There is a lot of tolerance and acceptance within Hindu worship rituals, but there are some standard pre-requisites.

Firstly, one needs to abstain from eating meat and eggs for a minimum of 12 hours before puja
Secondly, one needs to have a bath or a shower before worship.
Thirdly, there is the ritual cleansing of the body before worship.
Offerings made to God can be as simple as water, a leaf, or a flower, or they can become very elaborate.


Incense is offered to purify the air, light/fire is offered as an acknowledgement that God is the source of all energy. (amongst other things)

worship can take different forms,

such as puja, which can be an elaborate celebration with God as the guest of Honour offering Him/Her to partake of all kinds of wonderful gifts, flowers, leaves and edibles. Puja is the most formal, and is accompanied by specific mantras.

it can take the form of jap, where you recite God's name or the many names of God.

it can take the form of dhyan, meditation, where instead of talking to God, as in prayer, you listen to God.

There are also mantras that describe the mental worship of God.

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Am I a woman dreaming that she is a butterfly, or am I a butterfly dreaming that it is a woman dreaming that she is a butterfly? (from a fable by ZHUANG ZHI)
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All the Best,

Devi Sarada