Widely used in Hindu homes and schools
Daily prayers for the family
Short Sanskrit prayers for the moments of an ordinary day: waking, study, meals, lighting the lamp and going to sleep, with meanings in Hindi and English.
WHEN
Every day: on waking, before study, before meals, at lamp-lighting and at night
Pick the moments that fit your family’s day. One prayer said every day is a better start than many said once.
How long
Under a minute for each moment; about ten minutes if you say them all together.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
What to gather
Almost nothing
Safety
Keep the evening lamp on a steady, heat-safe base, away from curtains and out of small children’s reach.
One festival, many traditions
Families keep different sets of daily prayers, and many have their own for the family deity. Use these as a starting point and add your own in your family notes. Children often learn them fastest when the whole family says them together at the same moment each day.