noun
puja
POO-juh
Puja (noun) means a ritual act of worship performed in Hindu and other South Asian religious traditions, often involving offerings, prayers, and rituals before an image or deity. Example: “The family performed a puja before the start of the new year.”
noun
1
A ritual act of worship performed in Hindu and other South Asian religious traditions, often involving offerings, prayers, and rituals before an image or deity.
"The priest had performed the puja and tied a string around his father's silk purse to make sure that the Rana didn't spend even a copper coin while he was a guest of Merta."
— Kiran Nagarkar, Cuckold (1997)
"The family performed a puja before the start of the new year."
"Flowers and incense were offered during the puja."
"Deeming the tank ‘polluted’ and its water unfit for consumption, a puja ceremony was performed by Brahmin men to ‘purify’ the reservoir."
— Radhika Iyengar, Fire on the Ganges (2023)
How to use puja
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA Hindu worship ritual, usually involving offerings like flowers, food, or incense to a deity.
Common pairings
perform a puja
puja ceremony
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Word forms
- Plural
- pujas
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The family performed a _____ before the start of the new year.
Etymology
From Sanskrit पूजा (pūjā), "reverence or worship."
Frequently asked questions
What does “puja” mean?
The word “puja” means a ritual act of worship performed in Hindu and other South Asian religious traditions, often involving offerings, prayers, and rituals before an image or deity. In plain terms, a Hindu worship ritual, usually involving offerings like flowers, food, or incense to a deity.
How do you pronounce “puja”?
“Puja” is pronounced POO-juh (/ˈpu.dʒə/ in IPA).
How do you use “puja” in a sentence?
Here is “puja” used in a sentence: “The family performed a puja before the start of the new year.”
What part of speech is “puja”?
“Puja” is a noun.
Where does the word “puja” come from?
The word “puja” comes from Sanskrit. From Sanskrit पूजा (pūjā), "reverence or worship.".
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