Instructions are translated from the Hindi workbook; shlokas are chanted in Sanskrit.
🔥 Fire safety: take care when lighting a diya, camphor, incense or the havan fire. Children should take part only under adult supervision. Never leave a flame unattended, keep water nearby, and keep curtains, cloth and paper away. Perform the havan in an open or well-ventilated place.
2-second pause after each shloka · pause, go back or skip at any time
1. Pavitrikaranam
Om Apavitrah Pavitro Va Sarvavastham Gato'pi Va |
Yah Smaret Pundarikaksham Sa Bahyabhyantarah Shuchih ||
Om Pundarikakshah Punatu | Om Pundarikakshah Punatu | Om Pundarikakshah Punatu ||
Pure or impure, in whatever state — whoever remembers the lotus-eyed Lord becomes pure within and without. May the lotus-eyed Lord purify us.
Take water in the left hand and, with the fingers of the right hand, sprinkle it over yourself, the seat and the puja items.
Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon, Ganga water
2. Achamanam
Om Keshavaya Namah | Om Narayanaya Namah | Om Madhavaya Namah ||
Om Hrishikeshaya Namah | Hastam Prakshalayami ||
Sipping water thrice with salutations to Keshava, Narayana and Madhava for inner purity; hands are washed with Hrishikesha's name.
Take a little water in the right palm (gokarna mudra) and sip it three times, once with each name; then say 'Hrishikeshaya Namah' and wash your hands.
Say the words in ( ) — the Panchang and your gotra — yourself; ▶ Listen to sankalp asks you for them. Your name and city come from your profile.
I (name, gotra), at this time and place, resolve to perform this puja for the stated purpose.
Take water, akshat, flowers and dakshina in the right hand and read the sankalp (the app fills in your town, tithi, name and gotra); at the end, release the water onto the ground or into a copper plate.
Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon, akshat (unbroken rice), fresh flowers, dakshina (coin/money)
4. Ganesha Smaranam
Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha |
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarvakaryeshu Sarvada ||
Om Gam Ganapataye Namah | Gandhakshatapushpani Samarpayami ||
O curved-trunked, mighty Lord, radiant as a million suns — make all my undertakings free of obstacles, always.
Before any puja, meditate on Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, and offer akshat and flowers. (In Ganesha Puja this step is part of the main worship.)
Salutations to Mother Earth and to the seeds — sprouting is a symbol of prosperity.
Spread clean soil in a wide clay vessel and sow barley (yava) seeds in it — these 'jaware' are offered/immersed on Dashami, nine days later.
Samagri: Wide clay vessel with clean soil, barley (yava)
6. Kalasha Base
Om Adharashaktaye Namah | Om Kurmaya Namah |
Om Anantaya Namah | Om Prithivyai Namah ||
I set the base of the kalash, saluting the Adhara Shakti who upholds creation, Kurma (the tortoise), Ananta (Sheshanaga) and the Earth.
Wash the kalash with pure water and install it in the middle of the jaware vessel.
Samagri: Kalash (copper/brass/clay)
7. Filling the Kalasha
Om Gange Cha Yamune Chaiva Godavari Sarasvati |
Narmade Sindhu Kaveri Jale'smin Sannidhim Kuru ||
O Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri — may you all dwell in this water.
Fill the kalash with pure water mixed with Ganga water; put in a betel nut, a coin, akshat, a turmeric root and durva. (Durva in the kalash water is part of the kalash puja; do not offer durva on the Devi's murti.)
In the mouth of the kalash dwells Vishnu, in its neck Rudra, at its base Brahma, in its middle the Mother goddesses, and in its belly the seven oceans, the earth of seven continents and the four Vedas with their limbs.
Regarding the kalash as the abode of all the gods, oceans and Vedas, offer it roli, akshat and flowers.
Om Dipajyotih Parabrahma Dipajyotirjanardanah |
Dipo Haratu Me Papam Dipajyotirnamo'stu Te ||
The light of the lamp is the Supreme Brahman, the light of the lamp is Janardana; may this lamp take away my sins — salutations to the light of the lamp.
Light an unbroken lamp (akhand deepak) of ghee or sesame oil to the right of the kalash, to burn continuously for nine days (keep a glass cover to protect it from wind).
Om Shridurgayai Namah | Dipam Darshayami | Hastaprakshalanam ||
A lamp of ghee and wick, lit with fire, that dispels the darkness of the three worlds — please accept.
Show the ghee lamp to the deity, then wash your hands.
Samagri: Ghee lamp with cotton wick
17. Naivedyam
Sharkarakhandakhadyani Dadhikshiraghritani Cha |
Aharam Bhakshyabhojyam Cha Naivedyam Pratigrihyatam ||
Om Pranaya Svaha | Om Apanaya Svaha | Om Vyanaya Svaha | Om Udanaya Svaha | Om Samanaya Svaha ||
Om Shridurgayai Namah | Naivedyam Nivedayami ||
Accept this food offering of sugar, sweets, curd, milk, ghee and dishes. It is offered to the five vital breaths.
Place the plate of bhog before the deity and circle it with water (for Vishnu, Krishna and Rama, place a tulsi leaf on it), then recite the pancha-pranahuti mantra.
Samagri: Naivedya (sweets/bhog), water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon
18. Aarti / Nirajanam
Kadaligarbhasambhutam Karpuram Tu Pradipitam |
Arartikyamaham Kurve Pashya Me Varada Bhava ||
Om Shridurgayai Namah | Arartikyam Samarpayami ||
With lighted camphor I perform the aarti — look upon me and be the giver of boons.
Wave the aarti plate of camphor or ghee 4 times at the deity's feet, 2 times at the navel, once at the face and 7 times over the whole form; sing the aarti while ringing the bell.
Samagri: Aarti plate, camphor, bell
19. Kshama Prarthana
Avahanam Na Janami Na Janami Visarjanam |
Pujam Chaiva Na Janami Kshamasva Parameshvari ||
Mantrahinam Kriyahinam Bhaktihinam Sureshvari |
Yatpujitam Maya Devi Paripurnam Tadastu Me ||
Anena Pujanena Shridurga Priyatam, Na Mama ||
I know not how to invoke, bid farewell, or worship properly — forgive me. Though lacking in mantra, rite and devotion, may my worship be complete. May the deity be pleased; the fruit is theirs, not mine.
With joined hands ask forgiveness for any mistakes in the puja; finally, releasing water, offer the fruit of the puja to the deity.
Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon
This text is from the workbook edition; the vidhi can differ by family and regional tradition.
॥ Shri Durga Mata Aarti ॥
Jay Ambe Gauri, Maiya Jay Shyama Gauri|
Tumko Nishdin Dhyavat, Hari Brahma Shivri|| Jay Ambe Gauri||
Mang Sindur Virajat, Tiko Mrigmad Ko|
Ujjval Se Dou Naina, Chandravdan Niko|| Jay Ambe Gauri||
Kanak Saman Kalevar, Raktambar Raje|
Raktapushp Gal Mala, Kanthan Par Saje|| Jay Ambe Gauri||
Kehri Vahan Rajat, Khadg Khappar Dhari|
Sur-Nar-Munijan Sevat, Tinke Duhkhahari|| Jay Ambe Gauri||
Kanan Kundal Shobhit, Nasagre Moti|
Kotik Chandr Divakar, Sam Rajat Jyoti|| Jay Ambe Gauri||
Shumbh-Nishumbh Bidare, Mahishasur Ghati|
Dhumr Vilochan Naina, Nishidin Madmati|| Jay Ambe Gauri||
Chand Mund Sanhare, Shonit Bij Hare|
Madhu Kaitabh Dou Mare, Sur Bhay Bin Kare|| Jay Ambe Gauri||
Brahmani, Rudrani, Tum Kamla Rani|
Agam-Nigam Bakhani, Tum Shiv Patrani|| Jay Ambe Gauri||
Chaunsath Yogini Mangal Gavat, Nrity Karat Bhairu|
Bajat Tal Mridanga, Aru Bajat Damru|| Jay Ambe Gauri||
Tum Hi Jag Ki Mata, Tum Hi Ho Bharta|
Bhaktan Ki Duhkh Harta, Sukh Sampatti Karta|| Jay Ambe Gauri||
Bhuja Char Ati Shobhit, Khadg Khappar Dhari|
Manvanchhit Phal Pavat, Sevat Nar Nari|| Jay Ambe Gauri||
Kanchan Thal Virajat, Agar Kapur Ki Bati|
Shri Malketu Men Rajat, Koti Ratan Jyoti|| Jay Ambe Gauri||
Shri Ambeji Ki Arti, Jo Koi Nar Gave|
Kahat Shivanand Svami, Manvanchhit Phal Pave|| Jay Ambe Gauri, Maiya Jay Shyama Gauri||