Written from a printed household puja book and not yet checked by a second reader. Follow your family's own practice where it differs.

The daily puja

After the first puja on Chaturthi, Ganpati is worshipped every morning and evening until visarjan. This one is short. Ticks clear themselves each new day.

Before you start, gently remove yesterday's flowers, durva and patri from the murti. Keep all of it, the nirmalya, together in a clean bag or cloth, to be immersed on visarjan day.

• Meditate on Ganpati and say वक्रतुंड महाकाय
• Sprinkle water on Ganpati's feet twice with durva, for the bath
• Offer akshata for all the offerings together
• Offer chandan, ashtagandh, haldi, kunku and akshata, and place durva or a flower at the feet
• Wave agarbatti
• Wave the niranjan
• Offer naivedya: milk and sugar, or a sweet made at home that day
• Sing the aarti
• Turn around three times where you stand
• Bow fully, a sashtang namaskar