8 Puja Essentials That Are #DadiApproved

This Tilak Thali from Occasionally Silly is the perfect vessel for your rituals due to its oval shape and lightweight (100g). We love the colourful peacock and studded stones which contributes to the glitzy, rich feel of the plate. The best part is that the thali doesn’t cost you more than INR 300 AND it comes with roli and chawal. Nothing quite like getting the royal feels but affordably, right? Although the plate is metallic, the stones can fall off if there's an accident. Be cautious!

Incense sticks spread aromas and also a kind of warmth that is comforting and... holy? We love this set from Sevgi because of their fragrances on offer, namely musky, spicy and floral. These are made from essential oils which aren’t just good for the festivities but also help in relieving stress and anxiety. With aromas this good, you will want to light these even on non-festive days or for your meditation.

There has to be a holder for the aforementioned incense sticks. For Home has an amazing range of incense stick holders that are sleek, elegant and bright. Don’t worry about hot ash spillage as the surface of this holder will collect it all. Besides, the stem of the leaf holder will ensure you don’t burn your hand taking them around for, or after aartis. As it is made from aluminium, it is naturally light to carry around (and easy to wash wohoo). Simple yet rich, can’t get any better now, can it?

Call it the spiritual flame or whatever, a diya is an absolute puja essential and not just for Diwali. We like how it’s almost customary (big thanks to Bollywood) for having a diya in most puja thalis and Indian festivities. This lotus shaped diya from Amaya Decors won us over not just because of its carved surface but also because it reflects off the diya’s light. We will add here that cleaning these might get tricky as you'll have to wash between the grooves. 

Holding brass bells and ringing them throughout the aartis are a thing of the past. Now, you can attach one of these mandala wall hangings from the Macrame Corridor and it does the job for you. This comes with a metal bell and cotton rope. All you need to do is switch on the fan or have them hung in your balcony as the wind does its job. Brownie points for the fact that these are good to use even as normal wall decor after the festivities have ended. We must caution you to wipe it with a damp cloth or wash it gently by hand to avoid the white turning into brown. 

Since we're covering all parts of a puja which involves the end when you’ve to drink holy water from a copper container - check out these linear tumblers from Coppre which are simple without any fancy ornamentation and are also small in size (not more than 4 inches overall). Made from 99% pure copper, this is a good addition to have especially if you want to keep the pujas simple. Needless to say, these are easy to wash and maintain.

This Brass Dhuna from Conscious Co. will transform your home into a spiritual abode once used. The dhuna is made form brass and comes with a tong and fumer. This isn't too fancy in terms of design with just the and is simple to carry around due its compact size (not more than 4inches in diameter and 5.5 inches in height). Add hot coal along with the fumer and let the fragrant smoke cover the atmosphere. You can clean the dhuna with ease by using a soft damp cloth to wipe its surface. 

Many, including me, look forward to pujas only so that we can savour the prasad that is distributed right after the puja. For such people, there is this Utsav Brass Nut Bowl from Nakshikathaa. We love the artsy lid it comes with which makes it easy to keep the sweet offerings warm. The handcrafted brass bowl is no more than 115g and 3.5inch in diameter, breadth and 2inch in height making this as small as a katori. You can easily wash this with hand. 

If you're totally into the festive groove and want more options, click here for lighting, here for home furnishings and here for decor and home accents.