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we need to create an environment in order to immerse ourselves in
bhakti. This is precisely the logic in having puja rooms in Hindu
households. In the United States and Canada, a new generation of
Hindus is growing up and they need some assistance to learn the
methods appropriate to their own framework so that they can perform
pujas in the privacy of their homes or apartments.
A series of these Puja booklets, with
Sanskrit transliterations and English translations, are published to
fill this need. These "How to Conduct …" booklets cover
all major Hindu festivals with worships to the Sun God Soorya (Makarasankranti),
Shiva (Shivaratri), Rama (Sriramanavami), Krishna (Janmashtami),
Ganapati (Chaturthi), Durga (Vijayadashami), Saraswati (Basanth
Panchami and Navaratri), and Mahalakshmi (Diwali).
Each booklet begins with an
introduction which provides the background in regard to the
particular god/goddess, and includes a step-by-step procedure to
prepare an altar, a list of materials needed, preliminary prayers,
the worship and conclusion. Thus Hindu youngsters may be able to
plan a whole year of festivities, perform the pujas and build their
own tradition.
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