Puja thali

A puja thali (Sanskrit: पूजा थाली, romanized: Pūjā thālī, lit. 'prayer plate') is a tray or large container on which puja materials are accumulated and decorated. On Hindu religious occasions, festivals, traditions and rituals, the puja thali maintains an auspicious role. A puja thali may be made of steel, gold, silver, brass, or any other metal; it may be rounded, oval, or any other shaped or with little engravings and other decorations.

Archana plate for worship in Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition. All Puja items like pancamrta, flowers, conchshell, ringing bell etc

Archana plate for worship.

A puja thali.

Materials

The following materials must be in a puja thali :

• Turmeric paste/sindura (Vermilion) paste/Rangoli color for holy symbols like 'Om', 'Swastika' etc.
• Akshata (unbroken rice grains).
• Diyas and incense sticks (Agarwood).
• Coconuts
• Flowers (marigolds, roses, and various designs with single color petals or a combination of different colors).
• Prasadam.
• Holy water in a container.

Along with these, a ghanta (bell), a conch (Shankha), a kalasha (holy pitcher) with holy water, ghee, camphor, betel-leaves, tulasi, milk, fresh fruits, sandalwood-paste, kumkuma, murti (earthen images) of deities and gold or silver coins may be include as needed.

Variations

On the occasion of Deepavali, more than one diya might be arranged on thali; on Raksha Bandhan, a rakhi may be added. Bael-leaves and datura flowers are included in the thali for the Mahashivaratri festival.

A decorated puja thali in the puja place.