Also, on Chaturthi, before placing the Ganesh idol on his sthaan (pedestal), put some kacha rice on it and rest a Supari, Haldi (turmeric), KumKum (red coloured sacred powder), Abhil and Dakshina. Shower the rice (kacha (raw) rice) on the murti before bringing it inside. Now, once you have your lord with you and are eager to step inside the premises of your home, don’t forget to ask one of the family members to bring a bowl of rice. For people, who bring in the ‘Ganesh’ idol home before Chaturthi, need to cover the face of the murti with a cloth, and take it off only on the day ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ puja is performed during murti sthapna (instalment of the idol).

If there is a pandit (priest) performing the puja for you, then do place some dakshina (offering) for him and also for the artisans, who beautifully create such murtis (idols). Don’t forget to chant the golden mantra of ‘Om Gan Ganpatiye Namah’. Then, place the paan leaf with a supari resting on top of it on the floor in front of the sandli. The ‘Ganapati’ idol puja starts with lighting the agarbatti-dhoop placed in an aarti thali. However, when you set out to bring one, do keep the following things ready: Aggarbatti & Dhoop (joss sticks/incense), Aarti Thali (plate with lamps), Supari (areca/betel nuts), Paan leaf (betel leaf), a separate cloth for covering the Ganesh idol, another piece of Cloth for Sandli (made of sandalwood, used for carrying the lord), lastly Sandli. The Chaturthi is believed to be the most auspicious day for getting the idol of our favourite lord home.

We start the Chaturthi puja by bringing the ‘Ganpati’ idol home.

Ganpati pooja vidhi in marathi pdf