Dashama Vrat Sthapana & Udyapan Puja

Dashama Vrat is observed mainly in Gujarat for ten days, usually beginning on Ashadh Amavasya (July to August). Some families observe it in Chaitra. Women install a sandhani and a murti or picture of Goddess Dashama with Lord Ganesha and a kalash, wear a red thread with ten knots, eat once a day, and do puja, aarti and the vrat katha every day. On the last night there is a jagran, and in the early morning the murti is immersed in a river or other water body. After five years of observance a silver sandhani is made and given to a Brahmin. The daily worship is done by the family. The pandit helps at the start with the sthapana and at the end with the udyapan puja.

1. Sankalp and Ganesh puja. 2. Sthapana: the sandhani, the murti or picture of Goddess Dashama and the kalash are installed, and the ten-knot red thread is tied. 3. For udyapan: sankalp for completing the vrat, Goddess Dashama puja and katha. 4. Aarti and prasad. 5. Donation (daan), including the silver sandhani after five years, as per your family's custom. The full ritual takes about 2 hours for the sthapana or udyapan puja.