Before a wedding
Many Gujarati and North Indian families hold Grah Shanti — a Navagraha puja — in the days before a wedding, at the bride’s and the groom’s homes, as part of the traditional preparation.
Devotion to the nine grahas
Navagraha Puja & Havan in the UK
A traditional sequence of mantra, offering and, where observed, sacred fire — offered to the nine planetary deities as an act of devotion, not an astrological reading or a promise of results.
Quick answer
Navagraha Puja, briefly
What is Navagraha Puja and Havan?
A Vedic prayer to the nine planetary deities, performed in a traditional sequence with mantras, and often with a havan — offerings made into the sacred fire — where a family observes one. It is a devotional observance rather than a promise of any outcome.
Why do families ask for it?
Most often as Grah Shanti before a wedding, sometimes within a Griha Pravesh or a new beginning, and sometimes simply as a practice their elders kept. It is an act of humility at a threshold, not a remedy.
The nine grahas, in plain English
Navagraha means “nine grahas”. In the Vedic tradition the grahas are the celestial influences that Hindu thought has long held in reverence, and each is honoured as a deity in its own right. The puja offers prayer to all nine in turn, in a set order, with a mantra, an offering and — where a havan is held — an oblation into the fire for each.
- Suryathe Sun
- Chandrathe Moon
- MangalMars
- BudhMercury
- Guru (Brihaspati)Jupiter
- ShukraVenus
- ShaniSaturn
- Rahuthe ascending lunar node
- Ketuthe descending lunar node
Shastri Ji performs the puja for its traditional spiritual purpose and explains the meaning of each invocation as it happens. He does not offer horoscope readings, predictions or astrological advice, and nothing about the ceremony is presented as a guarantee of health, wealth or fortune.
Why it is held
When families request a Navagraha Puja
Three common occasions. Which applies, and whether a havan is included, follows the tradition your own family keeps.
A new home or a new beginning
Families sometimes include Navagraha prayers within a Griha Pravesh, a business opening or the start of a significant undertaking, as an act of humility at a threshold.
A family observance
Some households hold it as a standalone puja, on a date chosen with the priest, simply as a devotional practice their elders kept and they wish to continue.
The sequence
How the puja usually unfolds
Offered as guidance rather than a fixed order of service. The sequence and emphasis follow the tradition your own family keeps.
Step 1: Sankalp
The intention is stated at the beginning, naming the family and the purpose for which the prayers are being offered.
Step 2: Ganesh Puja & Kalash Sthapana
Prayer to Lord Ganesha and the placing of the kalash, so the puja begins in the traditional order.
Step 3: Navagraha Sthapana & invocation
The nine grahas are established — traditionally with nine grains or coloured cloths on a board — and each is invoked and offered prayer in sequence, with the meaning explained as it happens.
Step 4: Havan
Where a family observes it, offerings are made into the sacred fire with the mantra of each graha. Whether a live flame is possible depends on the venue.
Step 5: Aarti & prasad
The prayers close with aarti and the distribution of prasad to those present.
Practicalities
Samagri, space and the sacred fire
What does the household need to prepare?
A cleared floor area with a low table for the kalash and the graha board, seating for elders, and the items on the list you are given. The samagri can be arranged for you or sourced from an itemised list; costs are discussed once the ceremony requirements and location are understood.
Can the havan be held indoors?
That is the venue’s decision. Many homes can accommodate a small, contained havan with ventilation; hired halls and flats often cannot. If a live flame is not permitted, you are told plainly beforehand and the puja is held without the havan rather than promised and abandoned on the day.
Questions
Navagraha Puja & Havan
A Vedic prayer offered to the nine planetary deities — the Navagraha. It is a devotional observance of humility and gratitude, performed in a traditional sequence with mantras, and often accompanied by a havan where a family observes one. Families also refer to it as Navgrah Puja or, before a wedding, Grah Shanti.
No. Some families observe the puja with a havan and others without. Where a havan is wanted, the venue matters: a live flame, smoke and any alarm or sprinkler arrangements have to be checked with the venue in advance.
No. These prayers are performed for their traditional spiritual purpose. No health, financial or personal outcome is promised, and no astrological reading or prediction is offered.
At home, at a temple or at a hall, across the United Kingdom. The space needed, the likely duration and the samagri required are discussed with you beforehand.
A ceremony-specific list is provided — typically the nine grains, cloths or colours for the grahas, the kalash, ghee and havan samagri, flowers, fruit and the items for aarti. Materials can be sourced and prepared for you if you prefer. Costs are discussed once the ceremony requirements and location are understood.
It depends on whether a havan is included and on the form your family observes. The likely duration is agreed with you beforehand so the household can plan around it rather than guess.
Continue reading
- Every ceremony, by occasionThe master directory of pujas, havans, sanskaras and rites.
- Grah Shanti before a Gujarati weddingHow the Navagraha puja sits within the Gujarati wedding sequence.
- Shiv Puja & RudrabhishekAbhishek of the Shiv Ling with Vedic mantras.
- Puja samagriWhat each ceremony needs, and how it can be arranged.
- Grah Shanti before a Gujarati weddingPurpose, sequence and preparation for the pre-wedding household puja.
A personal invitation
Discuss a Navagraha Puja
Every family is different. Share a few details and we will talk through the ceremony, your customs and what is needed — before anything is confirmed.