Lord Ganesha is worshipped with all sixteen rituals along with chanting of Puranik Mantras during Ganesha Chaturthi Puja which is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi Puja. Worshipping Gods and Goddesses with all 16 rituals is known as Shodashopachara Puja (षोडशोपचार पूजा).

Although Ganesha Puja can be done during Pratahkala, Madhyahnakala and Sayankala but Madhyahnakala is preferred during Ganesha Chaturthi Puja. Madhyahnakala Puja time for Ganesha Puja can be known at Ganesha Chaturthi Puja Muhurat.

Deep Prajawalan (दीप प्रज्ज्वलन) and Sankalpa (संकल्प) are done before starting the Puja and these two are not part of core sixteen steps of Shodashopachara Puja.

If you have Lord Ganesha installed at your home and is worshipped daily then Avahana (आवाहन) and Pratishthapan (प्रतिष्ठापन) should be skipped as these two rituals are done for newly bought statues of Lord Ganesha either made of clay or made of metal. It should be noted that pre-installed statue of Lord Ganesha at home are not given Visarjan (विसर्जन) but given Utthapana (उत्थापन) at the end of Puja.

Requirements

  • A Clay image of Lord Ganesha.
  • Red flowers
  • Druva Grass blades
  • Modak (jaggery filled sweet)
  • Coconut
  • Red chandan (Sandalwood paste)
  • Incense and agarbathis

 

Ganesh Chaturthi Puja

  1. Avahana (आवाहन) – invoking Lord Ganesha
  2. Pratishthapan (प्रतिष्ठापन) – installing Lord Ganesha into the statue
  3. Aasan Samarpan (आसन समर्पण) – offering seat to Lord Ganesha
  4. Arghya Samarpan (अर्घ्य समर्पण) – offering scented water to Lord Ganesha
  5. Aachaman (आचमन)
  6. Snan (स्नान)
    1. पञ्चामृत स्नानम्
    2. पयः स्नानम्
    3. दधि स्नानम्
    4. धृत स्नानम्
    5. मधु स्नानम्
    6. शर्करा स्नानम्
    7. सुवासित स्नानम्
    8. शुध्दोदक स्नानम्
  7. Vastra Samarpan (वस्त्र समर्पण वं उत्तरीय समर्पण)
  8. Yagyopavit Samarpan (यज्ञोपवीत समर्पण)
  9. Gandha (गन्ध)
  10. Akshata (अक्षत) – unbroken rice for Puja
  11. Pushpa Mala (पुष्प माला)
  12. शमी पत्र
  13. दुर्वान्कुर
  14. सिन्दूर
  15. Dhoop (धूप)
  16. Deep Darshan (दीप दर्शन)
  17. Naivedhya Nivedan (नैवेद्य निवेदन)
    1. चन्दन
  18. Tambula Arpana (ताम्बुल अर्पण) – offering Paan made of betal nut and leaves
    1. नारिकेल अर्पण
    2. दक्षिणा समर्पण
  19. Neeranajan (नीरानजन/आरती) – Lord Ganesha Aarti

On Ganesha Chaturthi, devotees also perform Eka Vinshati Name Ganesh Puja and Lord Ganesha Anga Puja along with the above Shodashopachara Puja.

 

Ganesh Puja Visarjan

Offer flower and raw rice on chawki and recite, “O Lord! Many thanks to come for puja. Please receive my offerings, recitation and reside again at your divine place.” There are no specific mantras to be chanted during Ganesha Visarjan. Ganapati Bappa Moriya is a very popular chant. You can also recite the following sloka:

मूषिकवाहन मोदकहस्त
चामरकर्ण विलम्बितसूत्र ।
वामनरूप महेस्वरपुत्र
विघ्नविनायक पाद नमस्ते ॥

The visarjan ritual begins with the Uttarang puja which involves offering five items, namely deep (oil lamps), pushp (flowers), dhoop (incense), gandh (fragrance) and naivedya (food) to Ganpati.

After this, all members of the household gather to perform the aarti and sprinkle akshat or raw rice upon the lord. The murti of Ganesha is then lifted from its seat and carried to the threshold where it is turned to face the house and placed on the floor.

You should thank Ganesha for visiting your home. Thank him for bringing prosperity and auspiciousness. Thank him for taking away all difficulties with him.Ask for his pardon for any mistakes committed.

If you plan to bring Ganesh murti next year, then ask him to return.

Now a spoonful of curd is poured into Ganesh’s outstretched palm because Hindus especially Maharashtrians believe that any guest who receives curd and rice is sure to visit again.

Ask for His blessings. The family then circumambulates Ganesha murti after which it is led for immersion.

Hindu Festivals Puja Vidhi

Hindu Festivals Puja Vidhi