Shodashopachara Puja (16-step) — Reference

Any deity 40 minMedium

17 steps24 mantras~10 min of recitationFull puja ~40 min

When

Any puja day

Duration

40 min

Deity

Any deity

The sixteen upacharas treat the deity as an honoured royal guest: invite, seat, wash feet and hands, give water, bathe, dress, adorn, perfume, garland, offer incense, light, food and betel, wave the lamp, circle, and offer flowers with a final bow. Every festival vidhi is a variation of this sequence.