Gruhapravesam

Gruhapravesam, also known as Griha Pravesh, is a Hindu housewarming ceremony performed when moving into a newly constructed or purchased home. Widely observed across India and in Hindu communities abroad, the rite aims to purify the space, invite the family deity and benevolent spirits, and seek blessings for health, prosperity, and harmony. The practice is often linked to vastu shastra and astrological considerations, with the selected moving-in moment (muhurta) regarded as auspicious for the household.

Preparations typically include cleaning and decorating the dwelling, drawing a kolam or rangoli at the entrance, and placing a kalasha (a water-filled pot with a coconut and mango leaves) at the threshold. A priest leads the Griha Pravesh Puja, which may follow preliminary rites such as Bhoomi Pooja or Navagraha Puja. A sankalpa (vow) is taken, deities such as Ganesh and the Griha devata are invoked, and a sequence of offerings—flowers, fruits, sweets, rice, and incense—are presented. The first entry into the house is traditionally performed with the right foot, often accompanied by lighting a lamp and reciting mantras to invite auspicious energies.

Regional traditions vary: in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, kolam drawings and a formal entry process are common; in Kerala and other parts, additional rites or a Nivedyam offering may be included. In modern practice, Gruhapravesam ranges from a brief prayer and lamp-lighting in an apartment to a longer, multi-day ceremony for larger homes, sometimes paired with a Vaastu Puja or other auspicious rituals. The ceremony is commonly adapted to fit contemporary living spaces while retaining its core purpose of blessing the new residence.