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Mr_Galaxy
08 August 2012, 11:40 PM
I visited a local temple once and, while it was a wonderful experience, I stuck out like a sore thumb.

There are two Pujas coming up that I'm going to attend: a Shiva one and a once monthly 3 hour one. What should I do to make them a better experience? What should I wear? Should I ring the bell when I enter the temple? Should I take the blessed water?

At the end of the monthly Puja is a big feast. What food should I expect and how should I conduct myself?

There are other services, but I don't know what they are. What is a Hanuman Chalisa, a Krishna Archana, a Devi Puja, a Suprabhatham, a Karthikeya Puja and a Venkateshwara Puja?

Eastern Mind
09 August 2012, 07:06 AM
Vannakkam: Have you contacted them. Maybe someone can serve as a guide. The simplest suggestion is to just do what others do, and not worry about much at all. Hindus aren't judgmental, and lots of Caucasian Hindus exist.

You should just wear modest clothing. Expect Indian food, which is rice, an assortment of spicy side dishes. At the temples usually they take it easy on the spice. The other services are just different things they do at the temple. Often particular groups from areas of India (think of India as like Europe, that vast in ways of life) know certain things others don't, so over here in an attempt to accommodate everyone, a variety of services are offered. If it has separate shrines for different murthis, sometimes that's what it'll be. For example Venkateshwara puja will be honouring Lord Vishnu, and that murthi.

But most of all, just relax, and have a good time. Nothing 'bad' can happen to you there.

Aum Namasivaya

Believer
09 August 2012, 08:44 PM
Namaste,

Some pointers:

http://hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=7173
http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?p=51186#post51186

Pranam.