Things you need to do before you move into a new home

HOME is where happiness dwells and the family share their joys and sorrows.

Entering a newly built home for the first time is an important occasion for a family because it’s not easy to acquire a property.

Performing the Graha Pravesh pooja when entering a newly built home is important, and the timing has great relevance.

Astrological advice should be sought before performing the Graha Pravesh (housewarming), which is more of a tradition in Hindu culture than just a ceremony.

Graha Pravesh pooja pleases all the Gods and Goddesses, who in turn will ensure the family is blessed and has an abundance of happiness, health and prosperity.

The ritual also helps to keep negative forces away.

The ceremony must comply with various aspects of Vastu Shastra (the principles of the physical environment), which include: performing the Vastu Shanti pooja and Bhoomi pooja.

A Bhoomi Pooja is done on the land before construction begins and is the preferred prayer to the mother Goddess of the Earth, to secure Her blessing.

Requirements for this prayer, used in most Hindu ceremonies, include:

A vessel of water from the Ganges River.

Mango leaves.

Flowers and fruit, especially coconut, roli and rice grains. Turmeric.

Betel nut.

Durba grass.

Kalava (red thread).

A lamp and incense sticks.

MAHESH BANG

One must take these steps, according to astrology, when performing the ceremony:

The evening before moving into the new home the Sunderkand must be recited with sincerity. A group recitation, including family, relatives and others will be more beneficial to the family.

This is meant to eradicate any lurking negative forces or energy.

You could substitute with singing bhajans, chanting hare krishna, sankirtan, durgasaptshati, reciting 108 Hanuman Chalisas or any chant according to your family tradition.

On the evening of the prayer, people should not sleep over and food must not be cooked on the new premises.

Keep a vegetarian diet on the day of the prayer.

The next day, the husband and wife should wear fancy new clothing and be in good spirit.

The lady of the new house must approach carrying a “kalasha” on her head with a coconut over it, a few metres from the front door, her husband walking alongside her.

A small murthi of Lord Ganesha should then be placed above the entrance door (in the centre), along with a Swastika and Om sign, and Lord Ganesha must be worshipped.

The Ganesha prayer is the most important part of this ceremony as it removes hindrances and obstacles. Lord Ganesha can be worshipped at this point, as well as in the home's designated prayer place.

The couple should enter the home and worship and place the kalasha near where water is drunk in the kitchen.

A swastika sign and prayer are needed over the stove and a sweet dish should be the first cooked meal in the kitchen.

The priest should then perform a hawan in the home. Family members can take turns to watch the meal being cooked while the hawan is being performed.

When the hawan has been completed, arthi should be done at your pooja place.

You could offer the prepared sweet dish to the deity, then to the kalasha and place a little over the stove. Now your Graha Pravesh ceremony is complete.

The family must then pray for the blessing of their gurudev, Gods, parents, elders and touch the feet of the priest.

Some families invite guests and feed them to celebrate.

During this prayer, the Ganges water is sprinkled throughout the house.

To purify the home, sprinkle cow urine and dung.

Things to consider:

When the ceremony is over, the family can live in the home. If that is not possible, the head of the family should spend the night there. Leaving it vacant after the ritual is not advisable.

At least one family member must be present at the house throughout the day.

The family must have their dinner (Satvic Bhojan, vegetarian meal) together on the first day and go to bed in pleasant spirits.

The ceremony must take place during the day.

To perform the ritual, a specific date and muhurat are required.

Readers can send their name and surname, religion, date, place and time of birth and the advice they require to: Mahesh Bang, Tribune Herald, PO Box 47549, Greyville, 4023, or e-mail tribuneherald@inl.co.za or call him at: 083 659 2277 or 031 401 8888