Ganesh Chaturthi Samagri List: Complete Checklist for Home Puja
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 falls on Monday, 14th September, and most families begin their Ganpati sthapana in the midday muhurat. If you are setting up Bappa's puja at home this year, the biggest worry is usually the same one: did you forget something on the samagri list?
This checklist covers every item you need for a simple, complete home puja, from the tilak items to the naivedya offerings.
What Do You Need for Ganesh Puja?
For a basic home puja, you need a Ganesh idol, kumkum, chandan, haldi, akshata, a red cloth, agarbatti and a diya, camphor, coconut, durva grass, betel leaves and nuts, fruits, sweets like modak, and ingredients for Panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar). The full list below covers these along with the smaller items people often forget.
Why the Samagri List Matters
A puja loses its flow when you are running to the kitchen mid-ritual because the camphor or the durva grass is missing. Keeping everything ready in advance lets you focus on the sthapana and the aarti instead of the arrangements.
Most items on this list are easily available at your local pooja store or grocery shop. A few, like durva grass and mango leaves, are best collected a day before, since they need to be fresh.
Complete Ganesh Chaturthi Samagri List
The list below is grouped by what each item is used for, so you can check off one section at a time instead of scanning one long table.
1. Tilak & Purification Items (8 items)
| Item | Quantity | Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Kumkum | 1 packet | Tilak on the idol |
| Chandan (sandalwood paste) | 1 packet | Tilak and fragrance |
| Haldi (turmeric) | 50 g | Tilak and akshata |
| Sindoor | 1 small box | Offered to the idol |
| Akshata (turmeric-coated rice) | 1 packet | Offered during mantras |
| Gangajal | 1 small bottle | Purifying the puja space |
| Mauli (sacred red thread) | 1–2 packets | Tied on the wrist and kalash |
| Janeu (sacred thread) | 3–4 pieces | Offered to the deity |
If you would like to know what each mark means, read our guide on the spiritual meaning of tilak and kumkum.
2. Kalash & Sthapana Setup (6 items)
| Item | Quantity | Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Coconut | 2–3 | Kalash and offering |
| Mango leaves | 5 | Tied around the kalash neck |
| Rice and wheat | 200 g each | Akshata and kalash base |
| Coins | A few | Placed near the kalash |
| Red cloth | 1–2 metres | Covering the chowki |
| Copper or silver kalash | 1 | Main sthapana vessel |
3. Lighting & Aarti Items (6 items)
| Item | Quantity | Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Agarbatti (incense sticks) | 1 packet | Daily aarti |
| Cotton wicks for diya | 1 packet | Lighting the akhand deepak |
| Matchbox or lighter | 1 | Lighting the diya and camphor |
| Camphor (kapoor) | 1 packet | Aarti |
| Ghee | 200 g | Lighting the lamp and Panchamrit |
| Bell (ghanti) | 1 | Ringing during aarti |
4. Naivedya & Panchamrit (6 items)
| Item | Quantity | Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Milk, curd, honey, sugar | Small qty | Panchamrit for abhishek |
| Cloves and cardamom | 5–6 each | Panchamrit and rituals |
| Fruits (seasonal) | 5 varieties | Naivedya offering |
| Sweets (modak, laddoo) | 500 g | Ganesha's favourite naivedya |
| Dry fruits (mixed) | 100–200 g | Naivedya |
| Jaggery (gur) | 100 g | Naivedya and prasad |
5. Flowers & Leaf Offerings (5 items)
| Item | Quantity | Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Durva grass | 21 blades | Ganesha's favourite offering |
| Flowers (loose) | 2 bunches | Daily offerings |
| Garland (marigold or jasmine) | 1–2 | Decorating the idol |
| Betel nuts (supari) | 5–11 pieces | Puja rituals |
| Betel leaves (paan) | 10–15 pieces | Offerings |
6. Non-Consumable Setup Items (7 items)
| Item | Used For |
|---|---|
| Ganesh idol | Main deity for sthapana |
| Chowki with decoration | Seat for the idol |
| Smaller table or tray | Keeping items within reach |
| Aarti thali with a diya holder | Performing daily aarti |
| Steel or copper plates and bowls | Naivedya and Panchamrit |
| Mat or aasan | Seating for the person doing puja |
| Akhand deepak | Kept lit through the festival |
Step-by-Step: Setting Up the Sthapana
- Clean the puja area and place the chowki, covered with the red cloth.
- Prepare the kalash with water, a coin, and mango leaves tied around its neck, topped with a coconut.
- Place the Ganesh idol on the chowki and apply kumkum, chandan and akshata.
- Light the akhand deepak and offer flowers, durva grass, and naivedya such as modak and fruits.
- Perform the abhishek with Panchamrit, then do the aarti with the bell and camphor.
Once your setup is ready, you can follow our Ganesh Chaturthi festival guide for the full puja vidhi, and use the Ganesh Chalisa or the Ganesh mantra during your daily aarti. For a detailed walkthrough of the sthapana itself, see our Ganesh Chaturthi puja vidhi at home.
Best Time for Ganpati Sthapana in 2026
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 falls on Monday, 14th September, and the Chaturthi tithi begins around 7:06 AM that day. Most panchangs recommend the Madhyahna muhurat, roughly between late morning and early afternoon, as the most auspicious window for sthapana, since this is believed to be Ganesha's birth time.
Exact muhurat timings can shift slightly by city, so it's worth checking your local panchang before finalising the time. You can also check our muhurat page for auspicious timings.
The festival usually continues for 10 days, ending with visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi. If you're unsure how many days to keep the idol at home, our guide on Ganesh visarjan explains the common durations and the visarjan process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the minimum items needed for Ganesh puja at home? At a basic level, you need the idol, kumkum, chandan, akshata, a diya and matchbox, camphor, durva grass, coconut, betel leaves and nuts, fruits, modak or any sweet, and Panchamrit ingredients for the abhishek.
What are the 21 items offered to Lord Ganesha? This usually refers to the Ekavimshati Patra Puja, where 21 different leaves are offered while chanting Ganesha's 21 names. If you cannot find all 21 locally, offering extra durva grass along with whichever leaves are available is considered acceptable, since the devotion behind the offering matters more than the exact count.
Can I do Ganesh puja without a priest? Yes. Many families perform a simple sthapana and daily aarti at home without a priest. Following the samagri list and a basic step-by-step routine, along with the mantras or chalisa, is enough for a meaningful home puja.
How many days should I keep the Ganesh idol at home? This depends on family tradition. Common durations are 1.5, 3, 5, 7, or the full 10 days ending on Anant Chaturdashi. There is no single correct number; what matters is that the visarjan is done with the same devotion as the sthapana.
In Short
Getting your Ganesh Chaturthi samagri ready a day or two in advance makes the actual puja calmer and more enjoyable. Keep this checklist handy, gather the fresh items like durva grass and flowers closer to the day, and you'll be set for a smooth sthapana.
For more on Bappa and the festival, explore our guide to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, or browse DevMarg's Ganesh Chaturthi page for everything related to the festival.
