ENGLISH
REFERENCE

puja

n. C / U
C1 Advanced pu·ja

n. a religious ceremony or act of worship in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It often involves offering things like flowers, food, or prayers to a god or a respected person.

n. a ritual of devotional worship performed to one or more deities, or to host and honour a guest. It typically involves making offerings such as light, flowers, and food while reciting prayers or mantras.


SIMPLE

The family performs a puja every morning at their home altar.

CONTEXTUAL

Before starting the new business, the owners invited a priest to perform a puja for good luck and prosperity.

COMPLEX

The festival reached its peak with a grand evening puja, where hundreds of oil lamps were lit and the air was thick with the scent of incense and rhythmic chanting.

Origin

From Sanskrit पूजा (pūjā, “reverence or worship”).

Usage

Often used with the verb 'perform' or 'offer'. When referring to the general practice, it is uncountable; when referring to a specific ceremony, it is countable.

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