Satyanarayana Puja In Usa- DIY Mandapam Decoration and Details

Last week we performed Satyanarayana Puja or Vratam at our house, I am sharing the simple decoration we did, DIY mandapam, Satyanarayana Puja Prasadam recipe, and preparation tips, and details in this post. We moved into our new house in 2019, right before the quarantine was imposed, so during the Griha Pravesh (House warming), we couldn’t do the Satyanarayana puja. We decided to do it when my in-laws visit us. Since they are here now, we finally did the puja!

Satyanarayana Puja In Usa- DIY Mandapam Decoration and Details

The Satyanarayana Puja, or as it is commonly known Satyanarayana Vratam, is an auspicious religious observance of Hinduism. A ritual is performed on several major occasions such as housewarming, marriage, etc.

Satyanarayana Puja is done in reverence to Lord Satyanarayana–an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. In this form, the lord is regarded as the embodiment of truth. The puja is performed for the well-being of the family and is also performed for the fulfillment of desires. Anyone can do this Puja, it could be the husband and the wife, it could be you alone. There is no restriction that only a married couple should perform this Pooja.

The Satyanarayana puja can be performed at home any day. Generally, any full moon day i.e. Purnima day and Ekadasi days (11th day after Amavasya and Pournami) of any month are preferred for performing the puja.

We couldn’t find a Priest on Purnima so did the puja on the Ekadashi!

Satyanarayana Puja Preparation

Once you decide the day for performing the puja, approach a local priest to perform the puja at home. Make a list of all puja items, you can get this list from the priest or check below

List of items you need for the Satyanarayana Puja

• Satyanarayana Swami Photo frame or Idol- if you don’t have one, take a color printout of this photo and put it in a frame
• Turmeric powder – 100 gm
• Vermilion / Kumkuma – 100 gm
• Chandan powder – 50 gm
• Betel leaves – 30
• Betel nuts (vakkalu) – 150 gm
• Dry dates – 250 gm
• Currency coins ($1 or quarter) – 50
• Mango leaves
• Turmeric pods (pasupu kommulu) – 200 gm
• Navadanyalu- 1 pack
• Camphor- 100 gram
• Agarbathi – 1 packet
• Sambrani – 50 gm
• Honey for Panchamrutam
• Blouse piece (preferably yellow, green, or red) – 1
• White cloth – 9 x 5 size.
• Silver or gold Pratima (impression) of Satyanarayana Swamy (we didn’t have this so didn’t use it)
• Rice -3 lbs
• Coconut -3 or 7 (usually you break a coconut after every story, they are 5 stories in the Puja, our priest suggested breaking one after all the stories are read)
• Banana – 1 dozen
• Loose flowers
• Fruits- 5 varieties including Banana
• Cow Ghee for Lamps
• A napkin or kitchen cloth to wipe hands during puja- one for everyone performing the puja
• Scissor to open the packets

Plates and Utensils you need for the Puja

• Silver / copper Kalasam – 1
• Udharini (i.e small tumbler and spoon preferably silver or copper one)- one for each couple performing the puja
• Silver or Copper lamps -2  with wicks
• Harathi plate – 1
• Puja Bell-1
• White thread for kankanam /bracelet  (this is to tie to your wrist after the puja is performed)
• Pooja mat
• Mandapam
• Plates to put flowers, fruits, and Naivedyam (prasad offered to the lord) -3
• Big bowl for Coconut water- 1
• Bowls for Tumeric, Kumkuma, and Chandanam-3
• Small plate for Akshintalu (rice mixed with turmeric) -1

Satyanarayana Puja DIY Mandapam and Decoration

Rajesh DIY’ed this mandapam the night before the puja, he built the top frame (Palavelli) a couple of years back for Ganesh puja and he added the base to it. Below are the dimensions of the wood used for the mandapam. We bought all the wood from Home Depot

Top Frame wood size: 

• 1 in.  X 2 in. X  2 ft long; quantity-4
• 1 in. X 2 in. X 20 inc; quantity- 8

Platform Base wood size: 

• 1 in. X 12 in. X 2 ft; quantity- 2

Platform legs wood size: 

• 2 in. X  4 in. X 20 in.; quantity- 2
• 2 in. X  4 in. X 3 in; quantity- 4

Main Entrance Decoration

The red Lilly garlands hung on both sides of the door are by Desi Favors, they are each 5 feet long. The Ganesha wreath is by Shagun Artifacts, lamps are pretty old.

Backdrop

I didn’t want to spend a ton of time on the backdrop decoration so kept it really simple. It took us literally 2 mins to hang the lilly and marigold backdrop using push pins, I put the planters we have in our living room on both sides, that’s it! Below are the links for the backdrop, planters, and blanket.  Make sure you cover the wood and carpet with a blanket or mat to avoid turmeric stains.

Backdrop | Gold planter on left | Planter Stand on right | Throw Blanket similar here, and here

Satyanarayana Puja Preparation Tips

Here are a few tips that will help you have a peaceful puja celebration:

• Shop and prep all the puja items listed above the night before the puja so you won’t have a rush morning.
• Categorize the pooja items and place them in different plates or bowls ex- all fruits on one plate, flowers on another plate, kumkuma, Tumeric in respective bowls, etc so they are handy and you don’t have to get up multiple times during the puja to grab things.
• Pick a North-East corner to place the mandapam, clean the area and if you are planning to do the decor, do it the night before
• Clean the main entrance, and add mango leaf toran and muggu (rangoli) the night before.
• Smear turmeric paste on the mandapam and draw muggu (rangoli).
• Prepare Akshantulu (rice mixed with turmeric) on the day of the puja before the puja begins.
• Set up the outfits you want to wear the night before, along with jewelry and hair accessories. I wish I did that, I would have worn a fancy clip instead of a rubber band to tie my hair and different earrings that match my necklace.
• Prep for the food items you need to cook for Prasadam, you can roast the nuts and raisins for the suji Prasadam beforehand.
• When you sit for performing the pooja in front of the mandapam, the wife should sit to the left of the husband.
• Begin the pooja by lighting the lamps, putting the kalasam, making the pasupu (turmeric) ganapati for Ganapati pooja which is followed by pooja to Dikpalakas and Nava Grahas / nine planets.
• Then the main pooja to Satyanarayana begins followed by the recitation of 5 stories that are the main part of the Satyanarayana puja.

Prasadam Recipes

Dry Rava or Rava Kesari or Sheera Prasadam is the most popular Satyanarayana Puja Prasadam, but if you’re looking for an alternative and easy 5 mins Prasadam recipe, try the Godhumapindi (aata or wheat flour) Prasadam, it tastes good. I added the recipes below

Godhumapindi Satyanarayana Puja Prasadam

Ingredients 

• 1/2 cup  wheat Flour / Aata / Godhumapindi
•  1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 3 tbsp ghee
• 10 cashew nuts
• 10 raisins
• 1/2 tsp cardamom powder

Instructions

1. In a medium-size pan, add 1 tbsp ghee, and roast cashew nuts until golden brown, remove the nuts and then add raisins and roast them. Transfer them to a small plate once done.
2. To the same pan, add the remaining 2 tbsp ghee, add wheat flour and roast it until golden brown in medium flame. Keep mixing the flour to avoid burning.
3. Add in sugar and mix until sugar starts to melt.
4. Stir in milk to the mixture, and mix until the flour comes together and looks like a soft dough. Stirring also avoids forming any lumps.
5. Add the roasted dry fruits to the prasadam

Panchamrutam

It is made by mixing cow’s milk and curd, honey, sugar, and cow’s ghee in a glass.

Dry Rava/Sooji Satyanarayana Puja Prasadam Recipe

Ingredients 

• 1/2 cup Rava or Sooji or Semolina
• 1/2 cup fine sugar (blend if you are using coarse sugar)
• 1/4 cup ghee or use as required
• 15-20 cashew nuts
• 15 raisins
• 1/4 cup coconut pieces
• 1/2- 1 banana cut into small pieces

Instructions

• In a medium-size pan, add 1 tbsp ghee, and roast cashew nuts until golden brown, remove the nuts and then add raisins and roast them. Then roast coconut pieces, and transfer them to a plate.
• To the same pan, add 2 tbsp ghee and fry sooji until it gets a pleasant aroma
• Stir in sugar to the Rava, mix everything, and add roasted dry fruits and coconut to it. Now add the banana pieces and mix everything.
• Now the Prasadam is ready to be served to the  Satyanarayana Swami as Navaidya (offering).

What We wore For our Satyanarayana Puja

Let’s talk about my favorite part, fashion 😀 We wore Pattu Vasrathalu (silk garments) for the Puja. My Kanchi Pattu (Kanjeeevaram) saree is a gift from my Mother-In-law. It was a beautiful pink saree, lightweight, and easy to handle. Rajesh’s kurta is from Indian Peacock, contemporary designs made with traditional Pochampally weaves.

Vihaan’s pink dhoti set is by Ram raj Cotton, the set comes with a Kanduva (scarf)

3 generations <3.  My in-laws also wore silk clothes during the Puja.

Wondering what it’s like to take a picture with a toddler? see above 😀 if you remove the pressure of getting a perfect picture, its actually fun, lot of silly laughs and goofiness

That’s a wrap! I hope this post is helpful to everyone who is planning a Satyanarayana Puja or Vratam at home. Let me know in the comments below if I missed anything. Also, check out my other culture-related posts.

Like this? check my other Posts on Indian culture.

• Satyanarayana Puja In USA- DIY Mandapam and details 
• Varalakshmi Vratam- simple decor and Kanjeevaam Saree I wore
• Traditional Housewarming Decor and Details 
• Vihaan’s Tonsure ceremony details 
• Vihaan’s traditional First Birthday celebrations
• Diwali Decor
• Telugu Wedding rituals explained and my wedding pictures