How to Prepare Kalasa – Making of Kalasha during Hindu Puja?

Kalasha, or Kalasa, is an indispensable element in important pujas associated with Hinduism, especially in South India. Kalasa or Kalasha means a pot to carry water. Brass or silver Kalasa is usually used for poojas. Kalash symbolically represents the Goddess in most pujas. It is an important aspect during Navratri Puja. Here is a step by step guide to prepare a Kalasa for a simple Hindu Puja.

Requirements for Kalasha

• A medium sized brass or silver pot.
• Turmeric powder
• Kumkuma
• Water
• Coconut
• Mango leaves
• Coins
• Rice
• Dried fruit
• Flowers
• A piece of unstitched cloth – Vastarm

To Make a Simple Kalash for Normal Puja

• First clean the pot thoroughly and wipe out the water content from outside.
• Decorate the pot with turmeric and kumkuma dots.
• Chunnamb or gypsum is smeared by some people on the bottom. (optional)
• The pot is filled with pure water or water collected from rivers.
• The Kalasa is placed in the puja area usually on a Kolam or Rangoli.
• The water from this pot is sprinkled while doing puja.

To Make a Kalash When Goddess is invoked during Puja

• First clean the pot thoroughly and wipe out the water content from outside.
• Decorate the pot with turmeric and kumkuma dots.
• Chunnamb or gypsum is smeared by some people on the bottom. (optional)
• The pot is filled with pure water or water collected from rivers.
• Coins, uncooked rice, dried fruit etc are put inside the pot – what goes in varies from region to region.
• Mango leaves are used to decorate the neck of the pot. The end tip of the mango leaves is pointed upwards.
• Coconut decorated with dots of kumkuma, turmeric and sandalwood paste is placed on the mango leaves on the neck of the pot.
• The eyes of the coconut should be seen on the top.
• An unstitched cloth or thread is tied around the pot. (optional)
• You can also use garlands or flowers to decorate the pot.

In some specific pujas a small idol of the Goddess to whom the puja is offered is attached to the pot. It is usually stuck to the pot using sandalwood paste. Some people also adorn the Kalash with Thali (gold chain).