The term puja is also used to refer to certain ceremonies performed by Buddhists on holy days.

Pūjā (alternative transliteration pooja, Sanskrit: reverence or worship, loosely) is a religious ritual that Hindus perform for a variety of occasions.

Most practicing Hindus perform Puja daily and say one should perform Puja twice a day. Puja should only be done after a shower or bath and it is recomended that it is done before breakfast to ensure sattvic qualities and full concentration dhyan. Puja is performed on a variety of occasions aside of the daily ritual. These include Durga Puja, Pongal and Lakshmi Puja to name a few.

Puja or Pooja is often used as a woman's personal name in India. It is one of the most common names for Indians today.

27 steps of a puja

A puja generally takes the form of the Lord as your guest:

1. Dhyaanam Samarpayami (Think or meditate on the LORD)
2. Aawaahanam Samarpayami (Invite the LORD into your home/heart)
3. Aasanam Samarpayami (Offer a seat to the LORD)
4. Paadyam Samarpayami (offer water to wash the feet)
5. Arghyam Samarpayami (offer water to wash the hands)
6. Aachamaneeyam Samarpayami (offer water to drink )
7. Snaanam Samarpayami (Give bath to the LORD)
8. Maha Abhishekam Samarpayami (main head bath)
9. Pratishtaapayaami (make him seated )
10. Vasthram Samarpayami (Offer clothes to the LORD)
11. Yajnopaveetham Samarpayami (Offer the Holy Thread to the LORD)
12. Gandham Samarpayami (offer sandlewood paste/powder)
13. Akshatham Samarpayami (Offer Akshatha (rice) to the LORD)
14. Pushpam Samarpayami (Offer flowers to the LORD)
15. Ashthothtra Poojam Samarpayami (Say the holy names of the LORD)
16. Dhoopam Aaghraapayaami (offer incense )
17. Deepam Darshayaami ( offer light )
18. Neivedyam Samarpayami (Offer food to the LORD)
19. Phalam Samarpayami (Offer Fruits the LORD)
20. Taamboolam Samarpayami (offer betel nut and leaves )
21. Dakshinam Samarpayami (Offer money to the LORD)
22. Maha Nirajanam Samarpayami ( the main Aarti )
23. Pradakshinam Samarpayami (taking clockwise rounds in front of the lord)
24. Namaskaram Samarpayami (prostrations offer them)
25. Mantra Pushpam Samarpayami ( both incantations and flowers )
26. Praarthanaam Samarpayami (offering prayers;List your requests)
27. Xamaapanam Samarpayami ( offering apologies to lord for any mistakes)