Columbus Ganesh Mandal

Daily Puja

Every evening, Columbus Ganesh Mandal gives an opportunity for devotees (couples, singles, and families) to perform Ganesh Puja. This puja is guided and takes the devotees through a sixteen step offering. This puja is called Shodash Upachar puja. The following sequence is used during the Puja. 

 

 

 

Aachaman, pranayam, initial prayers
Statement of purpose – sankalp
Puja of kalash, shankh, ghanta, and deep
Initial Ganesh puja for removal of obstacles

Shodash (16) Upachar (offerings) Puja

 

1. Aavahan – to invite the lord in to the murti

2. Aasan – to offer a seat

3. Paadya – to wash the lord’s feet

4. Arghya – to wash lord’s hands

5. Aachaman – to offer lord a drink

6. Snaan – offer a bath (panchamrut & Abhishek with Atharva Sheersha Chanting)

7. Vastra – offer cotton garments

8. Yadnyopavaeet

9. Chandan haladi, kumkum

10. pushpa – offering flowers

11. dhoop – offering incense

12. deep – offering a lamp

13. Naivedya – offering food (steps below)

• Offering naivedya

• Drink in the middle of naivedya

• Offering naivedya again

• Drink after naivedya

• Washing god’s hands and mouth, chandan

• Mukhawaas, dakshina, fruit

• Neeranjan (and kapoor)

14. Tambool - offering betel leaves, betel nuts, camphor etc.

15. pradakshnia

16. Mantra pushpanjali

 

The puja typically takes 30 – 45 minutes.