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
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Aavahan – to invite the lord in to the murti
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Aasan – to offer a seat
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Paadya – to wash the lord’s feet
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Arghya – to wash lord’s hands
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Aachaman – to offer lord a drink
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Snaan – offer a bath (panchamrut & Abhishek with Atharva Sheersha Chanting)
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Vastra – offer cotton garments
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Yadnyopavaeet
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Chandan haladi, kumkum
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pushpa – offering flowers
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dhoop – offering incense
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deep – offering a lamp
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Naivedya – offering food (steps below)
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Offering naivedya
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Drink in the middle of naivedya
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Offering naivedya again
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Drink after naivedya
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Washing god’s hands and mouth, chandan
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Mukhawaas, dakshina, fruit
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Neeranjan (and kapoor)
14. Tambool - offering betel leaves, betel nuts, camphor etc.
15. pradakshnia
16. Mantra pushpanjali
The puja typically takes 30 – 45 minutes.