Ganesha

Take water in the right palm three times, sipping each time while reciting the names of Vishnu (Keshava, Narayana, Madhava) for self-purification.

Hold water and akshat in the right hand, state the date, place, and purpose of the puja, then release the water.

Meditate on Lord Ganesha — elephant-headed, four-armed, holding a noose, goad, modak, and blessing mudra, seated on a lotus with a mouse as his vehicle.

Invoke Lord Ganesha into the idol by offering akshat and flowers, requesting him to be present for the puja.

Offer a seat (asana) to Lord Ganesha by placing akshat at the base of the idol.

Wash the feet of the idol by pouring water mixed with flowers at the base.

Offer water mixed with sandalwood, akshat, and flowers in cupped hands to Lord Ganesha.

Bathe the idol with Panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar) followed by clean water. Wipe gently and place back.

Offer new clothes or a piece of red/orange cloth to the idol.

Offer a sacred thread (janeu) to Ganesha by placing it over the idol.

Apply sandalwood paste and kumkum to the idol.

Offer durva grass (21 blades in groups of 3 or 5) and red flowers (hibiscus) to Ganesha.

Light incense sticks and wave them before the idol in a clockwise motion.

Light a ghee lamp and wave it before the idol — 3 times at the feet, 2 at the navel, 1 at the face, then 7 times around the entire form.

Offer 21 modaks, fruits, coconut, and jaggery to Lord Ganesha. Sprinkle water around the offerings and chant the naivedya mantra.

Offer paan leaves and supari (betel nut) as tambula to Lord Ganesha.

Circumambulate the idol 3 times in a clockwise direction while chanting the Ganesh Beej Mantra.

Take flowers in both hands, recite the Mantra Pushpanjali, and offer the flowers at the feet of Lord Ganesha. This concludes the formal puja.