dhoopa or incense is burned.

10. A burning lamp is used for performing aarti, it happens to be an important step in a pooja.

11. Naivedya is offered to the deity which is nothing but fruits, sugar, cooked rice, clarified butter and betel leaves are offered.

12. Namashkara is where the worshippers bow before the deity offering homage and recite chants or mantra.

13. Dhyana where the deity is incanted in the devotee\'s heart.

A pooja might be performed with rituals with 5 steps, which is called pancha upachara pooja or with rituals of 64 steps, which is known as chatushasti upachara puja.

Trade and Commerce of Pooja Kits

Few companies in India produce pooja kits with quality Vedic products after researching various rites and rituals of every pooja. These kits help in organising and arranging a pooja in no time, which is quite helpful for working men and women.

Not only this, these kits are even exported overseas. Pooja kits exporters supply these items to Hindu customers abroad. The demand for these kits from foreign lands is quite high, especially during the festive seasons.