A Personal Ritual > more.

Honoring Lakshmi
Puja to Lakshmi, the Goddess of Abundance and Fertility, take place in homes annually throughout India. Community and family traditions dictate the time of year, the form of ritual and the type of image worshipped.

Worshipping Saraswati > more.

Community Shrine to Saraswati
Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning, the Arts, Dance and Music, is honored in central and North India on Basant Panchami, a festival day in the Hindu month of Magh (January-February). Families conduct their own puja to Saraswati during Basant Panchami, but the most elaborate ceremonies take place at temporary community shrines.

Painted Images > more.

Prayers to Surya
Puja to the Sun God Surya are conducted during the first day of the Pongal festival, celebrated in South India in mid-January.