Gaṇeśa pūjā first

Almost every rite begins by honouring Gaṇeśa, the remover of obstacles (Vighnahartā) and lord of beginnings. Even in a pūjā for another deity, a short Gaṇeśa worship comes first — sometimes just a prayer before a betel nut or a small turmeric cone that stands for him.

This is why starting anything new is called “doing the śrī gaṇeśa” in Hindi.

Karmakāṇḍa — the ritual way · Ask a Jyotishi your own question