Griha pravesh tips for your new house, this festive season

When it comes to a property investment, home owners are generally particular about auspicious days and performing a griha pravesh, before moving in. We examine the significance of this ceremony and the points to consider

Indians are generally particular about shubh muhurats, when it comes to buying a property or shifting to a new house. They believe that performing a griha pravesh ceremony on an auspicious day, will bring them good fortune.

A griha pravesh ceremony is performed, when one enters a new home for the first time. “It is important, not just for the owner but also for the entire family,” says Mumbai-based Jayshree Dhamani, a Vastu Shastra and astrology expert. According to Vastu, a house is made up of five elements – the sun, earth, water, fire and wind and the proper alignment of these elements in a house, brings happiness, good health and prosperity.

“It is believed that entering a home during an auspicious time, makes life easy and there will be minimum struggle for the family, after moving into the new house. Days that are most favourable for such muhurats are Vasant Panchami, Akshaya Tritiya, Gudi Padwa, Dussehra (also known as Vijayadashmi), while days like Uttarayana, Holi, Adhikmas and Shraddha Paksha are to be avoided,” adds Dhamani.

A house warming performed on Dussehra does not even require an auspicious time, as every moment of this day is considered auspicious. Before the griha pravesh, a kalash pooja is usually performed.

For this ritual, a copper pot is filled with water and nine types of grains and a coin are placed in it. A coconut is placed on the pot and one enters the house with it, accompanied by the chanting of mantras by a priest.

Dos and don’ts for performing a griha pravesh

The griha pravesh should be done, only when the new house is ready for the family to shift into it and reside. “The house should be fully done up. It should be freshly painted and the roof should be ready (if it is an independent house). The doors, windows and other fittings too, should be complete,” says Nitien Parmar, a Vastu consultant of Vastu Plus.

“The Vastu Purush and other deities are worshipped.

“The main door, which is the entry point for prosperity and good vibes into the house, has to be decorated with auspicious symbols like a swastika and Laxmi feet, drawn on the threshold. A toran (originating from the Sanskrit word ‘torana’, meaning the sacred gateway), which is made of fresh mango leaves and marigold flowers, should be hung on the doorway. The temple in the house should be in the north-east zone and should be fixed on day of the house warming,” advises Parmar.

The griha pravesh ceremony can be simple or elaborate, depending upon the home owner. Usually, a havan is conducted, to purify the space cleanse it of negative forces. A Ganesh puja, Navagraha Shanti, which means worship of the nine planets and a Vastu puja, are generally performed. One should also serve food to the priests and family and friends, who are invited on this day. Once the house warming ceremony has been performed, the owners can then move into the new house.

Tips for the griha pravesh of your new home

• Always do the griha pravesh on an auspicious day. The idols should be placed in an east-facing direction of the house.
• Thoroughly clean the house before the puja. Mop the floor with salt, to cleanse and purify the place.
• While entering the house, always put your right foot first.
• The main door should be decorated, as it is called as Simha Dwara and is the face of the Vastu Purush. Decorate the door with mango leaves and fresh flowers.
• Adorn the floor with rangoli made of rice flour or vibrant colours.  Rangolis on the floor are believed to invite goddesses Laxmi.
• A havan (herbs and wood put in fire), is said to purify the space cleanse the surroundings.