Priest Services

Need a priest for a puja at home, a housewarming, a wedding or a baby's first milestones? Here's a short guide to the most common ceremonies, and how to find someone to perform them.

Griha Pravesh (housewarming)

The ceremony for moving into a new home. It often includes a Ganesh puja, a Vastu puja for the house, a small havan, and boiling milk until it overflows, a sign of plenty to come.

Satyanarayan Puja

Worship of Vishnu as Satyanarayan, the lord of truth, often held on a full moon or to mark a milestone such as a new job, a birthday or a homecoming. The priest recites the Satyanarayan katha and everyone shares prasad at the end.

Hindu wedding (Vivaha)

Rituals differ a great deal from region to region and family to family. Most ceremonies include the kanyadaan, the tying of the mangalsutra or thali, and the saptapadi, the seven steps the couple takes around the sacred fire. A good priest will ask about your family's tradition and how long you want the ceremony to be.

Naming ceremony (Namakarana)

The baby's naming, traditionally held around the eleventh or twelfth day after birth, though many families choose a convenient weekend. Some families pick the first letter of the name from the baby's birth star.

Annaprashana (first rice)

The baby's first taste of solid food, usually rice or kheer, often at around six months.

Mundan (first haircut)

The child's first haircut, done in the first few years. Some families travel to a temple for it; others hold it at home.

Upanayana (sacred thread)

The thread ceremony that marks the start of a child's formal learning, followed in many but not all communities.

Havan or homa

A fire ritual with offerings and mantras, held on its own or as part of a larger ceremony, for blessings, healing or a fresh start.

Vehicle puja

A short blessing for a new car, often done in a temple parking lot.

Antyeshti and Shraddha

Funeral rites, and the remembrance rites for parents and ancestors held afterward and on anniversaries. In a hard week, a temple office can usually point you to a priest who does these.

Before you book

Ask what the dakshina (the priest's fee) covers, how long the ceremony takes, and whether the priest brings the samagri (puja items) or sends you a list. Ask which language the mantras and explanations will be in, and tell the priest about your family's customs. Most are glad to adapt.