# puja

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/puja
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The family performs a puja every morning at their home altar.
- Before starting the new business, the owners invited a priest to perform a puja for good luck and prosperity.
- 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.

## Usage notes

- 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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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.