Online puja for NRIs lets your family take part in a sacred ritual even when you live thousands of miles from India. A pandit in Varanasi can perform the puja for you, and below we explain the 24 most popular Hindu pujas in simple words.
Last reviewed November 2026 · Written by the Prime Value Tours team in Varanasi
Online puja for NRIs means a pandit in Varanasi performs the puja on your behalf. Your family’s names are said in the sankalp, the opening vow, so the blessings are meant for you. You choose the puja, share the details, and we confirm the date and how you can follow it.
Online puja for NRIs suits families who live abroad, who cannot travel at the right time, or who want to arrange a puja for parents and relatives in India.
| Where | Varanasi (Kashi), India |
|---|---|
| Who performs it | A pandit in Varanasi |
| What we need | Names of family members, gotra if you know it, birth details for dosh pujas, your time zone |
| How to ask | WhatsApp +91-9794122849 |
| Price | On request. Message us with the puja you want. |
Arranging an online puja for NRIs takes four simple steps.
Pick from the 24 pujas below, or tell us the occasion and we will suggest one.
Send the names of those to be included, your gotra if known, and your time zone. For dosh pujas, add birth details.
A pandit in Varanasi performs the puja at a suitable muhurat, the auspicious time.
We message you on WhatsApp with the date, the time in your time zone and how you can follow.
Each puja below can be arranged as an online puja for NRIs. Each has a short explanation in simple words. Customs differ by family and region, so please follow your own tradition.
01 · Lord Shiva
Rudrabhishek is a sacred bath of the Shivling with water, milk, honey, curd and other offerings while Rudra mantras are chanted. Families do it for peace, good health and Shiva’s blessings, often on Mondays, in the month of Shravan or on Maha Shivratri. A Rudrabhishek puja in Varanasi is done in Kashi, the city of Shiva.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →02 · Lord Shiva
Maha Rudrabhishek is the grand form of Rudrabhishek. It uses more offerings and more chanting, often with several pandits, so it takes several hours. Families choose it for a big occasion, such as a new business, a family milestone or a special vow, to ask for Lord Shiva’s grace for the whole household.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →03 · Lord Shiva
The Maha Mrityunjay mantra is a well-known prayer to Lord Shiva for protection, healing and long life. In this jaap, pandits repeat the mantra many thousands of times, often 125,000 times as a vow. Families usually ask for it when a loved one is unwell, together with proper medical care and never in place of it.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →04 · Lord Vishnu
Satyanarayan Katha is a simple, joyful puja to Lord Vishnu in his form as Satyanarayan, ‘the true Lord’. The pandit reads five stories about truth and faith, and sweet prasad is shared. Families do it on Purnima, at a housewarming, a wedding, a new job or any happy occasion, to give thanks.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →05 · Lord Ganesha
Ganesh Puja is done first, before most other pujas and every new beginning, because Lord Ganesha is the remover of obstacles. Devotees offer durva grass, modak sweets and red flowers. Families do it for a new home, a new business, exams or a wedding, and every year on Ganesh Chaturthi.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →06 · Goddess Lakshmi
Lakshmi Puja honours Goddess Lakshmi, the giver of wealth, prosperity and good fortune. It is most famous on the night of Diwali, but families also do it on Fridays, when starting a business or when entering a new home. Lamps, lotus flowers and sweets are offered with prayers and mantras.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →07 · Lord Vishnu
Vishnu Puja is the worship of Lord Vishnu, the protector of the world. Devotees offer tulsi leaves, yellow flowers, fruits and lamps, and chant the Vishnu Sahasranama or other mantras. Thursdays, Ekadashi and Purnima are favourite days. Families do it for peace, protection and harmony at home.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →08 · Lord Shiva
Shiv Puja is the everyday worship of Lord Shiva, the Great Lord (Mahadev). Devotees offer water, bilva leaves, white flowers and incense while chanting Om Namah Shivaya. It is simple and suits every family. Mondays, Pradosh and Maha Shivratri are special days, and Kashi is believed to be Shiva’s eternal home.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →09 · Lord Hanuman
Hanuman Puja honours Lord Hanuman, the symbol of strength, courage and devotion to Lord Ram. Devotees offer sindoor, red flowers and jaggery, and read the Hanuman Chalisa. Tuesdays and Saturdays are special, and Hanuman Jayanti is the main festival. Families do it for courage and protection in hard times.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →10 · Goddess Durga
Durga Puja is the worship of Goddess Durga, the divine mother who protects her children and destroys evil. It is celebrated most grandly during Navratri and in the famous Durga Puja festival of Bengal. Devotees offer red flowers, fruits and lamps and read the Durga Saptashati. Families do it to seek strength and freedom from fear.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →11 · Goddess Durga · nine nights
Navratri means ‘nine nights’. For nine days, families worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga, starting with Kalash Sthapana, the setting up of a sacred pot. Many keep fasts, light a lamp for nine days and read Devi hymns. It ends with Kanya Pujan and Dussehra. A pandit can guide or perform the puja for you.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →12 · Goddess Saraswati
Saraswati Puja honours Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music and the arts. Devotees place books, pens and instruments before her and offer white or yellow flowers. It is done on Vasant Panchami and when a child begins to study. Students, teachers, artists and parents do it to seek wisdom and focus.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →13 · Lord Krishna
Krishna Puja is the loving worship of Lord Krishna, the playful flute-player of Vrindavan and the teacher of the Bhagavad Gita. Devotees offer butter, sweets, tulsi and peacock feathers and sing bhajans. Janmashtami is the biggest day. Families also do it for a new baby, family harmony and deeper devotion.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →14 · Sun God
Surya Dev Puja is the worship of the Sun God, the giver of light, life and good health. Devotees offer water (arghya) to the rising sun, chant the Gayatri or Surya mantras and keep Sundays special. It is also part of Chhath and Makar Sankranti. Many families do it for health, energy and success.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →15 · Lord Shani
Shani Puja is the worship of Lord Shani (Saturn), who is believed to give the results of our actions fairly. Devotees offer mustard oil, black sesame and blue flowers on Saturdays and light a lamp. Families often do it during Sade Sati or Shani Dhaiya, which astrologers call a testing time, to ask for patience and steady progress.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →16 · Nine planets
Navgrah Puja worships the nine planets of Vedic astrology: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. It is done when a birth chart shows weak or difficult planetary positions. Each planet gets its own mantra and offerings. Families do it to ask for balance and peace. Please share your birth details.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →17 · Rahu and Ketu
Kaal Sarp Dosh is a condition that astrologers describe when all seven planets lie between Rahu and Ketu in a birth chart. Believers say it can bring delays and worry. This puja, with Rahu-Ketu mantras and worship of Lord Shiva and the Naga devatas, is done to ask for relief and peace of mind.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →18 · Mars (Mangal)
Mangal Dosh, also called Manglik Dosh, is a Vedic astrology belief that Mars sits in a certain house of the birth chart. Many families check it before marriage. This puja worships Mangal (Mars) and Lord Hanuman with mantras and red offerings, to ask for harmony in married life. Please share the birth chart.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →19 · New home or office
Vastu Shanti Puja blesses a home, office or shop and makes peace with the energies of the land and the building. It is often done before Griha Pravesh, the housewarming. The pandit worships Vastu Purush and the directions, and a havan may be done. NRIs often arrange it for a new property in India.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →20 · Mother Ganga
Ganga Puja is the worship of Mother Ganga, the river Hindus hold most sacred. In Varanasi, devotees offer flowers, milk and floating lamps at the ghats, and the evening Ganga Aarti is world famous. Families do it to give thanks and seek peace, and on special days such as Ganga Dussehra and Dev Deepawali.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →21 · Ancestors
Pind Daan is an offering of rice balls (pind), sesame and water for the peace of departed ancestors. It is traditionally done in person at holy places such as Kashi and Gaya, especially in Pitru Paksha. If you cannot travel, a pandit can perform it on your behalf. Many families prefer to come, and we can plan that trip too.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →22 · Ancestors
Tarpan means ‘to satisfy’. It is a simple offering of water mixed with black sesame to ancestors, made while chanting their names and mantras. Some families do it daily, and many do it on Amavasya and during Pitru Paksha. A Tarpan on the banks of the Ganga in Kashi is considered especially meaningful.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →23 · Ancestors
Shradh is the yearly ritual of remembering and thanking our ancestors with food, prayers and charity. It is done on the death anniversary (tithi) and during Pitru Paksha, the 16 days of the ancestors. The pandit performs the rites, and food is offered to Brahmins, the needy and animals such as cows and crows.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →24 · Ancestors
Pitru Dosh is a belief in Vedic astrology that unfinished duties to ancestors can bring delays or worry to a family. This puja combines worship, Pind Daan or Tarpan and a havan to give peace to the ancestors and ask for their blessings. It is often done on Amavasya or in Pitru Paksha, at holy places like Kashi or Gaya.
Ask about this puja on WhatsApp →Online puja for NRIs is convenient, but many families like to be present, especially for Ganga Puja, Rudrabhishek and the rites for ancestors. We are a Varanasi tour operator and can plan your journey around the puja.
The ghats, Kashi Vishwanath and the Ganga Aarti, with Ayodhya and Prayagraj.
See the tour →Haridwar, Rishikesh, Ayodhya and Varanasi on one journey.
See the circuit →Visit Bodh Gaya, close to Gaya, where many families offer ancestor rites.
See the package →The full list of tours made for NRI, PIO and OCI families.
Open the list →A note on faith. An online puja for NRIs is an act of devotion, and its results are a matter of belief. We do not promise any worldly result. For health, money, legal or family matters, please also take proper professional advice. To learn more about the ancestor days, you can read about Pitru Paksha.
Many families living abroad ask a pandit in India to perform a puja on their behalf. The pandit says your name, gotra and family details in the sankalp, the opening vow, and performs the puja at a suitable muhurat. Customs differ between families and traditions, so please ask your family elders if you are unsure.
You choose the puja and message us on WhatsApp with the names of the family members, your gotra if you know it, and your time zone. We confirm the date, what the puja includes and how you can follow it. A pandit in Varanasi then performs the puja.
If you are not sure, tell us the occasion or your wish and we will suggest a puja. Ganesh Puja is traditionally done first for any new beginning. Dosh pujas, such as Kaal Sarp, Mangal and Pitru Dosh, depend on your birth chart, so it is wise to confirm with your family astrologer first.
Yes. Many NRIs arrange pujas for parents or relatives in India, or for a new home or property. Send us the names of everyone who should be included in the sankalp.
Traditionally these rites are done in person, especially at Kashi or Gaya, and some pandits and families feel strongly about this. If travel is not possible, a pandit can perform them on your behalf. If you prefer to come yourself, we can plan your travel and the rites in Varanasi or Gaya. Please talk to your family elders about your custom.
No. A puja is an act of faith and prayer, and we do not promise any worldly result. For health, money or legal matters, please also take proper professional advice.
Planning an online puja for NRIs? Tell us which puja you would like, who should be included and your time zone. The Varanasi team will reply on WhatsApp.
