One of the most common questions in NRI family groups is: "Can I do this puja myself, or do I need a pandit?" The short answer, for most pujas, is yes — you can, and the tradition actually supports this. The concept of grihastha (the householder as ritualist) is built into Vedic tradition. Families have always performed their own daily rituals; the priest was called in for complex, multi-day ceremonies. For NRI families where finding a qualified pandit may be difficult or expensive, self-performed puja is not a compromise — it is a direct return to how most Indian households historically practiced.
Setting Up a Puja Space in a Western Home
The puja space doesn't need a dedicated room — in most Western homes, a corner, shelf, or small cabinet works perfectly. What matters is that it is:
Essential Items for a NRI Home Puja Space
- An idol or framed photo of your family deity (Ishta Devata) — and/or Ganesha, who is invoked at the start of all pujas
- A diya — brass or clay; even a small tea-light in a holder works
- Incense sticks or a small dhoop holder
- Roli (red kumkum) and akshat (unbroken rice grains)
- A small bell
- A vessel for water (a small copper or brass lota is ideal; any clean vessel works)
- A plate or tray for offerings (flowers, fruits, sweets)
- A copy of a simple prayer or stotra — or bookmarked on your phone
A Simple Daily Puja Routine (10 minutes)
Light the diya and incense — this is the signal that puja has begun
Ring the bell briefly — the sound is believed to purify the space and announce your presence to the deity
Offer water — sprinkle a few drops before the deity with your right hand
Apply tilak — touch your ring finger to roli and apply a small mark to the deity's forehead (and your own)
Offer akshat — place a pinch of rice before the idol
Offer flowers or a single fresh petal if available — or simply hold your hands in namaste
Recite your prayer — even 2-3 minutes of your family's familiar stotra or simply sincere words
Perform aarti — circle the diya clockwise before the deity three times
Close with a moment of stillness, then ring the bell once more
Which Pujas Can NRI Families Self-Perform?
✅ Fully self-performable
Daily puja, Diwali Lakshmi puja, Satyanarayan Katha (with the katha book), Navratri, Ganesh Chaturthi aarti, Holi puja, Janmashtami, most festival pujas
⚡ Simplified version works
Griha Pravesh (family can perform a simplified version), Godh Bharai (ceremony can be conducted by elder family women), Namkaran (family-led with prayers)
👨💼 Priest recommended
Vivah (wedding), Upanayanam/Janeu, Shradh/Pitru Paksha rituals, Vastu Shanti, complex havans — these have intricate Sanskrit procedures where a trained priest adds significant value
Online Pandit Services for NRIs
For rituals where you do want a priest, several services now offer online pandit consultation and even video-call puja assistance — where the priest guides the family through the ritual remotely. Services like 99Pandit, BookMyPuja, and IndiaPuja connect NRI families with qualified priests for major ceremonies. Some temples in the US, UK, and Canada also offer visiting pandit services. When booking, verify the priest's regional tradition matches your family's (North Indian, South Indian, Bengali, Gujarati etc.) as ritual procedures vary significantly.
💡 Family tradition tip
The specific prayers, sequence of rituals, and offerings your family uses are your family's living tradition — they may differ from a generic "how to do puja" guide and that is fine. Document your family's specific method so it can be passed on accurately. What your grandmother taught your mother and your mother taught you is the most valuable ritual guide you have.
Need a samagri list for a specific puja? See our Satyanarayan Katha guide or Griha Pravesh samagri list.