What to keep ready for a homam at home: the offerings for the fire, the kalasam, the pooja items and what to buy fresh on the day, with the extra items a Navagraha homam needs.
தமிழில் படிக்க →A homam is a fire ritual led by a priest (vadhyar or sastrigal). The items differ from one priest, family and homam to another, so use this list as a starting point and confirm it with your priest a few days ahead. Many priests bring the homa kundam and some of the items themselves, so ask what they will bring.
1. Items most homams need
Temple lists for Ganapathi and Navagraha homams share a common core. They fall into four groups.
- For the fire: ghee (many priests ask for pure cow ghee), samithu sticks, and a whole dried coconut for the poornahuti, the final offering. Some priests also offer a silk cloth at poornahuti.
- For the kalasam: the kalasam pot with water, a cloth to drape it (kalasa vastram), a coconut and mango leaves.
- For the pooja: turmeric powder, kumkum, sandalwood powder, camphor, incense sticks, raw rice, flowers and a garland, betel leaves and nuts, bananas and other fruits, and coins.
- Offerings: sugar candy (kalkandu), dates, aval (beaten rice), honey and the naivedyam your family prepares, such as sweet pongal or payasam.
2. Ganapathi homam
Ganapathi homam is usually the first homam on an important day, including a griha pravesam, because Lord Ganesha is invoked to remove obstacles. Temple lists for it add more of the basics: four coconuts, two whole dried coconuts, extra betel leaves and nuts, and dates, aval and sugar candy as offerings. Ask your priest whether your family's custom needs anything more.
3. Navagraha homam: the extra items
A Navagraha homam honours the nine grahas, so it adds sets of nine to the common list:
- Navadhaniyam, the nine grains. Our set has wheat, paddy, toor dal, moong, chana, white beans, black sesame, black urad and horse gram, each packed separately.
- Navagraha samithu, nine kinds of sacred sticks. Our set has erukku, purasu, karungali, naayuruvi, arasu, atthi, vanni, arugu and dharbai.
- Navagraha vastram, nine coloured cloths.
- Sesame seeds and honey, which appear on the Navagraha lists we checked.
4. Ready homam sets
If you'd rather not shop item by item, we pack three sets:
- 27-item homa set: for a basic home homam such as Ganapathi or Ayush homam.
- 54-item homa set: for Navagraha, Lakshmi Kubera, Sudarsana and griha pravesam homams.
- 108-item homa set: for larger homams and temple yagams.
Show the set to your priest before the day. To check exactly what a set contains, call us on 99420 38038 before you order.
5. Homam items checklist
| Item | Tamil name | Used for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pure cow ghee | பசு நெய் | Offerings into the fire | View |
| Samithu sticks | சமித்து | The fire | View |
| Dried coconut (whole) | கொப்பரை தேங்காய் | Poornahuti | View |
| Poornahuti silk | பூர்ணாஹுதி பட்டு | Poornahuti (if your priest uses one) | View |
| Kalasam cloth or kumba vasthram | கலச வஸ்திரம் | Draping the kalasam | Kalasam cloth · Kumba vasthram |
| Darbhai | தர்ப்பை | Used by many priests in the ritual | View |
| Raw rice | பச்சரிசி | Pooja and kalasam | View |
| Turmeric, kumkum, sandalwood | மஞ்சள், குங்குமம், சந்தனம் | Pooja | View |
| Camphor, incense sticks | கற்பூரம், பத்தி | Aarti | Camphor · Pathi |
| Sugar candy, dates, aval, honey | கல்கண்டு, பேரீச்சம்பழம், அவல், தேன் | Offerings | Kalkandu · Dates · Aval · Honey |
| Navadhaniyam | நவதானியம் | Navagraha homam | View |
| Navagraha samithu | நவக்கிரக சமித்து | Navagraha homam | View |
| Navagraha cloths | நவக்கிரக வஸ்திரம் | Navagraha homam | View |
| Sesame seeds | எள் | Navagraha homam | View |
| Leaf cups | தொன்னை | Holding offerings | View |
| Coconuts, flowers, garland, betel leaves and nuts, bananas and fruits, mango leaves | தேங்காய், பூ, மாலை, வெற்றிலை பாக்கு, பழங்கள், மாவிலை | Kalasam and pooja | Buy fresh on the day |
| Kalasam pot, homa kundam, coins | கலசம், ஹோம குண்டம், காசு | — | We don't sell these; ask your priest |
Getting your homam items ready
Delivery typically takes 3–7 business days depending on your location (see our Shipping Policy), so order at least a week before the homam.
In Dindigul? Visit us at 44, VM Complex, Big Bazaar Street, Begambur. We are open Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 9 PM, and closed on Sundays. Bring your priest's list and we'll pack it.
Shop homam kitsCall 99420 38038Common questions
Do I need a priest for a homam at home?
Most families have a priest conduct it. The priest chants the mantras, tends the fire and tells you exactly which items to keep ready, so share this list with them and adjust it.
How is a Navagraha homam list different from a Ganapathi homam list?
It adds sets of nine: navadhaniyam (nine grains), Navagraha samithu (nine kinds of sticks) and nine coloured cloths, plus sesame seeds and honey on the lists we checked.
Can I buy the items separately instead of a set?
Yes. Every item in the checklist above is sold on its own, so you can buy only what your priest asks for.
Which ghee should I use?
Many priests ask for pure cow ghee for the fire. If your priest has a preference, follow it.
Do you sell the kalasam pot or homa kundam?
No. We sell the cloths, grains, samithu, ghee and pooja items. Priests often bring the homa kundam; check with yours.
More guides
Sources, checked 14 October 2026: temple material lists for Ganapathi and Navagraha homams from Sri Siva Vishnu Temple and Parashakthi Temple (PDF); SmartPuja: Navagraha puja and homam. Navadhaniyam and Navagraha samithu contents are from our own product sets. Practices vary by priest, family and community.