A puja is worship done with simple, ordered acts: a lamp, flowers, water, an offering of food and a prayer. A vrat is a vow, often a fast, kept on a chosen day. A katha is the story that goes with the observance, read or heard during it. These guides set out the three together, so that a family can follow the steps at home.
Every page follows the same plan: what the observance is, the samagri as a table, the steps in order, the katha, the timing, regional variations and a note on fasting. Customs differ by region and family; follow your family’s custom. The stories are retold from the tradition in our own words, and they are sacred narrative, not historical claims or promises of results.
Where to find the date
We do not give dates in these guides, so that you always read them from one calculated source. Open the festivals hub for dates and muhurat in 49 cities, or use the any-city tool for a place that is not listed. If you are keeping a fast and have a health condition, are pregnant, or take regular medication, please speak to a doctor first.
The guides
Diwali and the days around it
Navratri and the Goddess
Festivals of the year
- Ganesh Chaturthi
- Janmashtami
- Maha Shivaratri
- Raksha Bandhan
- Hartalika Teej
- Karva Chauth
- Ram Navami
- Hanuman Jayanti
- Holika Dahan
- Guru Purnima
Vrats that return every month or week
- Ekadashi vrat
- Pradosh vrat
- Sankashti Chaturthi vrat
- Purnima vrat
- Satyanarayan puja
- Somvar (Monday) vrat
- Shani puja on Saturday
Looking for a place to set up the altar? The classical advice on the home shrine is in the puja room in Vastu article.
Frequently asked questions
↳ Do I need a priest to do a puja at home?
No. Most households do daily and festival pujas themselves. A priest can guide longer rituals, but a lamp, flowers and a sincere prayer are accepted in the tradition.
↳ What does samagri mean?
Samagri means the materials for a ritual: the flowers, rice, lamp, incense, food offering and other items. Each guide lists it as a table.
↳ Are the stories historical?
They are sacred narratives passed down in the Puranas and in folk tradition, and several versions of most of them exist. We retell them as the tradition does and do not present them as history.
↳ Must I fast?
Fasting is a personal choice and is never required for the worship itself. If you are pregnant, diabetic, unwell or on medication, consult a doctor first. A lighter observance is fully acceptable.