| Prepare
one or two lamps with cotton wicks soaking in oil. Place the lamp/s
about 6" in front of the picture if it is one lamp, or about
10" apart if two lamps. Do not light these until you are ready
to begin the Puja.
Prepare a worship plate (stainless
steel, silver or any other metal, 12" to 24" diameter) by
placing on it small vessels (cup-like, preferably metallic) of
kumkum, turmeric, one packet of camphor, sandal paste, a dozen
agarbatti sticks (incense sticks), and a match box. Prepare another
plate, 12" or 24" diameter, metallic or wicker and put a
variety of fruits (bananas, apples, oranges, etc.) and a couple of
varieties of leaves and flowers. You will need an aarati plate.
This can be a small plate with a few
vertical wicks soaking in oil or ghee or an aarati receptacle with a
few wicks soaking in oil or ghee. You will also need a small cup of
akshata.
Covered
dishes of your favorite prasaadam or sweets may be placed in front
of the altar on the cloth- covered ground. A metallic vessel large
enough to contain a couple of mugs of water should be filled with
water and placed in front of the altar. You will need a smaller
vessel, preferably a metallic straight-walled tumbler into which
water will be poured during the service.
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