Nearly every puja begins the same way โ with a Kalash placed at the centre of the ritual space before anything else happens. Recognising what it is and what it represents makes it easier to follow the opening moments of any ceremony you attend.
What is a Kalash?
A Kalash is a metal or clay pot filled with water, with mango leaves arranged around its neck and a coconut placed on top. It's set up at the start of almost every puja.
Why the Kalash is set up first
The Kalash is believed to invoke the presence of deities and purify the space where the ritual is performed โ it's as much a fixture of Hindu ritual as the lamp or the mantra itself.
Kalash Sthapana
Setting up the Kalash โ called Kalash Sthapana โ is typically the very first step of a puja, performed by the pandit while reciting an invocation. Some traditions place a bit of rice, a coin, and betel nut inside the pot before adding water, and tie a red thread (moli) around its neck. Once installed, the Kalash is treated as a stand-in for the deity being invoked for the rest of the ceremony.
