Check List for Ganesh Chaturthi

Suparis (7)
Paan Leaves (For Kalash) (5)
Coconuts (3)
Paint Brush of Big Size to clean Murti daily (1)
Rice (uncooked/kacha)
Fresh Flowers
Red Pooja Dhaga (Raksha Kavach) To tie on wrists after Staphna
Attar (Perfumed Oil)
Black Thread (Make Ganesh ji wear before bringing Him home
Banana Leaves (Kele che khamb)
Durva, Bhel Patra
Diya Wicks
Prasad (Modaks)
Fresh Fruits
Plan decoration ahead. You may need Tables, White spreadsheets, plastic sheets

Charge video+picture camera (buy mini dv's+blank cd's if required)

Floral Ideas (Torans for outside home, table of Ganesh ji, flower mala for Ganesh ji
Measuring Tape (To keep record of Murti Size)
Shringar Samaan

Mukut
Mala / Maitri
Hand / Arm Bracelets
Vastra - For Ganesh ji
Vastra - To cover Sandli before seating Ganesh ji
Vastra - To cover Ganeshji while bringing Him home if brought one day before Ganesh Chaturthi
Pooja Samaan

Haldi, Pinjar, Abhil, Gulal, Ashtaghand, Sindoor, Chandan

Camphor tablets, Dhoop, Aggarbatti
Honey
Khadi-Sakhar
Cotton
Akhrot (5), Badaam (5), Khareek (5)
Jaggery
Matchbox
Ganga jal

How to Bring Ganpati Home

The following information will give you all the details on the vidhis and the procedures to Bring Ganpati Home on
the day of Ganesh Chaturthi.
A majority of people prefer to bring Him home one day prior to the day of Chaturthi. I too, recommend you the
same.
Please refer to the Muhurut timings on the Home Page, to guide yourself of the appropriate Muhurut time to bring
Him home and perform the Sthapana.
Be sure to Carry the following when you leave to bring Him:

Aggarbatti
Dhoop
Aarti Thaali
Matchbox
Supari - 1 no.
Paan Leaf - 1 no.
Cloth to Cover Murti
Cloth to keep on sandli / paath*
Sandli* (also referred to as chaurang or paath)
The Sandli (often made of wood) makes it easier to carry Ganesh Murti.
Performing the vidhis / rituals:
Light the Aggarbatti and dhoop in the Aarti Thaali.
Saying 'Om Gan Ganpatiye Namah' place the Paan Leaf with a Supari resting on top of it on the floor in front of
the Sandli. Also place some dakshina for the people who have artistically created the beautiful Murti.
Take His name, and pray for the festival to be a blessed one!
If you are bringing Him home one day earlier, cover the Murti's face with a vastra. Only open this on the day of
Ganesh Chaturthi during Staphna.
Chant the Praise: GANPATI BAPPA MORIYA!
You are ready to leave. Take Him Home! - Ganpati Bappa Moriya!
(Leave the paan, supari and dakshina at the place behind)
Do not forget to bring the Aarti Thaali back home with you.
Before entering Home with the Murti, ask a family member to bring a bowl of rice. Shower the rice (kacha rice) on
Him before bringing Him inside.
On the day of Chaturthi, Before placing Him on his Sthaan, place some kacha rice, on it rest a Supari, Haldi,
KumKum, Abhil and Dakshina.

Place Him on His Sthaan.

You are ready for the Sthapna.
Proceed by clicking here to How to Perform Staphna.

How to Perform Ganesh Staphna

Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi is one of the most colorful and widely celebrated festivals in India. Large
numbers of people observe Ganesha Chaturthi poojas at home. Whereas most people prefer to
call pundits home on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi to perform the Ganehs Staphna, majority of the people also
prefer to perform the rituals by them-selves with sampoorna bhavna and prem.
Here is an explanation on how to perform Ganesha pooja and Staphna at home as mentioned in Hindu
scriptures.
Ganesha pooja on the Chaturthi day is usually performed as per the Muhurat. Please see the muhurat timings on
the main page of this website by clicking here.
The pooja can be led by any one of the family members and others should join in. God worship is enjoyed by
everyone.Pooja means the traditional ceremony by which God is worshipped. However, the devotion is the
indispensable part of any pooja, by which, even simple gestures and poojas are like sacred rituals.
Before entering the shrine room, all the attendees should take bath, dress in clean clothes and bring a small
offering of flowers or fruits. Generally fruits offered are bananas, mangos, sweet limes, pomegranates and
jackfruit.
Firstly, Prepare the kalash: take a kalash and fill it with clean drinking water, add to the water 1 supari, Rs. 1, 25
paise coins, haldi and kumkum, some attar (perfume oil), place 5 paan leaves, and finally the coconut. Decorate
the coconut and the paan leaves with haldi and kumkum.

Next, prepare the sthaan where Ganpati will sit. Do that by spreading a handful of kacha rice grains on the place.
Over the rice grains, place one supaari and put haldi and kumkum on the supari. Over that place some dakshina.
Reciting "Ganpati Bappa Moriya", we must place the Ganpati Idol over this preparation.

The worship begins with the "Sthapana" (establishment) of the idol. Next step is to invoke Ganesha into the
image. This is known as pran-prathishta. The Pran Prathista mantra in Sanskrit to be invoked is found in the Rig
Veda and is part of Ganesh Suktha.
Then recite the following mantra:
ganananh tva ganapatim havamahe kavim kavinam - upamashravastamam |
jyeshhtharajam brahmanan.h brahmanaspata A nah shrivnvannutibhih sida sadanam ||
(Rig Veda 2.23.1)
ni shhu sida ganapate ganeshhu tvamahurvipratamam kavinam |
na rite tvat.h kriyate kinchanare mahamarkam maghavan.h chitramarcha || (Rig Veda 10.112.9)

We invoke You, O Ganapati of the ganas (Lord Shiva attendants), Who are Brahmana-spati of the brahmas
(prayers), the wisest among the wise, Who abound in treasure beyond all measure, the most brilliant one. Do
listen to our prayers, come with Your blessings and assurances of protection into our home, and be seated. (Rig
Veda 2.23.1)
Sit down among the worshippers, O Ganapati, the best sage among the sages. Without You nothing can be done
here or far. Accept with honor, O wealthy One, our great and variegated hymns of praise. (Rig Veda 10.112.9)

Once the Idol has been stapith, you must spread 5 paan leaves

Over each of the paan leaf, keep 1 supari each, then put haldi and kumkum.

Having done that, place 1 akhrot, 1 badaam, and 1 khareek each on each paan leaf.

After that place the five different fruits, one over each paan leaf.

You are now ready for lifting the cover of Ganesh Ji. (If you bring Ganpati home one day prior, we cover Him with
decorative vastra). You can life the vastra now chanting Ganpati Bappa Moriya!

After lifting the vastra, you must remove the black dhaaga. Clean the Murti with a dry paint brush.

PLEASE NOTE: WASHING GOD'S HANDS AND LEGS IS SYMBOLIC. DO NOT ACTUALLY DO THE SAME.
SIMILARLY FOR ABHISHEKH WITH MILK, NECTAR, CURD SHOULD NOT BE DONE ON THE MURTI (IDOL).

Offer Him the shringar in form of the Mukut, Mala/Maitri, Bracelets, Vastra For Murti. Put a garland of fresh
flowers over Ganpati Bappa.

Offer and put on His forehead, haldi, pinjar, abhil, gulal, ashtagandh and sindhoor. Also offer His vahan, undhir
mama, the Mouse.

Offer Ganpati Bappa and undhir mama (mouse), the prasad which is His favourite, the Modaks. The recipe for the
Modaks can be found here. These can be made at home or can also be bought from out. For people residing out
of India, you can find a very easy recipe on our website on the link mentioned above.

Keep a red pooja dhaga next to Ganpati Bappa, this can later be tied on hands of all family members after the
First Aarti.
Once the 'Pranpratishtha' is done, then you need to light the lamp and incense sticks to please the 'God'.

After this you have to perform the ' Shhodashopachara ', which are 16 forms of paying tribute to Shree Ganesha.
(This ritual is usually performed by the priests, you can skip this.)
Here you offer 21 Druva grass blades, 21 Modakas, and Flowers to Ganesha. You need to apply a Tikka of red
Sandalwood paste on the forehead of the Deity and keep the coconut along with the idol.
Offer 21 blades of Druva Grass.
Offer 21 modaks
Offer red flowers
Apply a tilak using red Sandalwood paste.
Break the coconut or just keep it along with the idol. You can also keep fried grains. (The food of the rat - the
vehicle of Ganesha).
The number 21 signifies - the five organs of perception, five organs of action, five vital airs (pranas), five
elements, and the mind.
Using a Diya wick, make and light the Akhand Jyot (the diya), and the aarti thaali is to be lit which can have the
agarbattis, dhoop, (insense and fragrance) and camphor tablets to be lit during Aarti

The Shahad and khadi shakar should be offered to Ganpati

One can also offer chandan now
Keep the prasad you have prepared in front of Ganesh Ji, sprinkle with ganga jal
You can also recite the 108 salutations dedicated to Lord Ganesha or read the Ganesha Upanishad or just simply
pray.
You are ready for the Aarti! You can sing Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh and Sukh Karta Dukh Harta.

After the Aarti, the family members should gather in front of Ganesh Ji, keep a coconut next to Him and say,
"Dear Ganesh Ji, we welcome you to our home. In our offer of prayers, incase we have committed any mistakes,
knowingly or unknowingly, kindly forgive us. We pray on behalf of all of us to make this Chaturthi a blessed one.
Keep us all happy and healthy always". You are welcome to add your prayers here. PLEASE NOTE: It is essential
to ask for forgiveness at this time while placing the coconut. On the day of the visarjan, this coconut should also
be immersed in the water.
You can also tape-record this entire Staphna for your memory with the Mini DV cassettes.
Thereafter, all of the family members bow down to Ganesha and ask for God's blessings to fulfill all their desire.
While performing Ganesha Pooja at home, you can always be flexible. The strict rituals are meant for Vedic
priests. All you need to be careful is to perform the pujas with a clean body and clean mind.
What is more important is devotion not the ritual.
Try to be simple. Concentrate on your prayers not on decoration and other ritualistic details.

Pooja Explanation
Hindu Rituals involve the Pancha/Five Upacharas/offerings. They are namely;
Gandham (Fragrance) in the form of white or red Sandalwood paste,
Dhupam (Lighting of Incense Sticks),
Deepam (Lighting of Oil or ghee Lamps)
Naivedyam (Sanctified Offerings of fruits, sweetmeats etc.) and Modak and Motichoor Ladoos
Pushpam (Pushpa-Flowers). The Hibiscus or the Shoe flower is a favorite of the Lord. Dhurva Grass malas are
also quite popular.

Coconut for Vinayaka Chaturthi

Before beginning any pooja, these materials should be kept handy. Take a bath, cleanse yourself and then stand
with folded hands in front of the deity and offer all the above. Wet whole coconut (peeled off the exterior husk) but
with a small stalk of husk on the top symbolizes the Bramhin or purest offering to the Lord. Breaking of this
coconut or the act of 'Chadur Thenga' means that we smash our egos in front of the Lord and submit our soft
white inner self at his feet.

What items are favorites of the Lord:

Modak for Ganesh Chaturthi-Vinayakar Chavithi
Modak: The Lord Ganesha has a special liking for the sweet dumplings- Modak/Kozhukattai and Laddoo.
Ganesha's mother Parvati made tasty modaks for Her son, hence he is especially fond of them. Read HERE how
to make home-made Modaks.
Durva: (Three blade grass, Trefoil) is also offered to Ganesh. There are many interesting facts relating to why
Durva is offered. Once Ganesha destroyed a demon called Analan , by swallowing him. The demon went inside
and burnt the 14 worlds situated inside Ganesha, thus causing enormous heat. Ganesha searched for Durva
Grass and wore it as a garland to nullify the heat inside. Durva is a substance known to create heat and by the
principles of two negatives make things positive, the heat was quenched. Durva/Dhurva Grass is therefore used
as a supreme offering in Ganesha Puja. Make a dhurva garland by combining several dhurvas together and tying
them in a mala/garland for the Lord.
Shoe flower/Hibiscus: First of all, the red color of the flower is a personal favorite of the Lord and then the
Hibiscus-Shoe flower-Red in color is Ganesha s favorite
5 petals of the Hibiscus denotes the warding of negative energy and the welcome of the positive energy into the
Universe. On a more practical level, it is the seasonal flower of the Bhadrapad month of the monsoons, hence our
ancients have advocated this particular flower. Especially the color red is highly auspicious.

What is the Angaaraka Ganesh Chathurthi?

The fourth thithi of each moon phase is known as Chathurthi. Chathur = four. 24 to 25 Chathurthis occur each
year. When the Chathurthi thithi occurs on a Tuesday, it s known as Angaaraka Chathurthi in recognition of Sri
Angaaraka, the Vaara(weekly- Mars-Chevvaai-Mangal) devata for Tuesday who performed special pooja for Lord
Ganesh.
When praying to Lord Vignaharta, the following stuti should be sung.
Ganesha Stuti (Praises to the Lord Ganesha) Agajanana padmarkam gajananam aharnisham Anek dantham
bhaktanam yekadantham upasmaheth ||1|| Vakratunda mahakaya koti surya samarprabha Nirvignam kurume
deva sarvakareyeshu sarvada ||2|| Pranamya shirasa devam gouri puthram vinayakam Bhakthavasam
smarenithyam aayuhkaamartha sidhaye ||3|| Gajananam bhootha ganadhi sevitham Kapitha jambo phala sara
bhakshitam ||4|| Umasutham shokha vinashkaranam Namami vigneshwara pada pankajam ||5||
Aarti
Om jai Jagdish hare
Swami jai Jagdish hare
Bhakt jano ke sankat
Das jano ke sankat
Kshan men door kare

Om jai Jagdish hare

Additional Information:
When/If offering Bhog to Gajanan, please do not put onion, garlic and ginger in the food. This can be eaten or
served as Preeti Bhojan and Maha Prasad among the Family Members.
I wish you and your family a very Blessed Chaturthi!
Ganesha bless you with immense Happiness, Peace and Health!

Ganesh Visarjan Procedure:

Before taking Ganesh for Visarjan. You should perform Aarti. All the family members should be present. Usual
Ganesh Mantras and Aarti prayers should be chanted.
On day of Visarjan, the day should start with the Pooja (Morning Aarti). We sing the Jai Ganesh Deva and
Sukhkarta Dukhharta Aartis. After the Aarti, it is preferred to put 'Bhog' the Holy Prasad! which should be
distributed among all the family members.
The visarjan ritual begins with the Uttarang puja which involves offering five items, namely deep (oil lamps),
pushp (flowers), dhoop (incense), gandh (fragrance) and naivedya (food) to Ganpati.
When it is time for Visarjan, the family members should gather once again and perform the Visarjan Aarti before
leaving the house. (the same aartis as mentioned above). After the Visarjan Aarti and distributing the prasad, one
of the family member should very slowly and slightly move the Ganpati Murti, about 1 inch forward. This should
be done just before leaving the house abt 5-10 mins before. This is an indication / significance to Him that the
family is going to take Him for Visarjan.
You should thank Ganesha for visiting your home. Thank him for bringing prosperity and auspiciousness. Thank
him for taking away all difficulties with him.
Ask for his pardon for any mistakes committed.
If you plan to bring Ganesh murti next year, then ask him to return.
After this, all members of the household gather to sprinkle akshat or raw rice upon the lord.
Now a spoonful of curd is poured into Ganesh's outstretched palm because Hindus especially Maharashtrians
believe that any guest who receives curd and rice is sure to visit again.
Take a red cloth, put sukha nariyal (half), stuff it with jaggery and 5 different grains, tie it in a knot and tie this
around Ganesh ji's hand. This is the food prepared for His journey.
Ask for His blessings. The family then circumambulates Ganesha murti after which it is led for immersion.
Take some water and sprinkle it on the person performing the Visarjan.

When the family is ready to take Ganeshji for Visarjan, the family members must pick up the Ganesh Murti and
take Him around the House, mainly the master bedrooms and the kitchen so that His Holy Feet and Blessings are
taken around the full house.
Other people around can chant Ganapati Bappa Moriya... and other Ganesha chants.
Once the murti is lifted up do not place it at home. Walk out of home and move towards the immersion point.
Upon exiting the house, or the building, one family member must take a Coconut and circle on the head of the
Murti three times and break the coconut on the ground and leave it aside. (this one is not to be distributed as
prasad) and cane be immersed in the waters the same day.
Once done, family members can proceed to the Beach or Visarjan Spot, where once again the Aartis should be
performed before finally letting Him go. This should be at the Beach, with the Murti facing infront of the waves.
The person performing the Visarjan should remove all garlands and other decorations on Ganesha.
Collect it in a newspaper or cover. This should not be thrown in the river or water body. Should be place in
appropriate spot given by authorities.
The Murti can then be immersed and His face can be towards the Family when taken inside the water, so you can
see Him while He is going.
His Blessings will remain with you and your family, and He will take with Him away all kasht and problems and
bless you and your family with Peace, Prosperity and Health.
Kindly note:
The Kalash should be taken with you to the beach, the water in the kalash and the contents should be immersed
in the water. If you are bringing Ganpati home, next year then you should bring Home some Sand on the Sandli
(paath on which Ganeshji Murti sits) and also bring back the Coconut of the Kalash which can be tied in a red
cloth and kept in your temple and immersed the next year and the new coconut can be preserved. However, if you
do not intend to bring Ganeshji home next year, you can very well immerse the coconut of the kalash along with
the kalash water and other contents.
Return home and take bath.
At home, place the sandli at the spot where Ganeshji was sitting, and you can remove the decoration the next
day. The supari and rice which was kept under Ganpati ji, should also be immersed the next day. The money
which was kept under the sandli can be used for any Holy purpose like poor feeding etc.
The Akhand Jyot, Diya which was lit continuous, can be kept in your temple from the next day onwards. Some
people choose to let it be on for 10 days of Ganesh Chaturthi. That is your choice.
Symbolic Immersion:
You can also perform a symbolic immersion by sprinkling water on Ganesha. This is if it is made of metal or
porcelain and you plan to use it next year.
Such murtis should be carefully kept in the puja room or in a spot without disturbing it.