The puja samagri (ritual items) list for a Griha Pravesh ceremony typically runs to 35-50 items, covering the kalash setup, the homa fire, the threshold rituals, and the offerings to Ganesha, Vastu Purusha and the Navagraha (nine planets). Some items the priest provides; many the homeowner sources locally. This article gives a categorised checklist of every item normally needed, where to source each, and what each is used for in the ceremony, so a homeowner planning the rite a week or two ahead can shop with confidence and not arrive on the morning short of materials.
The kalash and its accompaniments
- Brass or copper kalash: a wide-mouthed pot, approximately 6-9 inches in diameter. Cost Rs. 500-2,500 depending on size and finish. Source from a pooja-supplies shop or a metalware shop.
- Mango leaves: 9-11 fresh leaves to arrange around the rim of the kalash. Source from a local fruit market or temple-supplies stall on the morning of the rite.
- Coconut: a fresh, unbroken coconut to be placed on top of the kalash. The fibrous “hair” of the coconut should be intact in southern tradition.
- Red sacred thread (mauli): for tying around the kalash. A small roll lasts multiple poojas; costs Rs. 30-50.
- Water: the kalash is filled with clean water. Ganga water (a small amount added) is preferred. Pure Gangajal is sold in small bottles at temples for Rs. 100-300.
- Sandalwood paste: small quantity, for the kalash markings. Sold by the gram at any pooja shop.
- Kumkum: red powder, for tilak and kalash markings.
- Turmeric (whole and powder): whole turmeric pieces for the kalash interior; turmeric powder for the offerings.
- Akshata: rice mixed with kumkum, used at multiple points in the rite. Prepared on the morning by mixing dry rice with a pinch of kumkum.
For the homa fire
- Havan kund: a copper or steel fire-bowl, often square. The priest usually brings one; if not, a small one costs Rs. 800-3,000.
- Cow ghee: 250-500 grams, for the fire offerings. Pure cow ghee, not buffalo ghee.
- Samagri: the homa offering mix, containing dried herbs (palasha, sandalwood pieces, bilva leaves, jasmine), ghee-soaked rice, dried camphor, sesame seeds. Sold pre-mixed at pooja shops for Rs. 200-500 per packet.
- Dried mango wood or peepal twigs: the fuel for the fire. A small bundle costs Rs. 50-100.
- Camphor (kapur): for the aarti at the end.
- Long matches or a small gas lighter: for lighting the fire.
- Cotton wicks (battis): for the oil lamps. A small packet costs Rs. 20.
- Mustard oil or sesame oil: for the oil lamps.
The threshold rituals
- Coconut for breaking: a second whole coconut, to be broken at the threshold. Should crack cleanly; choose a darker, harder-shelled coconut.
- Rice flour or chalk: for drawing the rangoli or kolam at the threshold.
- Marigold flowers and a torana: a string of marigolds (or red and yellow flowers) for the front door; mango leaves strung on a thread are the traditional torana.
- Small earthen pots (diyas): 5-11 small clay lamps for the entrance and the puja room.
- A new broom: in some North Indian traditions a new broom is placed at the threshold; it is read as a Lakshmi-invocation gesture.
Offerings
- Five seasonal fruits: banana, apple, pomegranate, orange and sweet lime (or what is locally seasonal). One of each, fresh.
- Sweets: a small box of fresh ladoos, pedas, jalebi or other sweets. Modaks specifically for Ganesha.
- Betel leaves and betel nuts: 11-21 fresh betel leaves and a small pack of betel nuts. Sold at any pan shop.
- Navadhanya: nine kinds of grains — rice, wheat, toor dal, moong, chana, urad, sesame, masoor, horsegram. Buy a small quantity of each from a grocer; the priest will arrange them in a pattern during the puja.
- Dakshina: a small cash offering to the priest, placed on a plate with betel leaves. Standard amounts: Rs. 501, Rs. 1,001, Rs. 2,001 (the priest’s full fee is typically separate from the dakshina).
- Milk: for the kitchen boiling ritual; one to two litres of fresh cow milk.
- Jaggery and rice grains: to be added to the boiling milk.
Ritual implements and household items
- A bell: a small brass bell rung at appropriate moments in the puja.
- An aarti plate: small thali for the camphor at the end. A new stainless steel plate costs Rs. 100-300.
- A puja chowki: a small wooden platform on which the kalash and the deity images sit. Around 12 inches square. A new one costs Rs. 500-2,000.
- A small mirror: for the lady of the house to see her reflection during the puja in some southern traditions.
- Yellow cloth or red cloth: 1-2 metres, for the chowki cover.
- Image of Ganesha and the family deity: a small idol or a printed image.
- A new set of cooking utensils: a brass or steel set for the kitchen. The first meal cooked in the new home traditionally uses new utensils.
For the post-puja meal
- Banana leaves: for serving the priest’s meal. A small bundle costs Rs. 100.
- Ingredients for a simple sattvic meal: rice, dal, sabzi, chapatis, a sweet (typically kheer or sheera), buttermilk. The meal is offered first to the family deity, then to the priest, then to all guests.
- Steel or banana-leaf plates: for the guests’ meal if a larger gathering is hosted.
Where to source the full kit
- Pooja samagri shops: sell pre-assembled “Griha Pravesh kits” in many Indian cities for Rs. 1,500-4,000 covering the basic items. The kit typically includes samagri, sacred thread, akshata, kumkum, turmeric, sandalwood paste, betel leaves, copper kalash, mango leaves, coconuts, and small idols. Online shops (Amazon, Flipkart) also carry these kits in 2026.
- Temples: many local temples sell sacred-thread (mauli), Gangajal, vibhuti and akshata at their counters; useful for items you want sourced from a temple specifically.
- Fruit and flower markets: for the fresh items (fruits, flowers, mango leaves, coconuts) the morning of or the evening before.
- Grocery shops: for the navadhanya grains, ghee, oils, sweets and meal ingredients.
For what it’s worth, the most useful single piece of advice is to buy the pre-assembled samagri kit from a reputable pooja shop rather than trying to source each item separately; the kit handles the dried-spice and powder components reliably, and the homeowner only needs to source the fresh items (coconuts, fruits, flowers, mango leaves, milk) separately.
Common questions
What is the total cost of the puja materials?
The full samagri including the kit, fresh items, ghee, milk, fruits and meal ingredients costs Rs. 3,500-7,000 in metro India in 2026 for a standard Griha Pravesh. The priest’s fee (separate) is Rs. 5,000-15,000 for a 3-5 hour ceremony, plus the dakshina of Rs. 1,001-2,001. Total for a basic in-home Griha Pravesh: roughly Rs. 10,000-25,000, excluding any reception meal for extended guests.
What if an item cannot be sourced locally?
Substitutions are accepted in most traditions. If pure cow ghee is unavailable, organic ghee from a trusted source is acceptable. If a specific dried herb in the samagri is missing, the priest will usually omit it. The non-negotiable items are the kalash, the coconuts, the rice, the ghee, the camphor and the sacred thread; everything else has some flexibility. The priest can advise on specific substitutions on the morning if needed.
Are all these items needed for a simple Griha Pravesh?
Not all. A simplified version (without the full Vastu Shanti homa) needs the kalash, coconut, mango leaves, akshata, kumkum, turmeric, ghee for one lamp, camphor, and a small offering of fruits and sweets. This stripped-down version takes 45-60 minutes and is appropriate for a rental house or a quick blessing. The full samagri list applies to the complete ceremony with homa.
How early should we shop?
Buy the kit and dry items a week ahead. Fresh items (mango leaves, coconuts, fruits, flowers, milk) should be sourced the previous evening or the morning of the rite. Mango leaves wilt within 24 hours; coconuts are stable for a few days. The order of operations: shopping for dry items and kit 5-7 days ahead, fresh items the night before or that morning.
A limitation worth noting
This checklist is the common Smarta pan-Hindu format. Sub-tradition variations add or omit specific items: Iyengar pujas use specific Vaishnava items (gopichandan, tulsi), Madhwa pujas use Madhva-specific samagri, Lingayat pujas centre the Ishtalinga, and some regional traditions (Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi) have additional items not listed. The cost figures are 2026 estimates for metro India and will vary by region and over time. For a specific community’s exact list, consult the family priest or the priest engaged for the ceremony in advance.
For wider context see the Wikipedia entry on Griha Pravesha.
