✦ Shri Ganesha Puja Vidhi ✦
✦ Shodashopachara puja of Vighnaharta Ganpati — 16 steps ✦
✦ About Shri Ganesha Puja Vidhi ✦
Shri Ganesha Puja is the first step of every religious undertaking. No work is begun without "Shri Ganeshaya Namah". Ganesha puja can be performed daily in household life — with special significance on Wednesday, Chaturthi tithi, and Ganesh Chaturthi.
The Shodashopachara puja is completed through 16 ritual acts — asana, padya, arghya, achamaniya, snan, vastra, yajnopavita, gandha, pushpa, dhupa, deepa, naivedya, tambula, dakshina, aarti, pradakshina. The procedure is simple yet yields complete results.
You may worship a clay murti, silver-metal image, or a consecrated yantra at home. Each step is accompanied by a brief mantra — see the step-by-step details below.
✦ Best Times & Tithis ✦
Wednesday (Ganesha's day), Chaturthi tithi (especially Sankashti Chaturthi, Vinayaka Chaturthi), Ganesh Chaturthi (Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi), Guru Pushya yoga. Morning or Abhijit Muhurat is best. Pradosh kaal is also auspicious.
✦ Puja Samagri (Materials) ✦
Ganesha murti / image
1
Yellow silk cloth
1 piece
Roli / sindoor / kumkum
small qty
Sandalwood (white & red)
paste
Akshat (turmeric-coated rice)
1 bowl
Durva grass — essential
21 strands
Red flowers (hibiscus)
21
Modak — Ganesha's favorite
21
Dhoop and agarbatti
set
Ghee deepak
1
Panchamrit
1 bowl
Ganga jal / pure water
1 lota
Paan, supari, clove, cardamom
set
Coconut
1
Fruits — banana, mango, apple
mixed
Kalash with mango leaves & coconut
1
✦ 16-Step Procedure ✦
Sankalpa (Resolution)
(Sankalpa)Hold water, akshat, and flowers in the right hand. Speak your name, gotra, tithi, place — declare the puja's purpose. Then release the water.
ॐ विष्णुर्विष्णुर्विष्णुः । अद्य …तिथौ … स्थाने श्री गणेश पूजनं अहं करिष्ये।
Om Vishnur Vishnur Vishnuh · Adya … tithau … sthane Shri Ganesha pujanam aham karishye
Avahana (Invocation)
(Avahana)Invoke Ganesha — mentally invite him to enter the murti. Join hands in dhyana-mudra.
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः । आगच्छ देवदेवेश तेजोराशे जगत्पते।
Om Gam Ganapataye Namah · Aagachchha Devadevesha Tejorase Jagatpate
Asana (Seat)
(Asana)Offer flowers and akshat in front of the murti, providing a seat.
ॐ गं गणपतये आसनं समर्पयामि।
Om Gam Ganapataye Aasanam Samarpayami
Padya (Foot-wash)
(Padya)Take water from the panchapatra and offer at the murti's feet.
ॐ गं गणपतये पादयोः पाद्यं समर्पयामि।
Om Gam Ganapataye Padayoh Padyam Samarpayami
Snan (Bathing)
(Snan)Pancamrit snan — bathe the murti successively with milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar, and finally pure water.
ॐ गं गणपतये स्नानं समर्पयामि।
Om Gam Ganapataye Snanam Samarpayami
Vastra (Cloth)
(Vastra)Offer the yellow silk cloth.
ॐ गं गणपतये वस्त्रं समर्पयामि।
Om Gam Ganapataye Vastram Samarpayami
Gandha (Sandalwood paste)
(Gandha)Apply white sandalwood on the forehead, red sandalwood/sindoor on the body. Offer durva grass at this time.
ॐ गं गणपतये गन्धं समर्पयामि।
Om Gam Ganapataye Gandham Samarpayami
Pushpa (Flowers)
(Pushpa)Offer 21 red flowers (especially hibiscus). Tulsi is forbidden in Ganesha puja.
ॐ गं गणपतये पुष्पं समर्पयामि।
Om Gam Ganapataye Pushpam Samarpayami
Dhupa (Incense)
(Dhupa)Light dhupa or agarbatti and circulate around the murti.
ॐ गं गणपतये धूपं समर्पयामि।
Om Gam Ganapataye Dhupam Samarpayami
Deepa (Lamp)
(Deepa)Light the ghee deepak and present it to the murti.
ॐ गं गणपतये दीपं समर्पयामि।
Om Gam Ganapataye Deepam Samarpayami
Naivedya (Food offering)
(Naivedya)Offer 21 modaks, banana, jaggery, coconut. Avoid tulsi. Also offer water with fruit-naivedya.
ॐ गं गणपतये नैवेद्यं समर्पयामि।
Om Gam Ganapataye Naivedyam Samarpayami
Tambula (Paan)
(Tambula)Offer paan, supari, clove, cardamom.
ॐ गं गणपतये ताम्बूलं समर्पयामि।
Om Gam Ganapataye Tambulam Samarpayami
Dakshina (Offering)
(Dakshina)Place dakshina (auspicious money) in front of the murti — the shastra-prescribed donation.
ॐ गं गणपतये दक्षिणां समर्पयामि।
Om Gam Ganapataye Dakshinam Samarpayami
Mantra-japa
(Mantra-japa)Chant the mool mantra "Om Gam Ganapataye Namah" 108 times with rudraksha mala. On Sankashti, recite the "Vakratunda Mahakaya" stotra.
Aarti
(Aarti)Sing the "Sukhakarta Dukhaharta" aarti. Rotate the deep-thaali 5 times anti-clockwise (left to right).
Pradakshina & Visarjan
(Pradakshina)Circumambulate (pradakshina) the murti 3 times. Prostrate (dandavat). At the end, ask forgiveness for any errors — chanting "kshamasva" (please forgive).
✦ Naivedya — Favored Offerings ✦
Ganesha's most beloved offering is modak — especially ukadiche modak (steamed). Offered in 21 pieces. Banana, coconut, jaggery powder, malai-burfi, ladoo are also favored. Tulsi is forbidden in Ganesha puja — Puranic legend recounts Tulsi proposed marriage to Ganesha which he rejected.
✦ Aarti — Closing ✦
"Sukhakarta Dukhaharta Varta Vighnachi"… this Marathi aarti by Samartha Ramdas is the most renowned among all Ganesha aartis. The Hindi "Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh Deva" is also universal. After aarti, share the light of the deepak with everyone — pass before each face.