<Tr> <Td> Durga puja ritual in progress </Td> <Td> Prayers to Sri Malai Perumal </Td> </Tr> <P> Pūjā or Poojan (Devanagari: पूजा) is a prayer ritual performed by Hindus of devotional worship to one or more deities, or to host and honor a guest, or one to spiritually celebrate an event . Sometimes spelt phonetically as pooja or poojah, it may honour or celebrate the presence of special guest (s), or their memories after they die . The word pūjā comes from Sanskrit, and means reverence, honour, homage, adoration, and worship . </P> <P> Puja rituals are also held by Buddhists and Jains . In Hinduism, puja is done on a variety of occasions, frequency and settings . It may include daily puja done in the home, to occasional temple ceremonies and annual festivals . In other cases, puja is held to mark a few lifetime events such as birth of a baby or a wedding, or to begin a new venture . The two main areas where puja is performed are in the home and at temples to mark certain stages of life, events or some festivals such as Durga Puja and Lakshmi Puja . Puja is not mandatory in Hinduism . It may be a routine daily affair for some Hindus, periodic ritual for some, and rare for other Hindus . In some temples, various pujas may be performed daily at various times of the day; in other temples, it may be occasional . </P> <P> Puja varies according to the school of Hinduism . Puja may vary by region, occasion, deity honored, and steps followed . In formal Nigama ceremonies, a fire may be lit in honour of deity Agni, without an idol or image present . In contrast, in Agama ceremonies, an idol or icon or image of deity is present . In both ceremonies, a lamp (diya) or incense stick may be lit while a prayer is chanted or hymn is sung . Puja is typically performed by a Hindu worshipper alone, though sometimes in presence of a priest who is well versed in a complex ritual and hymns . In temples and priest - assisted event puja, food, fruits and sweets may be included as sacrificial offerings to the ceremony or deity, which, after the prayers, becomes prasad--food shared by all gathered . </P>

Is puja the most important part of hinduism