Sandhya Aarti
Overview
Evening twilight worship with lamps and devotional hymns.
What you need (Samagri)
Items required for a basic home version of this pooja. For elaborate forms, consult a priest.
- Diya + ghee
- Flowers (fresh)
- Incense sticks (agarbatti)
- Camphor (kapur)
- Fruits (5 varieties recommended)
- Sweets / prasad
- Akshat (uncooked rice mixed with kumkum)
- Kumkum
- Chandan (sandalwood paste)
- Coconut
Step by step
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1. Prepare the altar
Clean the space where the Sandhya Aarti will be performed. Place the deity's idol or image on a clean cloth, light a ghee diya, and arrange flowers and fruits in front of the altar.
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2. Sankalpa (intention)
Sit facing east or north. Hold a few grains of rice and water in your right hand and take a sankalpa — state your name, gotra, and the purpose of this Sandhya Aarti.
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3. Invoke and offer
Invoke the deity with the appropriate mantra. Offer akshat, kumkum, chandan, flowers, incense, and the lit diya. Offer fruits and sweets as naivedya (food offering).
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4. Recite mantras / katha
Recite the mantras or read the katha associated with this Sandhya Aarti. If unsure, you can chant the deity's 108-name list (ashtottara) or the Gayatri mantra.
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5. Aarti and prasad
Conclude with aarti — circle the lit camphor or diya in front of the deity while singing the aarti hymn. Distribute prasad to all present.
When to perform
For an auspicious date based on your birth chart, log in or consult your local priest. Most poojas are performed in the morning (Brahma muhurta to noon) on a tithi favourable to the deity being worshipped.
Find a priest
Temples that offer Sandhya Aarti. Sponsorship amounts and availability vary — contact the temple to confirm.
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Siddhivinayak Temple
Mumbai, Maharashtra · India
No sponsorship required
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Triveni Sangam Allahabad
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh · India
No sponsorship required
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Brahma Temple Pushkar
Pushkar, Rajasthan · India
No sponsorship required
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Brahma Sarovar Temple Complex
Kurukshetra, Haryana · India
No sponsorship required
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Ashtavinayak - Ballaleshwar Temple (Pali)
Pali, Maharashtra · India
No sponsorship required
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Osian Temples
Osian, Rajasthan · India
No sponsorship required
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Pattadakal Temples
Pattadakal, Karnataka · India
No sponsorship required
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Yamunotri Temple
Yamunotri, Uttarakhand · India
No sponsorship required
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Badami Cave Temples
Badami, Karnataka · India
No sponsorship required
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Ananda Temple Bagan
Bagan, Mandalay · Myanmar
No sponsorship required
Frequently asked questions
What is Sandhya Aarti?
Sandhya Aarti is a traditional Hindu ritual performed to invoke divine blessings. The exact form varies by tradition, region, and the family's lineage — consult a local priest for the procedure followed in your sampradaya.
When is the best time to perform Sandhya Aarti?
Auspicious timing depends on the lunar tithi, weekday, and the householder's birth chart. Most poojas are performed in the morning (Brahma muhurta to noon). For your personal muhurat, log in or consult a priest.
Can I perform Sandhya Aarti at home?
Yes. Sandhya Aarti can be performed at home with the basic samagri listed above. For elaborate versions or homas (fire rituals), engaging a qualified priest is recommended to ensure correct mantras and procedures.
How long does Sandhya Aarti take?
A simple home version takes 30–60 minutes. A full-form version performed by a priest with all ancillary rituals (homa, abhishekam, paaraayanam) can take 2–4 hours.
What should I do with the prasad afterwards?
Distribute prasad to family members and any guests present. Traditional practice is to share it with at least three people. Any leftover food offerings should be consumed the same day, never thrown away.