Shri Ganesh Pooja

ॐ गं गणपतये नमः

Everything for Ganesh pooja in one place — for Ganesh Chaturthi (sthapana to visarjan) and for the everyday or Sankashti pooja: the samagri checklist, step-by-step vidhi, the Ganeshotsav days and the aarti.

Before you begin

Bathe and wear clean clothes (red or yellow are preferred for Ganesh pooja). Clean the pooja place and the house.
Set the chowki so that you face east or north. Spread the cloth, place the idol in the middle and the kalash to the right (as you look at it).
For Ganesh Chaturthi, bring the idol home before the muhurat with the head covered by a cloth; uncover it only at sthapana. Sthapana is done in the Madhyahna (midday) muhurat — see the Panchang for the time.
Keep the durva bunches, sindoor and modak ready — these three are the special offerings of Ganesh ji.

Pooja vidhi, step by step

1Pavitrikaran and achaman
Sprinkle water on yourself and the pooja items with a flower while reciting the mantra; then take three sips of water (achaman).
Mantra
ॐ अपवित्रः पवित्रो वा सर्वावस्थां गतोऽपि वा।
यः स्मरेत् पुण्डरीकाक्षं स बाह्याभ्यन्तरः शुचिः॥
2Lighting the diya
Light the ghee diya to the right of the idol and the dhoop/agarbatti; the diya stays lit through the pooja.
Mantra
ॐ दीपो ज्योतिः परं ब्रह्म दीपो ज्योतिर्जनार्दनः।
दीपो हरतु मे पापं दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तु ते॥
3Sankalp
Take water, akshat, a flower and a coin in the right hand; say your name, gotra, the place and date, and the wish (e.g. removal of obstacles, success in a new work) — then release the water into a plate.
Mantra
मम सकलविघ्ननिवृत्तिपूर्वकं सर्वकार्यसिद्ध्यर्थं
श्रीगणपतिपूजनं करिष्ये।
4Sthapana and pran-pratishtha (on Ganesh Chaturthi)
Place the idol on a heap of akshat on the chowki. Touching the idol's heart with a flower (or the right hand), invoke Ganesh ji into it with the pran-pratishtha mantra.
For everyday pooja with a fixed idol/picture this step is only an avahan (invitation) with folded hands.
Mantra
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः। आवाहयामि स्थापयामि।
अस्यै प्राणाः प्रतिष्ठन्तु अस्यै प्राणाः क्षरन्तु च।
अस्यै देवत्वमर्चायै मामहेति च कश्चन॥
5Kalash sthapana
Fill the kalash with water, add a coin, supari and akshat, tie moli around its neck, set the mango leaves and place the coconut wrapped in red cloth on top. Invoke Varuna and the holy rivers.
Mantra
गङ्गे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि सरस्वति।
नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरि जलेऽस्मिन् सन्निधिं कुरु॥
6Dhyan and avahan
With folded hands meditate on Ganesh ji and offer a flower with the dhyan shloka.
Mantra
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभ।
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा॥
7Snan and abhishek
For a metal idol, bathe it with water, then panchamrit, then water again and dry it with a clean cloth. A clay idol is not bathed — sprinkle a few drops of water with a flower instead.
Mantra
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः। स्नानं समर्पयामि।
8Shodashopachar — vastra, tilak, durva, flowers
Offer vastra (cloth) and janeu, then chandan and sindoor tilak, akshat, a garland and red flowers.
Offer the 21 durva bunches one by one at the feet, saying a name of Ganesh ji with each — or the durva mantra below with all of them.
Offer dhoop and deep, then betel leaf with supari, cloves and cardamom.
Mantra
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः। दूर्वाङ्कुरान् समर्पयामि।
ॐ सुमुखाय नमः। ॐ एकदन्ताय नमः। ॐ कपिलाय नमः। ॐ गजकर्णकाय नमः।
ॐ लम्बोदराय नमः। ॐ विकटाय नमः। ॐ विघ्ननाशाय नमः। ॐ विनायकाय नमः।
ॐ धूम्रकेतवे नमः। ॐ गणाध्यक्षाय नमः। ॐ भालचन्द्राय नमः। ॐ गजाननाय नमः।
9Naivedya (bhog)
Offer the modak, laddoo, fruits and coconut, with a little water sprinkled around the plate. Then offer water for achaman.
Mantra
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः। नैवेद्यं निवेदयामि।
ॐ प्राणाय स्वाहा। ॐ अपानाय स्वाहा। ॐ व्यानाय स्वाहा।
ॐ उदानाय स्वाहा। ॐ समानाय स्वाहा। ॐ ब्रह्मणे स्वाहा।
10Mantra jaap / path
Chant the Ganesh mool mantra 108 times (or 11 / 21), or recite the Ganesh Atharvashirsha or Sankat-nashan Ganesh Stotra.
Mantra
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः।
ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं ग्लौं गं गणपतये वर वरद सर्वजनं मे वशमानय स्वाहा।
11Aarti
Do the aarti with a ghee diya or camphor while singing "Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh Deva" — the words are in the Aarti tab.
12Pradakshina and pushpanjali
Circle the chowki (or turn in place) three times, then offer a handful of flowers/akshat with the pushpanjali mantra and bow.
Mantra
यानि कानि च पापानि जन्मान्तरकृतानि च।
तानि सर्वाणि नश्यन्तु प्रदक्षिणपदे पदे॥
13Kshama prarthana and prasad
Ask forgiveness for any mistake in the pooja, then distribute the prasad. For Ganesh Chaturthi, do aarti morning and evening for the days the idol stays, and see the Ganeshotsav tab for visarjan.
Mantra
आवाहनं न जानामि न जानामि विसर्जनम्।
पूजां चैव न जानामि क्षमस्व परमेश्वर॥

Special things about Ganesh pooja

Durva: Offer durva in bunches of 3 or 5 blades, 21 bunches — the most beloved offering of Ganesh ji.

Tulsi is not offered: Tulsi leaves are not offered to Ganesh ji (except on Ganesh Chaturthi in some traditions); ketaki flowers are also avoided.

Sindoor and modak: Ganesh ji is offered sindoor (not just chandan) and modak / laddoo as bhog.

Ganesh first: In every pooja Ganesh ji is worshipped first — so this vidhi is also the opening of any other pooja.

This is the common household vidhi; the order and some mantras differ between regions and families. The mantras are given in their traditional form — it is good to check them once against a reliable pustak (e.g. Gita Press) or your family pandit.