Daily Home Puja
Nitya Puja is the simple, daily worship many Hindu households perform at a home altar or puja room, distinct from festival or occasion-specific pujas in its brevity and regularity. It centers on offering light, sound, and a few basic items to a chosen deity or family deity as a way of beginning the day with focus and gratitude.
Bathe and put on clean clothes before approaching the altar; personal cleanliness is considered part of the preparation for worship.
Sit facing the altar, ideally facing east, take a few calming breaths, and set an intention for the worship.
Ring the small bell to mark the beginning of worship, then mentally or verbally invite the deity's presence and attention.
Light the diya and incense, and gently wave the lamp before the deity in a clockwise motion while offering a short prayer or the deity's name.
Offer fresh flowers, apply or offer kumkum/turmeric, and sip water via the right palm (achamana) as a symbolic offering and purification.
Recite the chosen deity's mantra a set number of times, typically using a mala to count repetitions, concentrating on its meaning rather than mechanical repetition.
Close with a brief prayer of thanks, and if food was offered, share it as prasad with the household before beginning the rest of the day.
This is a simplified, widely practiced version of daily worship — the actual routine varies enormously by family, sampradaya, and how much time is available; many households do an even shorter version on weekdays and a fuller one on weekends or festival days.