How to Decorate a Pooja Room

Choose the place for your pooja room. Traditionally, the northeast corner on the ground floor of the house is preferred, with the center of the house on the ground floor coming in second. More importantly, the pooja room should not be adjacent to, above or below a bathroom or kitchen.

Paint the room a tranquil color that is conducive to a peaceful atmosphere for prayer and meditation. White, pale yellow, soft violet or blue are traditional.

Install a wood door. Traditionally, pooja room doors have two shutters, or two rows of slots. Inside the slots, bells are suspended so they tinkle when the door is opened and closed.

Set up a decorative wood shelf, table or mandap — a wooden altar — on the east wall of the room. This space is for the focus of your worship.

Put a lamp in the southeast corner of the room.

Place your idol statuary on your altar or framed images of God and Goddess above it on the wall. Use only one idol or image for each God and face them forward. Place your oil lamps or diya before the idols or images.

Set out items for offerings during pooja. You will need a holder for burning incense sticks, a vase for flowers, a glass for water, a plate for food and another plate to hold flowers before they are offered.

Decorate your room with items or symbols that are meaningful to you. Adorn your altar with floral garland, hang an aum symbol or rangoli if you wish. Don't overdo it, but add whatever will personalize your room and promote the spirit of worship.