Pooja is an integral part of the Hindu religion and culture. Hindus perform Poojas on special occasions like festivals, birthdays, weddings, births, housewarmings, etc. It adds auspiciousness to the occasion and attracts divine blessings.
What is Pooja?
Pooja or Puja is a ritual of worship during which we make offerings to a deity, hoping to receive blessings or good fortune as prasad. During Poojas, people chant Stotras or Mantras as they help them to connect with the divine.
Essentially, Pooja is a symbolic way of showing devotion to God and surrendering oneself at the feet of the divine.
Why Do People Perform Pooja?
“Pu” means ‘to purify’ and “ja” means ‘birth’. When we perform Pooja, it purifies our body, mind, and soul. It is like a new birth for us. During the Pooja, your body, mind, and soul are all focused on one thing – God. It helps us to discipline ourselves.
When one is troubled by negative thoughts, doing Pooja helps one to gain peace and mental clarity. Harboring negative thoughts has an adverse effect on our house and loved ones. So the Pooja can cleanse our environment and attract positivity.
Many people perform a simple Pooja at home daily. Some do it a few times a week. On special occasions like religious festivals, birthdays, weddings, births, and other auspicious events, people may perform elaborate Poojas with the help of the family priest. Today, many people also do online Poojas.
Online Pooja: Where Tradition Meets Technology
Online Pooja uses technology to maintain tradition in a convenient format. Modern technology makes it possible for people to take part in Poojas wherever they happen to be. Earlier, one had to travel miles to take part in a Pooja ceremony. But now we can perform Pooja from the comfort of our own homes, thanks to technology.
In an online Pooja, experienced priests or pandits perform the Pooja with devotion and dedication. Every ritual is performed with precision and accuracy. One can participate in the Pooja via live streaming, which enables one to see every step of the ceremony in real-time.
Maybe you live in a different country. Or, maybe you prefer the convenience of performing Pooja from home. In both cases, Online Pooja is an ideal solution.
Online Pooja: Main Elements
In general, the following components are part of an Online Pooja. But the specific components can vary according to the kind of Pooja that is performed.
· Pooja Samagri/Materials
These include flowers, fruits, incense, and other items.
· Mantras and Chants
Sacred hymns like Stotras, Slokas, and Mantras are chanted during the Pooja to invoke divine blessings.
· Pooja Arrangements
This includes the arrangement of the Pooja materials, lamps, idols or pictures of the deities, and other decorations.
· Priest/Pandit
The pandit or priest is the one who performs the Pooja and guides us through the various rituals and chants.
· Live Streaming
During an Online Pooja, the ceremony is live-streamed so that the participants who may be in other places can observe the rituals in real-time.
· Offerings and Donations
The temple or organization that performs the Pooja may ask you to make an offering or donation.
