Pūjā (alternative Transliteration pooja, Sanskrit: reverence or Worship, loosely) is a religious Ritual which most Hindus perform every morning after bathing and dressing but prior to taking any food or drink. Puja rituals vary between Hindu sects, but generally involve the chanting of a particular Mantra on a mala (Rosary) and optionally the offering of food and drink to one's personal murtis of god and Guru.
"Puja" or "Pooja" is often used as feminine personal name in India.
The Hindu Individual or Group Puja consists of meditation (dhyana), austerity (tapa), chanting (mantra), scripture reading (svadhyaya), offering food (thaal) and prostrations (panchanga or ashtanga pranama, dandavat). The individual also applies a Tilaka mark on the forehead with sandalwood paste, and then a vermillion ("kumkum") dot (chandlo) in its centre. This signifies submission to the Almighty and also His Omnipresence.
Large pujas request the presence of fellow believers and pray to the god or goddesses in question. This usually involves a full day ritual where people are present for the actual puja ceremony and have puja prasad (blessed food that should not be thrown out), and they may go home until later when there are songs or other performed in religious or general context, followed by an all-vegetarian dinner.
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