When families do a havan
On griha pravesh (moving into a new home), birthdays and anniversaries, Navratri and Diwali, Satyanarayan katha, the start of a new business, and on any day the family wants to pray together.
What you need
- A hawan kund (a small copper, iron or clay fire pit)
- Mango wood sticks (samidha), cut small
- Desi ghee and a long spoon
- Hawan samagri
- Kapoor to start the fire
- A diya, flowers, rice, roli and a kalash with water
- Prasad, and a dry coconut for the final offering if your tradition uses it
Step by step
- Prepare the space. Place the kund on a heat-proof base, outdoors or in a large room with windows open. Everyone sits around it.
- Light the diya and offer a short prayer to Lord Ganesha.
- Build the fire. Arrange a few mango wood sticks in the kund, put two or three pieces of kapoor on them and light the kapoor.
- Feed the fire with ghee using the spoon, a little at a time, until the wood burns steadily.
- Offer samagri. With each mantra, everyone offers a pinch of samagri into the fire with the right hand and says "Swaha" together. The Gayatri mantra, repeated 11 or 21 times, is a simple choice.
- Purnahuti. End with a final offering of ghee, samagri and coconut, if you use one.
- Aarti and prasad. Do aarti, share prasad, and let the fire burn down by itself.
How much samagri?
Each person offers a small pinch with every mantra, so the amount depends on how many people sit and how many mantras you say. Keep a full pack ready and use what you need; the rest stays fresh in its sealed pouch. Our diyas and hawan samagri combo has what you need for the fire and the light.
Safety
- Keep water and a damp cloth nearby.
- Keep the fire small and do not add too much ghee at once.
- Tie back long hair and loose dupattas.
- Keep children at a safe distance.
- Let the ash cool completely. It can later go into plant soil or flowing water, as your family tradition follows.
