Naivedyam Set

A five-piece brass naivedyam set for offering bhog to the deity: a 10 inch thali, a glass, two bowls and a spoon. The thali has a scalloped rim and an engraved floral centre, the bowls a matching scalloped edge, and the spoon a carved handle. Kept apart for the deity, it serves the naivedyam at daily puja, on festivals and at the home mandir.

What is naivedyam?

Naivedyam (naivedya), called bhog in Bengal and much of North India, is the food offered to the deity during puja. It is one of the upacharas, the acts of worship: cooked rice, sweets, fruit, kheer or water are set before the Devi or Deva, offered with prayer, and then shared as prasad. In many homes the vessels used for naivedyam are kept only for the deity, and brass has long been the metal of choice for them.

What is in the set

• 1 thali: 10 inches across, with a scalloped rim and an engraved floral pattern
• 1 glass: 3.5 inches tall, for water or milk
• 2 bowls: 4 inches across, for kheer, dal, sweets or fruit
• 1 spoon: with a carved handle

Quick facts

• Material: brass
• Pieces: 5 (thali, glass, 2 bowls, spoon)
• Thali: 10 inches
• Weight: about 540 g for the full set
• Finish: polished brass
• Origin: India

A note on the design: the floral pattern engraved on the thali varies from lot to lot, so the set you receive may carry a slightly different pattern from the one in the photographs. The size, the pieces and the finish stay the same.

How it is used

• Daily puja: offering naivedyam to the deity at the home mandir, morning and evening
• Festivals: bhog for Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Navratri, Janmashtami and Ganesh Chaturthi
• Laddu Gopal and Bal Gopal seva: a set of the deity’s own for his meals
• Prasad: serving the offered food to the family afterwards

Care

• Wash with mild soap and water after each use, and dry fully to prevent water spots.
• Serve in it rather than store food in it, and avoid leaving sour or acidic food, such as tamarind, lemon or curd, in brass.
• Brass naturally darkens over time. To restore its shine, clean it with pitambari powder, or with tamarind or lemon, then rinse and dry.
• Avoid steel scrubbers, which scratch the polished surface.

Frequently asked questions

What is a naivedyam set used for?

It is used to offer naivedyam, or bhog, the food offered to the deity during puja. The thali holds the main offering, the bowls hold kheer, sweets or fruit, and the glass holds water or milk.

What does the set include?

Five pieces: a 10 inch thali, a 3.5 inch glass, two 4 inch bowls and a spoon, weighing about 540 g together.

Is the naivedyam set made of brass?

Yes. Every piece is brass, the metal traditionally used for vessels that serve the deity.

Will my thali have the same floral pattern as in the photos?

Not always. The engraved floral pattern varies from lot to lot, so yours may differ slightly from the photographs. The size, the pieces and the finish are the same.

Can I use it for Laddu Gopal?

Yes. Many families keep a set like this for Laddu Gopal or Bal Gopal, to offer his bhog at every meal.

How do I clean a brass naivedyam set?

Wash it with mild soap and water and dry it fully. If it darkens, clean it with pitambari powder, or tamarind or lemon, then rinse and dry.