Where should we keep photos of family members who have passed — can they go in the pūjā room?

many families keep them on a separate shelf or wall near, but not among, the deities — often on the south wall.

The common guidance is to honour ancestors and deities separately. Ancestors are revered, but the shrine is for God. So families usually place photos of the departed on a separate shelf, a side wall of the pūjā room, or a wall in the living area. Popular Vāstu advice suggests the south or south-west wall, with the faces looking north or east, because the south is associated with the ancestors.

Many homes avoid keeping these photos in bedrooms or the kitchen, and avoid placing them higher than or mixed with the deity images. These are customs of respect, not rules that bring harm.

In small homes abroad, a single clean shelf with the deities on one side and ancestors a little apart is perfectly fine. What matters is that the photo reminds you of their love and values. Sampradāyas and families differ here, so follow your elders if they have a set way.

Source: common family practice; popular Vāstu advice

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