Ganesh Chaturthi, a 10-day Hindu festival, celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the god of auspicious beginnings. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesha is the younger son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
The festival is believed to remove all obstacles from human life and bring peace and prosperity.
It is important to do pooja in right way with right ingredients. It is believed that each ingredients have their own significance in the puja.
This year, Ganesha Chaturthi will begin on August 22 and end on September 1.
Here is the list of items needed for the Puja:
1) Some people perform puja of the Ganesha idol that they have at their home, while the rest go for a clay idol of Lord Ganesha. If you do not have an idol, you can use a photo of the deity.
2) You would need a Chaupayi or a low wooden platform to place the idol of Lord Ganesha.
3) A piece of fresh yellow or red cloth for covering the platform.
4) Red hibiscus flowers or any other flowers like mogra, champa, rajnigandhi etc.
5) Durva is perhaps the most essential samagri. These are blades of a specific type of grass. These are offered to Lord Ganesha to pray for good health.
6) 11 Modak and 11 laddos or as many as you like.
7) Kheer or barfi and bhog.
8) Panchamrit (made of ghee, milk, curd, honey and sugar)
9) A piece of fresh yellow cloth for Ganesha.
10) Janeyu (sacred thread)
11) Akshat
12) Kumkum
13) Haldi
14) Chandan
15) Kapur (Camphor for aarti)
16) Dhoop and Agarbatti
17) Metal lamp and oil or ghee and cotton wicks
18) Pach Paptra or jalpatra
19) Tamboolam (2 or 5 five paan, supari, dakshina, whole coconut with its husk, two bananas)
20) Five types of fruits (optional)
21) Kalash (with water, akshat, currency coins, mango leaves and a whole coconut with its husk)
22) Puja bell
23) A big tray or trays for keeping all these items