A house holds a very important place in the life of any person. One toils very hard and works day and night for securing themselves with a shelter on one’s head. The house fills a person with a sense of safety and security. House warming or grah pravesh is the most important ceremony in Hindu Culture, and is performed by the inhabitants before occupying the new house. Panchang and mahurat are carefully examined before deciding an auspicious date for the housewarming ceremony. There are different types of vidhis for different types of houses:

  • Apoorva: When one buys a new land for constructing a house, Bhoomi pujan is performed. For performing this Puja, mahurat from an Astrologer should be taken into special consideration.
  • Sapoorva: This Vidhi is performed when one moves or shifts in an already prevailing house. The reasons could be any like migration from a foreign country or any other. For this type of Grah pravesh, the Panchang must be consulted for finding out an auspicious date or day.
  • Dwandwah: Sometimes a person shifts in the house after renovations. If the renovation is done because of damage due to fire, earthquake or any other tragedy, then Grah Pravesh must be done only after considering an auspicious date from the Panchang.

Auspicious Time or Muhurat

Entering the house during an auspicious time is a proven source of prosperity and well-being. For a newly built house, it is auspicious to enter the house for the first time when the sun is in the uttarayan position (northward movement of the Sun); while for refurbished houses, it is auspicious to enter the house when the planet Guru (Jupiter) or Shukra (Venus) is setting. Read below the auspicious/inauspicious months and their consequences for grah pravesh based on the lunar calendar:

Auspicious Months

Month Result
Magh (part January and part February) Beneficial for wealth
Falgun (part February and part March) Beneficial for children and wealth
Baishak (part April and part May) Beneficial for wealth and prosperity
Baishak (part April and part May) Beneficial for wealth and prosperity
Jeshtha (part May and part June) Beneficial for son and cattle

Inauspicious Months

Month Result
Ashadh (part June and part July) Can result in pains, sufferings, hurdles and anxiety
Bhadrapad (part August and part September)
Ashwin (part September and part October)
Paush (part December and part January)
Jeshtha (part May and part June)

One must note that grah pravesh should always be done on the auspicious days of Shukla Paksha. The days of Amavasya should be avoided as they cast a bad spell on anything new.

How to conduct the Grah Pravesh pujas? 

The Grah Pravesh puja is actually done on the entrance of the house (outside). The Kalash used in the Puja is filled with Ganga Jal (sacred water), nine different type of grains (each grain representing a different planet) and one rupee coin. A swastika is made on the Kalash with vermillion and the coconut is kept on the top of the Kalash, and is covered with red cloth. The coconut is tied with moli. After the Puja gets over, the couple planning to live in the house should enter the house with the kalash together in their hands. One should first worship Lord Ganesha and Goddess laxmi before Grah Pravesh puja as these two deities ensure prosperity, peace and harmony in one’s life and surroundings. After the puja, one should perform a havan to remove all the negative vibes that might be residing in the house or in the surroundings. This act invites the positive energies inside the premises. Once the Grah Pravesh puja and havan gets over, the priests should be presented with bhojan (feast) and the dakshina (money).

Some important Things to keep in mind!

  • One should avoid grah pravesh puja if the woman who is planning to reside in the house is pregnant.
  • The clay idols of Lord Ganesha should be stuck on the entrance of the house (facing outside) as this does not allow any negative vibes to enter the house.
  • An idol of Goddess Laxmi should be stuck inside the entrance door (facing inside) for bringing and retaining the prosperity in the house.