Avahana puja is performed as the first of the sixteen steps — inviting Lord Ganesha to come and reside in the place of worship.

1. Take a clean puja area and spread a clean cloth on it.
2. Place the idol or picture of Lord Ganesha on the puja area.
3. Take a kalasha (pot) filled with water, and place it next to the idol.
4. Light a diya or lamp in front of the idol.
5. Take some flowers and akshata (rice mixed with turmeric) in a plate and keep it in front of the idol.
6. Take a bell and ring it three times.
7. Pray to Lord Ganesha and ask for his blessings and presence in the puja.
8. Take some water in your right hand and sprinkle it on yourself and the puja area to purify it.
9. Offer flowers and akshata to Lord Ganesha and chant his mantras.
10. Offer sweets or fruits as prasad.
11. Sprinkle more water on Lord Ganesha as a sign of purification.
12. Place your hands in a prayer position and offer your gratitude.
13. Ring the bell three times to mark the end of Avahana puja.

Asana Puja offers a seat to the deity as part of the sixteen-offering ritual.

1. Clean the seat or Asana on which the deity is to be seated.
2. Offer water to the Asana, sprinkle some flowers, and place a cloth on it.
3. Invoke the presence of the deity by chanting mantras and ringing the bell.
4. Offer the deity a seat on the Asana by chanting mantras.
5. Offer water for washing the feet of the deity.
6. Offer water to drink to the deity.
7. Offer water for washing the hands of the deity.
8. Offer water for bathing the deity.
9. Offer new clothes to the deity.
10. Offer sandalwood paste, turmeric, and vermilion paste.
11. Offer flowers, incense, and a lamp.
12. Offer food or prasad.
13. Offer water for final purification.
14. Offer a flower garland.
15. Perform aarti with a camphor or ghee lamp.
16. Conclude by seeking the deity's blessings and expressing gratitude.

Specific rituals and mantras may vary by tradition or region — a qualified priest can guide a more elaborate version of this step.

Padya puja is the worship of Lord Ganesha's feet, offering water to wash them.

1. Sprinkle a few drops of water on your own feet to purify them.
2. Sprinkle water on the feet of the idol of Lord Ganesha.
3. Offer a flower to Lord Ganesha's feet.
4. Offer akshata (rice mixed with turmeric) to his feet.
5. Apply perfume or sandalwood paste to his feet.
6. Offer betel leaves and nuts to his feet.
7. Offer aarti to his feet using a camphor or ghee lamp.

Arghya puja offers water to the deity to rinse the mouth and hands.

1. Take a small bowl or conch shell in your right hand.
2. Fill it with fresh water and add some flowers or tulsi leaves.
3. Hold the bowl in both hands while chanting the mantra below.
4. Offer the water to Lord Ganesha by pouring it in front of the idol while chanting.
5. Ring a bell to signify the offering and express gratitude.

Achamana is the ritual of sipping water three times from the right hand to purify oneself before performing the puja.

1. Hold a small cup of water (Achamani) in your right hand.
2. Sit facing the Ganesha idol or picture.
3. Visualize Ganesha as the supreme consciousness and mentally offer your prayers.
4. Take a small sip of water from the Achamani.
5. Hold the water in your mouth and recite: "ॐ केशवाय नमः"
6. Swallow the water and take another sip.
7. Hold and recite: "ॐ नारायणाय नमः"
8. Swallow and take the final sip.
9. Hold and recite: "ॐ माधवाय नमः"
10. Swallow the water to conclude the Achamana ritual.

Snana, the ritual bath, is an important step in Shodashopachara Ganesh Puja.

1. Take a clean, small vessel (दिपाती) filled with clean water.
2. Hold the vessel in your left hand, and with your right hand sprinkle water on the idol.
3. Chant the Gangasnanam mantra below while offering the water.
4. Sprinkle some water on yourself and take three sips while reciting the Keshavaya mantras.
5. Wipe the idol dry using a clean cloth to complete Snana.

Vastra Puja is the ritual of offering new clothes to Lord Ganesha.

1. Take a clean or new cloth and place it in front of the idol.
2. Offer flowers and akshata to the cloth while reciting "Om Vastraya Namah".
3. Hold the cloth and offer akshata and flowers to it again while reciting the same mantra.
4. Unfold the cloth and hold it in front of the idol.
5. Offer akshata and flowers to the idol while reciting the same mantra.
6. Touch the cloth to the idol's feet, then offer it while reciting the mantra.
7. Place the cloth on the idol's lap or shoulders as a sign of respect.
8. Offer more flowers and akshata to the cloth.
9. Offer aarti and seek Lord Ganesha's blessings.

Devotees believe this offering brings prosperity, happiness, and good health.

The Yajnopavita, or sacred thread, is offered to the deity as part of the ritual.

1. After offering Vastra, take the Yajnopavita and hold it in your hands.
2. Sprinkle some water and akshata on the Yajnopavita.
3. Offer flowers to the Yajnopavita.
4. Offer sandalwood paste, akshata, and flowers while chanting the mantra below.
5. Tie the Yajnopavita around the idol of Lord Ganesha.
6. Offer flowers and continue to the next step.

If unfamiliar with Sanskrit mantras, learn from a qualified priest or guru to ensure correct pronunciation and meaning.

Offering Gandha (sandalwood paste or fragrant substances) is an important part of the ritual.

1. Take a small amount of sandalwood paste, kumkum, or turmeric powder in a container.
2. Offer flowers to the idol of Lord Ganesha.
3. Take a small amount of the paste on your right hand.
4. Apply it to the forehead — and optionally the neck, shoulders, and arms — of the idol.
5. Recite the mantra below as you apply the paste.

1. Take the incense holder (Dhoop-dani) and light the incense stick.
2. Hold the incense stick in your right hand.
3. Take flowers in your left hand and offer them while chanting the mantra below.
4. Hold the incense stick in front of Lord Ganesha and move it around thrice, clockwise.
5. Place the incense stick in its holder and let it burn.
6. Offer flowers and bow down to Lord Ganesha as it burns.

1. Take a small lamp and fill it with oil or ghee, insert a cotton wick, and light it.
2. Hold the lamp in your right hand and offer it to Lord Ganesha while reciting the first mantra below.
3. Wave the lamp in a circular motion in front of Lord Ganesha, then place it on the right side of the idol.
4. Offer flowers to the lamp while reciting the second mantra below.
5. Take the aarti plate and perform aarti, chanting the Ganesha aarti mantra.

Mantras and procedures may vary by tradition and region — a priest or experienced elder can offer detailed guidance.

1. After offering the deepa, wash your hands and sprinkle water on the food to be offered.
2. Offer the food by placing it in front of the idol or picture. It should be vegetarian and pure.
3. Offer flowers and dhoop (incense) to the food.
4. Chant the Gayatri Mantra below while offering the food.
5. Take a small portion of the food and consume it as prasad, considered blessed by the deity.
6. Distribute the rest as prasad to devotees present.
7. Offer water to wash your hands after Naivedya is complete.

Always offer the best-quality food, cooked with a pure and positive intention.

1. Take a betel leaf and wash it properly with water.
2. Put some kumkum or roli on the betel leaf.
3. Place some supari (betel nut) and cloves on the leaf.
4. Put some turmeric powder and sandalwood powder on the leaf.
5. Add a few drops of rose water or other fragrant water.
6. Fold the leaf and offer it to Lord Ganesha while reciting the mantra below.

1. Take some coins or currency notes as per your choice and keep them ready.
2. Offer them to Lord Ganesha while reciting the mantra below.
3. Touch the coins or notes to the feet of Lord Ganesha, then offer them as dakshina.
4. Distribute the dakshina to priests or others who helped in the puja, or keep it as an offering.

Offer dakshina with devotion and gratitude towards Lord Ganesha and those who helped in the puja.

Visarjana is the final step, where the idol of Lord Ganesha is immersed in water.

1. Offer your prayers to Lord Ganesha and seek his blessings.
2. Place the idol in a basket or decorated plate.
3. Decorate the basket or plate with flowers and other ornaments.
4. Begin chanting the Ganesh Aarti or another devotional song.
5. Move towards the nearest water body — a river, lake, or designated immersion tank.
6. Continue chanting and sprinkle flowers on the idol along the way.
7. At the water body, chant the Visarjana mantra below.
8. Invoke Lord Ganesha's blessings and seek his permission to immerse the idol.
9. Gently immerse the idol while continuing to chant the mantra.
10. Offer your final prayers and seek Lord Ganesha's blessings.
11. Return home with a sense of satisfaction, having performed the sacred ritual.

For the complete immersion process, see our dedicated guide: Ganesh Immersion (Ganesh Visarjan) →