Weekly practice
Weekly puja guide
Each day of the Hindu week (vara) is ruled by a planet and dedicated to a deity. Here is what is traditionally worshipped, fasted for and recited on each day.
| Day | Deity | Planet | Mantra | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Ravivara | Surya, the Sun | Sun (Surya) | Om Suryaya Namah | red or orange |
| Monday Somavara | Shiva | Moon (Chandra) | Om Namah Shivaya | white |
| Tuesday Mangalavara | Hanuman (and Durga in many homes) | Mars (Mangala) | Om Hanumate Namah | red |
| Wednesday Budhavara | Ganesha | Mercury (Budha) | Om Gam Ganapataye Namah | green |
| Thursday Guruvara | Vishnu and the Guru | Jupiter (Guru, Brihaspati) | Om Namo Narayanaya | yellow |
| Friday Shukravara | Lakshmi and Durga (Santoshi Mata in many homes) | Venus (Shukra) | Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah | white or pink |
| Saturday Shanivara | Shani and Hanuman | Saturn (Shani) | Om Sham Shanaishcharaya Namah | black or dark blue |
Sunday (Ravivara) — Surya, the Sun
- Planet
- Sun (Surya)
- Fast
- Ravivar vrat — a single meal without salt before sunset, traditionally for health and vitality.
- Practice
- Offer arghya to the rising Sun with water, red flowers and a pinch of kumkum; recite Surya mantras or the Aditya Hridayam if you know it.
- Mantra
- Om Suryaya Namah
- Recite
- Daily Prayer Shlokas
- Traditional colour
- red or orange
Monday (Somavara) — Shiva
- Planet
- Moon (Chandra)
- Fast
- Somvar vrat — fasting until evening for Shiva, especially on the Mondays of Shravana and the sixteen-Monday (solah somvar) vow.
- Practice
- Offer water, milk and bilva leaves to the Shiva linga and chant Om Namah Shivaya.
- Mantra
- Om Namah Shivaya
- Recite
- Shiv Aarti — Om Jai Shiv Omkara, Lingashtakam, Shiva Panchakshara Stotram
- Traditional colour
- white
Tuesday (Mangalavara) — Hanuman (and Durga in many homes)
- Planet
- Mars (Mangala)
- Fast
- Mangalvar vrat — for Hanuman, for courage and protection; often a single meal of sweet food.
- Practice
- Visit a Hanuman temple, offer sindoor and jasmine oil, and recite the Hanuman Chalisa.
- Mantra
- Om Hanumate Namah
- Recite
- Hanuman Chalisa, Hanuman Aarti — Aarti Kije Hanuman Lala Ki
- Traditional colour
- red
Wednesday (Budhavara) — Ganesha
- Planet
- Mercury (Budha)
- Fast
- Budhvar vrat — for Ganesha and Mercury, for wisdom, speech and success in study and business.
- Practice
- Offer durva grass and modak or laddoos to Ganesha and chant Om Gam Ganapataye Namah.
- Mantra
- Om Gam Ganapataye Namah
- Recite
- Ganesh Aarti — Jai Ganesh Deva
- Traditional colour
- green
Thursday (Guruvara) — Vishnu and the Guru
- Planet
- Jupiter (Guru, Brihaspati)
- Fast
- Guruvar (Brihaspati) vrat — yellow food and offerings, for wisdom, teachers and family well-being.
- Practice
- Offer yellow flowers, chana dal and jaggery to Vishnu, honour your teachers, and in many homes water the banana plant.
- Mantra
- Om Namo Narayanaya
- Recite
- Om Jai Jagdish Hare, Daily Prayer Shlokas
- Traditional colour
- yellow
Friday (Shukravara) — Lakshmi and Durga (Santoshi Mata in many homes)
- Planet
- Venus (Shukra)
- Fast
- Shukravar vrat — for Lakshmi or Santoshi Mata, for prosperity and harmony at home.
- Practice
- Clean the home, light a ghee lamp for Lakshmi, offer white sweets or kheer, and sing the Lakshmi aarti.
- Mantra
- Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah
- Recite
- Lakshmi Aarti — Om Jai Lakshmi Mata, Durga Aarti — Jai Ambe Gauri
- Traditional colour
- white or pink
Saturday (Shanivara) — Shani and Hanuman
- Planet
- Saturn (Shani)
- Fast
- Shanivar vrat — for Shani, especially during Sade Sati; many eat one meal and avoid salt.
- Practice
- Light a sesame-oil lamp under a peepal tree or at a Shani temple, recite the Hanuman Chalisa, and give to those in need.
- Mantra
- Om Sham Shanaishcharaya Namah
- Recite
- Hanuman Chalisa
- Traditional colour
- black or dark blue
Frequently asked questions
Which god is worshipped on which day?
Sunday: Surya, the Sun; Monday: Shiva; Tuesday: Hanuman (and Durga in many homes); Wednesday: Ganesha; Thursday: Vishnu and the Guru; Friday: Lakshmi and Durga (Santoshi Mata in many homes); Saturday: Shani and Hanuman.
Why are weekdays linked to planets?
The seven weekdays are named after the seven visible grahas — Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn — in Sanskrit as in many other languages, and each planet is associated with a deity worshipped on its day.
Practices differ between regions and families; colours in particular are popular custom rather than scripture. See today’s routine →