A proper pooja room should contain an idol of Lord Ganesha and an Ishta deivam. The deities should be placed facing east direction on a pedestal.

Pooja preparation:

• Kolam:

  
  

Kolam is essential. We can make kolam using wetted rice flour or get kolam stickers, which is only for the beginners.

• Panchapatram & Uttarani:

  
  

Panchapatram & Uttarani is essential for any pooja. The water filled in a Panchapatram is a representation of the waters of the holy rivers. 

• Prasad:

  
  

Any fresh fruit, Paal payasam etc can be used as prasad to deities. Some even offer a cup of milk or cooked rice as prasad. Banana is always offered to God in pair, but rest of the fruits can be used singly.

• A bell for starting the pooja.

• An aarti holder and some camphor.

• 2 lamps with wick and gingelly oil.

• Flowers

Performing pooja:

• First, light the lamp.

• Place the garland over the idol of deity.

• Sloka to be recited:

With folded palms, one should softly knock one's own forehead on repeating the sloka,

“ShuklaAmbara Dharam Vishnum Shashi Varnam Chatur Bhujam

Prasanna Vadanam Dhyaayet Sarva Vighnopashaantaye.”

• Followed by ishta deiva prarthana. Ashtotram or a four lined sloka can repeated according to own’s comfort with complete shradda in it.

Example: If your ishta deivam is Lord Krishna you could chant:

• Naivedyam:

Put some tulsi leafs and sprinkle some water over the prasad on reciting the Gayathri Mantra,

“Om bhur bhuvaḥ svaḥ

tat savitur vareṇyaṃ

bhargo devasya dhimahi

dhiyo yo naḥ prachodayat.”

• Karpoora Aarti:

  
  

Show karpoora aarti and offer some flowers to all deities. After offering, place the aarti down, take your right hand closer to the flame and touch your eyes. Finally, repeat this,

“Asatoma Sadgamaya

Tamasoma jyotirgamaya

Mrutyorma amrutamgamaya

Om Shanthi hi Shanthi hi Shanthi hi.”

       Also,

Karoami Yadyad Sakalam Parasmai

Narayana Yeti Samarpayami.”

•  Pradakshina:

          Take some flowers, circumambulate yourself thrice and proffer the flowers to the deities. Finally, prostrate before God and that act of worship completes the pooja.