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Indians are generally particular about shubh muhurats, when it comes to buying a property or shifting to a new house. They believe that performing a griha pravesh ceremony on an auspicious day, will bring them good fortune.
With more and more people actively buying homes for end-use following the Coronavirus pandemic, there is a sharp increase in people performing the griha pravesh ceremony. However, keeping in mind the pandemic, most people are opting for an online ceremony with the priest guiding them through the process and the guests in attendance. This way, people can continue practicing their religious beliefs while being safe. Presently, with the month of Shravan going on (July 23, 2021 to August 22, 2021), followed by Bhadrapad and Ashwin where the Pitru Paksh period is observed (September 20, 2021 to October 6, 2021), the next set of auspicious dates for griha pravesh ceremonies is available in November 2021.
A griha pravesh ceremony is performed, when one enters a new home for the first time. “It is important, not just for the owner but also for the entire family,” says Mumbai-based Jayshree Dhamani, a Vastu Shastra and astrology expert. According to Vastu, a house is made up of five elements – the sun, earth, water, fire and wind and the proper alignment of these elements in a house, brings happiness, good health and prosperity.
“It is believed that entering a home during an auspicious time, makes life easy and there will be minimum struggle for the family, after moving into the new house. Days that are most favourable for such muhurats are Vasant Panchami, Akshaya Tritiya, Gudi Padwa, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Dussehra (also known as Vijayadashmi), while days like Uttarayana, Holi, Adhikmas and Shraddha Paksha are to be avoided,” adds Dhamani.
A house warming performed on Dussehra does not even require an auspicious time, as every moment of this day is considered auspicious. Before the griha pravesh, a kalash pooja is usually performed.
For this ritual, a copper pot is filled with water and nine types of grains and a coin are placed in it. A coconut is placed on the pot and one enters the house with it, accompanied by the chanting of mantras by a priest.
See also: Griha Pravesh Muhurat 2021: Best dates for a house warming ceremony
Dos and don’ts for performing a Griha Pravesh
The griha pravesh should be done, only when the new house is ready for the family to shift into it and reside. “The house should be fully done up. It should be freshly painted and the roof should be ready (if it is an independent house). The doors, windows and other fittings too, should be complete,” says Nitien Parmar, a Vastu consultant of Vastu Plus.
“The Vastu Purush and other deities are worshipped. The main door, which is the entry point for prosperity and good vibes into the house, has to be decorated with auspicious symbols like a swastika and Lakshmi feet, drawn on the threshold. A toran (originating from the Sanskrit word ‘torana’, meaning the sacred gateway), which is made of fresh mango leaves and marigold flowers, should be hung on the doorway. The temple in the house should be in the north-east zone and should be fixed on day of the house warming,” advises Parmar.
The griha pravesh ceremony can be simple or elaborate, depending upon the home owner. Usually, a havan is conducted, to purify the space cleanse it of negative forces. A Ganesh puja, Navagraha Shanti, which means worship of the nine planets and a Vastu puja, are generally performed. One should also serve food to the priests and family and friends, who are invited on this day. Once the house warming ceremony has been performed, the owners can then move into the new house. Also, Vastu experts advice that after the griha pravesh puja, for the next 40 days at least, one family member should be present at home all the time and the house should not be kept locked and vacant.
Tips for the Griha Pravesh of your new home
- Always do the griha pravesh on an auspicious day. The idols should be placed in an east-facing direction of the house.
- Thoroughly clean the house before the puja. Mop the floor with salt water, to cleanse and purify the place. You can also wash it with a mixture of salt, lime juice and white vinegar.
- While entering the house, always put your right foot first.
- The main door should be decorated, as it is called as Simha Dwara and is the face of the Vastu Purush. Decorate the door with mango leaves and fresh flowers. It should have a swastika, go-padma, lotus, or any other spiritual symbol at both the ends.
- Adorn the floor with rangoli made of rice flour or vibrant colours. Rangolis on the floor are believed to invite goddesses Lakshmi.
- A havan (herbs and wood put in fire), is said to purify the space and cleanse the surroundings.
- If possible, have house warming parties with only near and dear ones, as inviting too many people may bring in negative energy, which might hamper the well-being of the residents. Also, with the Coronavirus pandemic still going on, for the well-being and safety of everyone, having over only immediate family is advised.
- Everyone who attends the griha pravesh puja must be given some gift; nobody should leave the house empty-handed. It can be anything from a small silver coin, an idol of a god, boxes of sweets, or fresh live plants, depending on one’s budget.
Things to do before a Griha Pravesh
Choose the auspicious date
While the festive season brings many auspicious dates, which are suitable for a Griha Pravesh, you can check the best house-warming dates 2021. Dussehra and Diwali are considered very lucky for the Griha Pravesh and you can conduct a puja after consulting a priest.
Complete the construction and finishing work
Avoid moving into your new home, if the construction work is ongoing. Move to your new home only when the home is completely ready. Griha Pravesh signifies entering a new phase of life, a new home which is completed in every sense. Therefore, make sure everything including the wood work, fittings, paint, etc., are completed.
Make sure the home is Vastu-compliant
Ensure your home is completely Vastu-compliant, especially the puja room and the main entrance.
Things to do on Griha Pravesh puja day
Decorate the entrance
On the day of Griha Pravesh puja, make sure you decorate the front entrance with flowers and a toran of marigold and fresh mango tree leaves. You can also put a Swastik symbol or Goddess Lakshmi’s feet on the main door, as these signify prosperity and luck.
Clean the entire home
Before conducting the puja, make sure the entire home is cleaned thoroughly to make it look welcoming. This will invite positivity and good energy into your new home. Mop every corner of your home before starting the puja.
Purify the home
Sprinkle the entire home with Gangajal. Keep Gangajal in a separate kalash in an the unused corner of your home, with raw mango leaves placed above it. Use these leaves to sprinkle the water everywhere. Gangajal is believed to have a purifying energy that removes negative vibes from the home.
Make a rangoli
Rangolis are synonymous with the festive season and are believed to attract wealth and prosperity. Draw one near the entrance, before conducting a Griha Pravesh puja, using rice flour and rangoli colours available in the market. Make sure it is not in the way of people entering the house.
Griha pravesh flower decoration
Apart from the main door and puja area, decorate the entire house for the griha pravesh puja.Fresh flowers make the home appear inviting and cheerful. Use fresh flowers for overhead hangings, arches, corners and centerpieces for tables. One can go in for traditional-themed strings and garland decor using marigold, tube rose and shevanti, etc., along with some lotuses and colourful threads. Floral balls and hangings made from flowers can be used to highlight various places of the house. If one likes western style, then, opt for flowers like lilium, orchids, roses and carnations, etc., with pearl hangings or colourful drapes .
Things you need for Griha Pravesh puja
| Coconut | Desi ghee | Incense burner (Hawan samagri) | Dry woods of mango |
| Areca nut (Supari) | Honey | Barley (grains) | Turmeric |
| Cloves | Jaggery | Black sesame seeds | Ganga Jal |
| Green cardamom | Whole rice | Large earthen diya | Wooden low height table (Chauki) |
| Betel leaves | Panch Meva (Mixture of 5 types of dry fruits) | Brass kalash | Atta |
| Roli or Kumkum | Five types of sweets | Cotton | Mango or Ashoka tree leaves |
| Mauli | 5 types of seasonal fruits | Yellow cloth | Incense stick |
| Upanayana or janeu | Flowers and flower garlands | Red cloth | Yogurt (curd) |
| Milk (not boiled) | Dhup batti | Camphor |
How to perform Griha Pravesh puja
A Griha Pravesh puja is done before entering a new house to please and welcome positive energy. You can also invite a priest, for chanting the shlokas and mantras. The Griha Pravesh puja wipes out the evil energies in the home.
Step 1: Break an ash gourd and leave it at the entrance of the threshold of the house. The lady of the house should also break a coconut and this should also placed on the threshold, as this signifies the removal of the obstacles.
Step 2: Perform the Kalash puja. Fill a pot with water and nine types of grains and a coin. A red cloth is tied around a coconut and placed on the Kalash with mango leaves placed at the sides of the Kalash.
Step 3: Take this pot inside the house and place it near the ceremonial fire place or havan.
Step 4: A Havan is performed during the housewarming ceremony, to remove the three sins: digging of earth, cutting of trees and breaking of stones. To nullify the bad effects, the havan is done to seek blessings of the almighty. All family members should sit around the Havan Kund, to participate in it while the priest chants the sacred mantras. The aromatic and medicinal herbs and camphor used during griha pravesh havan purifies the home, removes negative vibes and signifies auspicious new beginnings, with good energies.
Step 5: Light diyas and lamps to attract spiritual energies and for divine protection.
Griha Pravesh for a rented house
If you are shifting into a rented accommodation, you can do a simple Griha Pravesh puja, where you may not need a priest.
- Clean the house and decorate it with flowers and auspicious symbols and put a picture or idol of ‘Isht’ deity.
- You can also perform a small havan, by chanting some short mantra (like Gayatri Mantra or Navagraha Mantra) 108 times. You can also play recorded mantras on your device, if you do not know any.
- Light diyas and offer sweets, fruits and donate money to the needy.
People are often confused if they should conduct a Griha Pravesh ceremony for a rented house. It is good to perform a Griha Pravesh puja for a rented house since it is an auspicious ceremony. Experts point out that a griha pravesh ceremony, even in a rented house, will help ward off any negative energy and bring in positivity in the house for a peaceful and prosperous living. As mentioned above, you can conduct a Havan or Yajna to activate the energies of the house and keep them energised, instead of an elaborate puja.
Can you do Griha Pravesh without muhurat
Although people prefer to do the Griha Pravesh only at an auspicious muhurat, if you do not believe in such things, it is okay to proceed as per your availability and schedule. However, make sure you conduct a Griha Shanti paath, which is to attract positive energy at home and remove negativity and evil energies from the surroundings. You can also choose to do charity after the puja and donate money and food to the needy. Later, you can celebrate the occasion with your near and dear ones to mark the joyous occasion.
Most asked questions about Griha Pravesh
Can we do Griha Pravesh puja after shifting?
Griha Pravesh puja or Vastu puja should be done before shifting, to cleanse the space of negative energies.
Can we sleep in the new house before a Griha Pravesh ceremony?
Yes, home owners can sleep in the new house before the official puja.
Why do we boil milk during housewarming?
Boiling of milk symbolises abundance of prosperity and food, which will bless the new home.
Can I move my furniture before Griha Pravesh?
Ideally, a Vastu puja should be conducted, before moving anything to your new home.
Can we shift household items before Griha Pravesh puja?
Avoid shifting anything apart from cooking gas and stove, until the Vastu puja is done.
Can we shift to a new house on Friday?
Depending upon the Griha Pravesh muhurat, you can choose an auspicious day for the shifting.
What is the first thing to do when moving into a new house?
As soon as you move into a new home, make sure the locks are working, check the fuse box and water valve, make it pet/child-proof and set up the utilities.
What brings good luck to a new home?
Items such as salt, honey, rice, candles, etc., represent abundance, prosperity, happiness, hospitality and good fortune.
Do I need to clean my house before moving?
Yes, it is always good to deep clean the house, before you move in with all your luggage.
FAQs
Can Griha Pravesh be done in the evening?
Depending upon the muhurat, you can perform the Griha Pravesh in the evening, as well.
Where do you put the kalash in a new house?
The kalash should be placed in an unused corner of the house, filled with Gangajal and mango leaves.
Can a pregnant woman do Griha Pravesh?
Yes, pregnant woman can do Griha Pravesh puja, provided fasting and other rules are slightly relaxed for her.
What is the significance of ringing a bell during the griha pravesh puja?
The sound of the bell removes negative energy and helps in purifying the place.
(With inputs from Surbhi Gupta)
Credit for header image: http://bit.ly/2dPgmYu
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