Mangala Aarti
Overview
Early morning aarti at dawn to wake the deity, the first ritual of the day.
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 Mangala 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 Mangala 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 Mangala 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 Mangala Aarti. Sponsorship amounts and availability vary — contact the temple to confirm.
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Ahobilam Temple
Ahobilam, Andhra Pradesh · India
No sponsorship required
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Akshardham Temple
New Delhi, Delhi · India
No sponsorship required
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Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple Anantagiri
Anantagiri, Andhra Pradesh · India
No sponsorship required
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Angkor Wat
Siem Reap, Siem Reap Province · Cambodia
No sponsorship required
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BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir London (Neasden)
London, England · United Kingdom
No sponsorship required
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BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir Robbinsville
Robbinsville, New Jersey · United States
No sponsorship required
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BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir Toronto
Toronto, Ontario · Canada
No sponsorship required
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Badrinath Temple
Badrinath, Uttarakhand · India
No sponsorship required
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Banke Bihari Temple
Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh · India
No sponsorship required
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Bhaktivedanta Manor
Watford, England · United Kingdom
No sponsorship required
Frequently asked questions
What is Mangala Aarti?
Mangala 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 Mangala 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 Mangala Aarti at home?
Yes. Mangala 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 Mangala 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.