The thali itself
A flat plate, often brass or steel, holds everything together. Many families keep one for daily use and a decorated one for festivals.
The essentials
These are commonly placed on the thali. Your family may add or leave out some.
- Diya with ghee or oil, and cotton wicks
- Incense sticks (agarbatti) or dhoop
- Kumkum (vermilion) and haldi (turmeric)
- Akshat, which is whole uncooked rice
- Fresh flowers, such as marigold or jasmine
- Camphor (kapoor) for aarti
- A small bell and a kalash with water
- Sweets or fruit offered as prasad
For festivals
For Diwali, Navratri or Karva Chauth, add a few extras: a decorated thali, extra diyas, rangoli colours, a coconut and a red cloth. Our pooja and festival shelves group these together by occasion.
Keeping stocked
Wicks, camphor, incense and kumkum run out quickly, so it helps to buy them together rather than one at a time. Store incense and camphor in sealed containers so they keep their fragrance.
