Ganesh Chaturthi - 1.5 days Puja Process

Ganesha is welcomed home by devotees everywhere with a lot of fanfare. Celebrated for 1 ½, 5, 7 or 10 days, Ganeshis humbly accepted by his devotees who makes the lord’s stay pleasant by offering modak, fruits, flowers and above all, sincere devotion. The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi goes on for 10 days but some people perform the festival for a shorter length of time.1.5 days puja is observed in the west, like in the United States.

A clay image of Lord Ganesh, red flowers, Modaks, assorted sweets like Pedha, Karanjis, coconut, chandan or sandalwood, incense sticks, fruits, sweet made of Pancha Khadya.

• A 1.5 days puja begins with the scrupulous cleaning of the house. The devotees take a ritual bath before the worshipping of the deity begins.
• The idol is installed on the moda or raised platform and adorned with flowers and anointed with kumkum and sandalwood paste.
• The worship begins with the ritual Pranprathistha or invoking life into the clay idol by chanting sacred mantra from Ganesh Suktha.
• After observing this ritual, 21 blades of Druva grass, 21 Modaks, 21 of the sweet of Panch Khadya, assorted fruits and flowers are offered.
• Tilak is applied to the coconut and split in the middle into two.
• 1.5 days puja concludes with reciting 108 names of Lord Ganesha, followed by aarti and distribution of Prasad.

Thus for performing a brief 1.5 days puja at home, observing the above rituals is more than enough. Pundits perform elaborate, detailed rituals but more than strictly observing the rituals, what matters is the sincerity with which the Lord is worshipped.