How to receive prasad and share it
Plain advice on what to do once prasad arrives, most of which families already follow.
Updated 25 Oct 2026
The simplest custom when prasad arrives is this: place it before the deity first, bow, and then eat. The word for it is to "receive" prasad, not merely to eat it.
Customs differ from family to family. Some bathe first, some only wash their hands. What your house has always done is right. No outsider can set the rule for you, and we do not try to.
Share it
Many people say prasad is not meant to be eaten alone. When a pack arrives, give a little to the family, the neighbours and the elders at home. For people who normally cannot go to a temple, such as the unwell or the elderly, it means a great deal.
Two small points
- If a child, a pregnant woman, someone with diabetes or an allergy will eat it, read the ingredients on the label first.
- Do not let prasad fall on the floor. If it does, clean it and keep it aside.
