Can a widow do pūjā?

yes, absolutely — every devotee may worship God; no one is barred from prayer by the loss of a spouse.

Worship belongs to every soul. A woman who has lost her husband may light the lamp, do daily pūjā, keep vratas, chant, visit temples, go on pilgrimage and take part in family festivals. Nothing in the spirit of dharma excludes her.

In the past some communities imposed harsh customs on widows — restricting dress, food and presence at celebrations. Many saints and reformers opposed this, and these customs have largely faded. A few auspicious wedding rituals, such as tying the maṅgalsūtra, are by custom done by married women; that is a matter of symbolism within the wedding, not a judgement on anyone’s worth or faith.

History offers luminous examples: Ahilyābāī Holkar, widowed young, became a great queen and rebuilt temples and ghāṭs across India, including the Kāśī Viśvanātha temple. In grief, prayer is a support, never something to be denied.

Ahilyābāī Holkar rebuilt Kāśī Viśvanātha (1780) · Source: bhakti tradition; history

Dharma Q&A — family & life events · Ask a Jyotishi your own question