Vedic Puja Vidhi
Hindu Puja Guide
Detailed guides for Hindu pujas, havans, and life ceremonies, procedure, materials needed, best muhurat, and the spiritual benefits of each ritual.
Home & Property
Vastu Shanti Puja
Vastu Purush, Lord Ganesha, Navgraha · 4–6 hours
Griha Pravesh
Lord Ganesha, Vastu Purush, Goddess Lakshmi · 4–8 hours
Car Puja (Vahana Puja)
Lord Ganesha & Vishwakarma Dev · 30–45 minutes
Office Puja (Business Inauguration)
Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi & Kuber Dev · 1.5–2 hours
New Business Puja
Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi & Lord Kubera · 2–3 hours
Shop Opening Puja
Lord Ganesha & Goddess Lakshmi · 1.5–2 hours
Planetary Pujas
Navgraha Puja
Nine Planets (Navgraha) · 3–5 hours
Surya Puja
Surya (Sun God) · 30 minutes
Shani Puja
Lord Shani (Saturn) · 1–2 hours
Rahu Puja
Rahu (North Lunar Node) · 1–2 hours
Ketu Puja
Ketu (South Lunar Node) · 1–2 hours
Mangal (Mars) Puja
Lord Mangal (Mars) · 1–2 hours
Guru (Jupiter) Puja
Lord Brihaspati (Jupiter) · 1 hour
Budh Puja
Planet Mercury (Budh) · 1–2 hours
Shukra Puja
Planet Venus (Shukra) · 1–2 hours
Chandra Puja
Moon God (Chandra) · 1–2 hours
Kal Sarp Dosha Puja
Rahu-Ketu (Serpent Planets) · 3–5 hours
Mangal Dosha Puja
Planet Mars (Mangal) · 2–3 hours
Ratha Saptami Puja
Lord Surya (Sun God) · 1–2 hours
Navagraha Shanti Puja
The Nine Planets (Navagraha) · 2–3 hours
Sade Sati Puja
Shani Deva (Saturn) + Hanuman Ji · 1–2 hours per Saturday session
Goddess Worship
Lakshmi Puja
Goddess Lakshmi · 1–2 hours
Saraswati Puja
Goddess Saraswati · 1–2 hours
Kali Puja
Goddess Kali · 2–4 hours
Durga Puja
Goddess Durga (Mahishasuramardini) · 10 days (full festival) or 2 hours (home puja)
Navratri Puja
Goddess Durga (Nine Forms) · 1–2 hours daily for 9 days
Mahalakshmi Puja
Goddess Mahalakshmi · 2–3 hours
Annapurna Puja
Goddess Annapurna · 1–2 hours
Parvati Puja
Goddess Parvati · 1–2 hours
Radha Puja
Goddess Radha · 1–2 hours
Sita Puja
Goddess Sita · 1–2 hours
Diwali Puja (Lakshmi-Ganesh Puja)
Goddess Lakshmi & Lord Ganesha · 1–2 hours
Baglamukhi Puja
Goddess Baglamukhi (Pitambara Devi) · 3–5 hours (standard); 11–41 days (full sadhana)
Kamakhya Puja
Goddess Kamakhya (Shakti Peetha) · 3–6 hours (standard puja); 3-day Ambubachi ritual cycle
Tara Puja
Goddess Tara (Ugra Tara) · 3–5 hours (standard); 21-day tantric sadhana for siddhi
Tripura Sundari Puja
Goddess Tripura Sundari (Shodashi / Lalita) · 2–4 hours (standard); 16-day Shodashi sadhana for Shri Vidya initiation
Matangi Puja
Goddess Matangi (Ucchishta Chandalini) · 2–4 hours (standard); ongoing daily worship for vashikaran or arts mastery
Bhuvaneshwari Puja
Goddess Bhuvaneshwari (Queen of the Universe) · 2–4 hours (standard); 9-day Navratri sadhana for full blessings
Chinnamasta Puja
Goddess Chinnamasta · 1–1.5 hours
Dhoomavati Puja
Goddess Dhoomavati · 1–1.5 hours
Sheetala Puja
Goddess Sheetala · 45–60 minutes
Kamala Puja
Goddess Kamala (Tantric Lakshmi) · 1–1.5 hours
Karva Chauth Puja
Goddess Parvati & Lord Shiva · 1 day (sunrise to moonrise)
Teej Puja
Goddess Parvati & Lord Shiva · 1–2 days (fast from sunrise; concluded next morning)
Basant Panchami Puja
Goddess Saraswati · 1–2 hours
Kanya Puja
Goddess Durga (as nine young girls) · 45 minutes – 1.5 hours
Lalita Puja
Goddess Lalita Tripura Sundari · 1–2 hours
Mataji Puja
Mata (Village Goddess / Kuldevi) · 1–3 hours
Jwala Devi Puja
Jwala Devi (Goddess of the Eternal Flame) · 1–2 hours
Chamunda Puja
Chamunda Devi (Fierce form of Durga/Kali) · 1–3 hours
Sapta Matrika Puja
Sapta Matrikas (Seven Divine Mothers) · 2–3 hours
Ashtalakshmi Puja
Ashtalakshmi (Eight Forms of Goddess Lakshmi) · 1–2 hours
Navarna Mantra Puja
Maha Devi Chamunda / Durga (Navarna Swarupa) · 1–2 hours (daily japa); 9 days (full Navarna anushthan of 125,000 repetitions)
Siddha Kunjika Puja
Goddess Durga / Devi Kunjika · 30–45 minutes (single path); 2–3 hours (11 or 108 repetitions)
Vishnu & Vaishnava
Satyanarayan Puja
Lord Vishnu (Satyanarayan) · 2–3 hours
Hanuman Puja
Lord Hanuman · 1 hour
Tulsi Vivah
Tulsi (Vrinda Devi) and Lord Vishnu/Shaligram · 2–3 hours
Vishnu Puja
Lord Vishnu · 1–2 hours
Krishna Puja
Lord Krishna · 1–2 hours
Ram Puja
Lord Ram · 1–2 hours
Ekadashi Puja
Lord Vishnu · 24-hour fast with 1–2 hour morning puja
Vaikunta Ekadashi Puja
Lord Vishnu (Vaikunthanatha) · 24-hour fast with all-night vigil
Govardhan Puja
Lord Krishna (Govardhan) · 2–3 hours
Balaji Puja (Venkateswara Puja)
Lord Venkateswara (Balaji) · 1–2 hours for complete puja with abhishekam and stotra recitation
Jagannath Puja
Lord Jagannath (Lord of the Universe) · 1–1.5 hours for complete worship with recitation
Narasimha Puja
Lord Narasimha (Man-Lion Avatar of Vishnu) · 1–1.5 hours including kavacham and mantra japa
Matsya Puja
Lord Matsya (Fish Avatar of Vishnu) · 45 minutes to 1 hour
Kurma Puja
Lord Kurma (Tortoise Avatar of Vishnu) · 45 minutes to 1 hour
Varaha Puja
Lord Varaha (Boar Avatar of Vishnu) · 1–1.5 hours including kavacham recitation and mantra japa
Govatsa Dvadashi Puja
Lord Vishnu & Sacred Cow (Kamadhenu) · 1–2 hours
Akshaya Tritiya Puja
Lord Vishnu & Goddess Lakshmi · 1–3 hours
Dhanvantari Puja
Lord Dhanvantari (Vishnu Avatar) · 1–2 hours
Janmashtami Puja
Lord Krishna (Vishnu Avatar) · All-day fast + 1–2 hour midnight puja
Shiva Worship
Rudrabhishek
Lord Shiva (Rudra) · 3–4 hours
Shiv Puja
Lord Shiva · 1–2 hours
Mahashivratri Puja
Lord Shiva · Full night (approx. 10–12 hours)
Pradosh Puja
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati · 1–1.5 hours
Shravan Somvar Puja
Lord Shiva · Full day (puja: 1–2 hours)
Bilva Puja
Lord Shiva · 45 minutes–1.5 hours
Somnath Puja
Lord Shiva (Somnath) · 1.5–2 hours
Kedarnath Puja
Lord Shiva (Kedarnath) · 2–2.5 hours
Kashi Puja
Lord Shiva (Vishwanath) & Kashi Kshetra · 2–3 hours
Nag Panchami Puja
Nag Devata (Serpent God) · 45–60 minutes
Kashi Vishwanath Puja
Lord Shiva (Vishwanath) · 1–2 hours
Amarnath Puja
Lord Shiva (Amarnath) · 1–2 hours
Nag Devata Puja
Nag Devata (Serpent Deity) · 1–1.5 hours
Bhairav Puja
Bhairava (Fierce manifestation of Shiva) · 1–2 hours
Kaal Bhairav Puja
Kaal Bhairav (Fierce Form of Shiva, Kotwal of Kashi) · 1–2 hours
Sacred Recitations
Sunderkand Path
Lord Hanuman, Lord Rama · 2–3 hours
Shrimad Bhagwat Katha
Lord Krishna (Vishnu) · 7 days
Shiv Chalisa Path
Lord Shiva · 15–30 minutes (single reading); 2–3 hours (108 readings)
Durga Saptashati Path
Goddess Durga · 3–5 hours (complete path in one sitting); 9 days (one chapter per day)
Lalita Sahasranama Path
Goddess Lalita Tripura Sundari · 45–60 minutes (single recitation)
Vishnu Sahasranama Path
Lord Vishnu · 30–45 minutes (single recitation)
Hanuman Chalisa Path
Lord Hanuman · 10–15 minutes (single reading); 1–2 hours (11 readings)
Ramayan Path
Lord Rama · 2–3 hours (Sunder Kand); 9 days (complete Ramcharitmanas); 30+ days (complete Valmiki Ramayan)
Aditya Hridayam Path
Surya (Sun God) · 15–20 minutes (single recitation, 3 times as prescribed)
Satyanarayana Katha Path
Lord Vishnu (Satyanarayan) · 1.5–2.5 hours
Ganesha Atharvashirsha Path
Lord Ganesha · 30–90 minutes
Ganesha Sahasranama Path
Lord Ganesha · 45–60 minutes (recitation only); 2–3 hours (Pushpanjali with individual flower offerings at each name)
Life Ceremonies
Mundan (Chudakarana) Ceremony
Lord Vishnu, Sun, Kula Devata · 2–4 hours
Namkaran (Naming Ceremony)
Lord Vishnu, Sun, Kula Devata · 2–3 hours
Annaprashana Ceremony
Annapurna Devi & Lord Vishnu · 1–2 hours
Vivah Puja
Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi & Agni Dev · 3–5 hours
Upanayana (Thread Ceremony)
Lord Brahma, Savitri Devi & Lord Vishnu · 3–4 hours
Seemantonnayana Ceremony
Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu · 2–3 hours
Vidyarambha Ceremony
Goddess Saraswati and Lord Ganesha · 1–2 hours
Nishkramana Ceremony
Lord Surya and Lord Vishnu · 1–2 hours
Jaatakarma Ceremony
Vishnu, Surya & family deities · 20–30 minutes
Karnavedha Ceremony
Surya, Chandra & protective deities · 1–2 hours
Chudakarma Ceremony
Surya, Vayu & Ayushya deities · 2–3 hours
Sacred Fire Rituals
Mahamrityunjay Havan
Lord Shiva (Tryambakeshwara) · 3–6 hours
Gayatri Havan
Goddess Gayatri, Sun · 2–4 hours
Navagraha Havan
The Nine Planets (Surya, Chandra, Mangal, Budh, Brihaspati, Shukra, Shani, Rahu, Ketu) · 3–4 hours
Surya Havan
Lord Surya (Sun God) · 2–3 hours
Lakshmi Havan
Goddess Lakshmi · 2–3 hours
Durga Havan
Goddess Durga · 3–5 hours
Saraswati Havan
Goddess Saraswati · 2–3 hours
Ganesh Havan
Lord Ganesha · 2–3 hours
Vastu Havan
Vastu Purusha & Panchabhutas · 3–4 hours
Other Pujas
Ganesh Puja
Lord Ganesha · 1–2 hours
Kuber Puja
Lord Kuber · 1 hour
Hanuman Jayanti Puja
Lord Hanuman · 2–3 hours (full-day observance on Jayanti)
Pitru Tarpan
Ancestors (Pitru Devatas) · 1–2 hours
Holi Puja (Holika Dahan)
Holika (symbolic), Lord Vishnu & Prahlad · 1–1.5 hours
Shradh Puja
Pitru Devatas (Ancestral Spirits) · 2–3 hours
Pitra Paksha Puja
Pitru Devatas & Lord Yama · 16 days (2–3 hours daily)
Shirdi Sai Puja
Sai Baba of Shirdi · 1–1.5 hours
Kartik Purnima Puja
Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva & Kartik Devata · 2–3 hours
Ashtami Puja
Goddess Durga (Ashtami Devi) · 1–2 hours
Chaturdashi Puja
Lord Shiva & Lord Yama · 1–2 hours (or all-night vigil)
Shashthi Puja
Goddess Shashthi (Chhathi Maiya) · 1–1.5 hours
Vishwakarma Puja
Lord Vishwakarma · 1–2 hours
Panchmukhi Hanuman Puja
Panchmukhi Hanuman · 1–2 hours
Dattatreya Puja
Lord Dattatreya · 1–2 hours
Surya Arghya Puja
Lord Surya (Sun God) · 15–30 minutes
Raksha Bandhan Puja
Lord Vishnu & Indra Deva (divine protection) · 30–45 minutes
Surya Grahan Puja
Surya Deva (Sun God) + Pitambara Devi · Full eclipse day (sutak to post-moksha bath and donation)
Chandra Grahan Puja
Chandra Deva (Moon God) + Shiva · Full eclipse night (sutak to post-moksha bath and donation)
Pitru Puja
Pitru Devatas (Ancestors) + Yama Deva · 1–3 hours (daily tarpan); full day (annual Shraddha); 3 days (Gaya Pind Daan)
Kshetrapal Puja
Kshetrapal (Guardian Deity of the Land / Field) · 1–2 hours
FAQ
Q.What is a Hindu puja?
A puja is a ritual of worship in which a deity is invited, honored, and prayed to through prescribed offerings. It can be a simple 5-minute daily ritual or an elaborate ceremony lasting several days.
Q.Do I need a priest for a puja?
Simple pujas like Ganesh Puja, Lakshmi Puja, and Hanuman Puja can be performed by any devotee at home. Complex rituals like Rudrabhishek, Vastu Shanti, and life ceremonies (Sanskars) benefit from a qualified priest (pandit).
Q.What is the most important puja to perform?
Ganesh Puja is traditionally the first and most important puja, performed before all other rituals and new beginnings. For prosperity, Lakshmi Puja is most important. For planetary remedies, Navgraha Puja is primary.