Ghar Pe Puja
Ghar Pe Ganpati
A simple, step-by-step sequence for welcoming Ganesh Ji into our home — mantras to read aloud, followed by chanting, aarti, and bhajans.
Samagri — What to Keep Ready
Lay everything on a clean cloth beside the altar so you're not searching mid-ritual. A few items missing is fine — devotion matters more than completeness.
- Ganesh murti / idol
- Red or yellow cloth (asana)
- Raised platform or wooden chowki
- Unbroken rice — akshata (mixed with a little turmeric)
- Durva grass — at least 21 blades
- Red flowers and a garland
- Sindoor and haldi (turmeric)
- Chandan (sandalwood paste)
- Panchamrit — milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar
- A small bell (ghanti)
- Diya, ghee or oil, cotton wicks
- Incense sticks (agarbatti)
- Camphor (kapoor) for aarti
- Betel leaves and areca nut (paan-supari)
- A coconut and a few bananas
- Modak or ladoo (naivedya)
- A small plate/thali and spoon
- Water in a kalash or lota
- Matchbox
Aavahan se Pradakshina — Welcome to Worship
Sit facing east or north. Read the transliteration aloud, slowly — the Sanskrit is there if you'd like to follow along.
Lighting the Lamp दीप प्रज्ज्वलन
Light the diya and incense. Ring the bell gently to mark the start of the puja.
Sankalp संकल्प
Take a little water and akshata in your right palm. Silently or aloud, state your intention — today's date, your family's name, and your purpose in performing this puja.
Ganpati Dhyan गणपति ध्यान
Close your eyes for a moment and picture Ganesh Ji before you.
Avahan — Welcoming Ganesh Ji आवाहन
With folded hands, invite the Lord into the idol. This is the heart of the "welcome" — say it warmly, as you would to an honoured guest arriving home.
Asana — Offering a Seat आसन
Offer a few grains of akshata as a seat for the Lord.
Snan — The Ritual Bath स्नान
If your murti allows bathing (clay idols usually shouldn't be soaked — a few drops are enough, or simply gesture the offering), pour a little panchamrit, then plain water, over the idol or before it.
Vastra & Yajnopavit वस्त्र व यज्ञोपवीत
Offer a small piece of new cloth or thread as clothing, and a sacred thread if you have one.
Chandan, Akshata & Sindoor चंदन-अक्षत-सिंदूर
With your ring finger, apply a small tilak of chandan and sindoor to the idol's forehead, then offer akshata.
Pushpa & Durva पुष्प व दूर्वा
Offer red flowers, then the durva grass — Ganesh Ji's favourite offering. Fold each blade in a pair as you place it at his feet, ideally 21 in all.
Dhoop & Deep धूप-दीप
Light incense and circle it gently before the idol, then do the same with the lit diya.
Naivedya — Offering Modak नैवेद्य
Place the modak, fruits and sweets before the idol. Sprinkle a drop of water around the plate to purify the offering.
Tambul, Pradakshina & Namaskar ताम्बूल-प्रदक्षिणा-नमस्कार
Offer betel leaf, areca nut and a coin (dakshina). Circle the altar (or turn on the spot) clockwise three times, then bow with folded hands.
Chanting & Recitation
This is a good moment to let music carry the room for a few minutes — sit back, let it play, and join in softly.
- Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha — a simple japa (repetition) chant. Play a recording and repeat along, or chant it yourself 108 times using a mala.
- Sankashtanashana Ganesh Stotra — a longer traditional chant, if you'd like to extend this part.
- Any instrumental shehnai or flute piece — softly in the background while you finish arranging the naivedya plate for aarti.
Any of these are easy to find on YouTube or a music app — search the name and let it play through this section.
Jai Ganesh Deva
Light the camphor on a plate, add a flower and a little water alongside. Circle it clockwise before the idol as you sing along — tap Lyrics to follow the words.
माता जाकी पार्वती पिता महादेवा ॥
Mata Jaki Parvati, Pita Mahadeva.
माथे सिंदूर सोहे, मूसे की सवारी ॥
Maathe Sindoor Sohe, Muse Ki Sawari.
लड्डुअन का भोग लगे, संत करें सेवा ॥
Laddu-an Ka Bhog Lage, Sant Karein Seva.
बांझन को पुत्र देत, निर्धन को माया ॥
Baanjhan Ko Putra Det, Nirdhan Ko Maaya.
माता जाकी पार्वती पिता महादेवा ॥
Mata Jaki Parvati, Pita Mahadeva.
After the aarti, pass your hands over the flame and then lightly over your eyes/head as a gesture of receiving the light.
नुरवी पूर्वी प्रेम कृपा जयाची ।
सर्वांगी सुंदर उटी शेंदुराची ।
कंठी झळके माळ मुक्ताफळाची ॥
जय देव जय देव जय मंगलमूर्ती ।
श्री मंगलमूर्ती ।
दर्शनमात्रे मनकामना पुरती ।
जय देव जय देव ॥
Nuravi Purvi Prem Krupa Jayachi.
Sarvangi Sundar Uti Shendurachi,
Kanthi Zhalake Maal Muktaphalachi.
Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Mangalmurti,
Shree Mangal Murti.
Darshanmatre Mankamna Purti,
Jai Dev Jai Dev.
चंदनाची उटी कुंकुमकेशरा ।
हिरे जडित मुकुट शोभतो बरा ।
रुणझुणती नुपुरे चरणी घागरिया ॥
जय देव जय देव जय मंगलमूर्ती ।
श्री मंगलमूर्ती ।
दर्शनमात्रे मनकामना पुरती ।
जय देव जय देव ॥
Chandanachi Uti Kunkumakeshara.
Hire Jadit Mukut Shobhato Bara,
Runzhunti Nupure Charani Ghagariya.
Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Mangalmurti,
Shree Mangal Murti.
Darshanmatre Mankamna Purti,
Jai Dev Jai Dev.
सरळ सोंड वक्रतुंड त्रिनयना ।
दास रामाचा वाट पाहे सदना ।
संकटी पावावे निर्वाणी रक्षावे सुरवंदना ॥
जय देव जय देव जय मंगलमूर्ती ।
श्री मंगलमूर्ती ।
दर्शनमात्रे मनकामना पुरती ।
जय देव जय देव ॥
Saral Sond Vakratund Trinayana.
Das Ramacha Vaat Pahe Sadana,
Sankati Pavave Nirvani Rakshave Survandana.
Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Mangalmurti,
Shree Mangal Murti.
Darshanmatre Mankamna Purti,
Jai Dev Jai Dev.
The complete traditional aarti, in full — a beautiful alternative or addition to Jai Ganesh Deva, worth playing as a second aarti if you'd like.
Bhajans
A few well-loved recordings to play for the room.
दोंदिल लाल बिराजे सुत गौरिहरको ।
हाथ लिए गुड़लड्डु साईं सुरवरको ।
महिमा कहे न जाय लागत हूं पदको ॥
जय जय श्री गणराज विद्या सुखदाता ।
धन्य तुम्हारा दर्शन मेरा मन रमता ॥
जय देव जय देव ॥
Dondil Lal Biraje Sut Gaurihar Ko.
Haath Liye Gudladdu Saayi Suravar Ko,
Mahima Kahe Na Jaay Laagat Hun Padko.
Jai Jai Shri Ganaraj Vidya Sukhdata,
Dhanya Tumhara Darshan Mera Man Ramata.
Jai Dev Jai Dev.
विघ्नविनाशन मंगलमूरत अधिकारी ।
कोटी सूरज प्रकाश ऐसी छबि तेरी ।
गंडस्थल मद मस्तक झूले शशि बिहारी ॥
जय जय श्री गणराज विद्या सुखदाता ।
धन्य तुम्हारा दर्शन मेरा मन रमता ॥
जय देव जय देव ॥
Vighnavinashan Mangalmurat Adhikari.
Koti Suraj Prakash Aisi Chhabi Teri,
Gandasthal Mad Mastak Jhoole Shashi Bihari.
Jai Jai Shri Ganaraj Vidya Sukhdata,
Dhanya Tumhara Darshan Mera Man Ramata.
Jai Dev Jai Dev.
सन्तत सम्पत सबही भरपूर पावे ।
ऐसे तुम महाराज मोको अति भावे ।
गोसावीनंदन निशिदिन गुण गावे ॥
जय जय श्री गणराज विद्या सुखदाता ।
धन्य तुम्हारा दर्शन मेरा मन रमता ॥
जय देव जय देव ॥
Santat Sampat Sabahi Bharpoor Paave.
Aise Tum Maharaj Moko Ati Bhaave,
Gosavinandan Nishidin Gun Gaave.
Jai Jai Shri Ganaraj Vidya Sukhdata,
Dhanya Tumhara Darshan Mera Man Ramata.
Jai Dev Jai Dev.
सदा वसन्तं हृदयारविन्दे भवं भवानीसहितं नमामि ॥
Sada Vasantam Hridayaravinde, Bhavam Bhavani Sahitam Namami.
These play the real recordings, streamed live from YouTube each time — nothing is stored on this page, so they'll keep working wherever you host it.
Closing the Puja
- Prasad: distribute the modak, fruit and sweets from the naivedya plate to everyone present once the aarti is done.
- Keeping Ganpati: most households keep the murti for 1½, 3, 5, 7, or 11 days before visarjan (immersion) — decide what suits you and mark it on the calendar now.
- Daily upkeep: if you're keeping the idol for more than a day, a short daily aarti (just the "Jai Ganesh Deva" above, with a lit diya) each morning and evening keeps the ritual alive without needing the full sequence again.
- Visarjan: when the day comes, turn to the Visarjan section below for the full farewell sequence, mantras included.
Visarjan — Bidding Farewell
Whether it's after 1½ days or on the eleventh, the farewell follows the same warmth as the welcome — a last aarti, a prayer of forgiveness, and a send-off with the promise of return.
Final Aarti अंतिम आरती
Perform the aarti one last time — Jai Ganesh Deva, Sukhkarta Dukhharta, or both, from the Aarti section above. Offer a final round of modak and fruit as naivedya.
Kshama Prarthana — Asking Forgiveness क्षमा प्रार्थना
With folded hands, ask forgiveness for any lapse in the ritual over these days — in knowledge, in materials, or in devotion.
Visarjan Mantra — the Farewell विसर्जन मंत्र
Offer a few last grains of akshata and flowers, then read this aloud as you lift the idol to carry it out.
The Procession विसर्जन यात्रा
Carry the idol out with music, dancing and colour — this is a celebration, not a solemn goodbye. The chant below is sung the whole way, growing louder as you near the water.
If you're playing the Bhajans from this page during the procession, "Ganpati Bappa Morya" and "Shendur Lal Chadhayo" both work well here — see the Bhajans section above.
Immersion विसर्जन
Lower the idol into the water gently, facing you, and let it go rather than pushing it under. If you're not near a sea, river or lake, a large tub or bucket of water at home works just as well — eco-friendly clay idols dissolve easily and the water can later be poured onto a plant. Take a pinch of the immersion water or mud home as prasad if that's your family's custom.
Close with three claps, one last "Ganpati Bappa Morya", and a quiet moment of thanks before heading home.