Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 Puja Vidhi

This year Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated today, September 7. This bright festival marks the birth of Lord Ganesha and is celebrated with devotion and elaborate rituals across India. Lord Ganesha is also worshipped as the remover of problems. The festival lasts for ten days, during which families install idols of Lord Ganesha at home. If you plan to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi at home, this guide will introduce you to each step of the puja Vidhi.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 Puja Preparation

In 2024, Ganesh Chaturthi will commence on the 7th of September and Visarjan on the 17th of September.

• Purify the place: Before bringing the idol of Lord Ganesha, do a thorough cleaning to create a pure and clean environment. A clean condition is essential to invite Lord Ganesha into your home.
• Decorate the Puja Pandal: Create an altar by placing a stool at your ideal location and covering it with a red cloth. Set up a kalash (vessel filled with water, mango leaves, and coconut) on the altar. Decorate the place with flowers, rangoli, and burning diyas to create a festive atmosphere.
• Personal preparation: Take a bath before the Ganesh puja and wear clean, preferably new, clothes. It is advisable to wear traditional attire
• Arrange Prasad: Prepare a thali with all the necessary puja materials including modaks, fruits, and other prasad. Put these in front of the idol.
• Install the Ganesha idol: Install the Ganesha idol on a pedestal and make sure it is facing east or north, which are regarded as auspicious directions.

Ganesh Chaturthi Puja Vidhi: Step-by-Step Rituals

Take a sincere pledge (Sankalp): 

Begin the puja by making a sincere commitment to perform the rituals with full devotion. Also, take a heartfelt resolution to perform the puja with dedication and devotion. Chant the Sankalp Mantra while holding water in your right hand, then pour it into a plate or small vessel, indicating your intention to complete the puja.

Invite the presence of Lord Ganesha:

Purify the area by sprinkling water near the idol. Then, light incense sticks and agarbatti, and offer flowers, durva grass, and sandalwood paste on the idol, inviting Lord Ganesha.

Consecrate the idol: 

Close your eyes and intonate the Prana Pratishtha Mantra, inviting Lord Ganesha to live in the idol throughout the celebration.

Perform Shodashopachara Vidhi (16 Holy Offerings)

• Asana: Set up a holy seat for Lord Ganesha by spreading a red cloth.
• Padhyam: Offer water to wash the feet of Lord Ganesha.
• Arghyam: Offer water to wash the hands of Lord Ganesha.
• Achamanam: Offer water to drink.
• Snanam: Bathe the idol with water.
• Vastra: Offer new clothes or a piece of cloth.
• Upavastra: Offer an extra piece of cloth.
• Gandham: Apply sandalwood paste on the idol.
• Pushpam: Offer flowers on the idol.
• Dhupaam: Light an incense stick and offer it.
• Deepam: Light a lamp and offer it.
• Naivedyam: Offer food and sweets, especially modakas.
• Achamanam: Offer water again to drink.
• Tambulam: Offer betel leaves and nuts.
• Dakshina: Donate money.
• Aarti: Light a lamp in front of the idol and perform Aarti.

Propose Naivedayam (sacred food offerings):

Place modaks, fruits, and other sweets in front of Lord Ganesha while chiming the Naivedayam mantra and requesting the deity to accept your offerings.

Perform Aarti:

Light camphor in a thali and move it in a circular motion in front of the idol. Apart from this, ring the bell, clap and blow conch shell while performing Ganesh Aarti.

Do Pradakshina:

After the Aarti, circle the idol three times, which symbolizes the cyclical nature of life and shows your surrender to the divine power of Lord Ganesha.

Distribute Prasad:

Complete the puja by distributing Prasad to everyone, providing that everyone receives the divine blessings of Lord Ganesha.