Tirupati Balaji Temple

Performed in the pradosh kaal, the twilight window around sunset on Trayodashi. Abhishek of the Shiva lingam with water, milk and honey, an offering of bilva patra, and a sankalp taken in the devotee's name while the Rudram is chanted.

The monthly Shivratri, kept on the Chaturdashi of the waning fortnight. A night puja of the Shiva lingam with cold water, milk and bel patra, and a sankalp offered in the devotee's name.

Kept on the Ashtami tithi for the Devi in her protective form. Red flowers, kumkum and a chunri are offered, and the Durga Saptashati is recited with a sankalp in the devotee's name.

The completion puja of the Devi's nine days, kept on Navami. A havan closes the observance, prasad is distributed, and the Ram Raksha Stotra is read where the day is kept for Lord Rama.

Tarpan offered to the ancestors on the new-moon day, with water and black sesame, in the devotee's gotra and family name. Daan of food and cloth is made in the ancestors' name at the close.

Marks the start of Chaturmas, when Lord Vishnu is believed to enter yoga-nidra. A Vishnu puja on Devshayani (Ashadhi) Ekadashi seeks blessings for the four holy months ahead.

The most revered of all Ekadashis, observed without water. A special Vishnu puja with archana and daan on Nirjala Ekadashi is said to grant the benefit of all twenty-four Ekadashis of the year.

The full-moon puja of Lord Satyanarayan, with the katha read in its five chapters, sheera offered as prasad, and a sankalp taken in the devotee's name. The observance kept in Hindu homes on Purnima for generations.