Online puja for families in Sydney

Sydney's Indian community is centred in the west, around Harris Park and Parramatta, and spreads through Westmead, Wentworthville, Blacktown and the newer estates of Kellyville, Schofields and The Ponds, with families also in Strathfield and Liverpool. Harris Park, often called Little India, is where many families shop for festivals and samagri. A large share of the community are young professionals and families who moved in the last two decades, and many are buying or building their first home, which brings Griha Pravesh and Vastu Shanti into focus. Our pandits are based in India and conduct pujas live over Zoom, Google Meet or WhatsApp video. Because Sydney is ahead of India, a late-morning or afternoon puja in Sydney is morning in India, a comfortable time for our pandits. The pandit explains each step in Hindi or English, and grandparents in India can join on the same link. Rituals traditionally done at a tirth, such as pind daan and asthi visarjan, are performed on your family's behalf at Prayagraj, Kashi, Ayodhya or Mathura-Vrindavan and shown to you live. For apartments with strata by-laws and alarms linked to the fire brigade, we offer a smoke-free havan: the pandit performs the fire havan live at a tirth in India while your family offers ahutis at home with no flame or smoke, or with only a ghee lamp. We have no office in Australia and do not make home visits.

Practical notes for Sydney

• Harris Park and Parramatta shops stock everything on our samagri checklist.
• Sydney is 4h30m ahead of IST in winter and 5h30m ahead during daylight saving; late-morning to evening slots work best.
• Many apartment alarms are linked to the fire brigade, with call-out fees; use the smoke-free havan and never disable an alarm.
• On total fire ban days any outdoor fire, including a backyard havan, may be prohibited; plan indoors.
• For newly built homes, Griha Pravesh and Vastu Shanti can be done together before you move furniture in.
• Do not put ashes or offerings in Parramatta River, beaches or the harbour; we arrange visarjan at a tirth in India.

Online via Zoom, Google Meet, WhatsApp video. Online pujas from $51 — see pricing.