How do we do a simple pūjā for a new car or bike?

a short Gaṇeśa prayer, a svastika and tilak on the vehicle, a coconut or sweets, and a prayer for safe journeys.

Vāhana-pūjā is one of the most common household pūjās today. Many families take the new vehicle to a temple; others do it at home. A typical simple form: clean the vehicle, draw a svastika with kumkum or haldī on the front, tie a small garland or mauli, apply tilak, light a lamp or camphor and wave it, offer a coconut (sometimes broken in front of the vehicle) and sweets, and pray to Gaṇeśa or Hanumān for safe journeys. In some regions lemons are placed under the wheels and crushed as the car first moves — a folk custom, followed where it is the family tradition.

On Āyudha-pūjā or Viśvakarmā-pūjā, vehicles are worshipped again each year as tools that support our livelihood.

The best blessing for a vehicle is careful driving: seat belts, helmets, no phone, and no driving when tired or after drinking.

Annual worship: Āyudha-pūjā / Viśvakarmā-pūjā · Source: common family practice

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