Swastik Pooja Thali

The aarti thali is the one thing in the mandir you actually hold. Which means weight matters: a heavy brass thali is beautiful for the first two minutes of an aarti and an ache by the fifth.

This one is 8 inches with an embossed swastik at the centre and raised wells for roli, chawal and haldi, in a silver finish. Light enough to circle through a full aarti with one hand, wide enough to carry the diya and the samagri together.

Use it for

• Daily aarti, morning and evening
• Welcoming guests at weddings, Griha Pravesh and festivals — tilak at the door
• Karva Chauth, Rakhi, Bhai Dooj and Diwali Lakshmi puja
• A first thali for someone setting up their own mandir

Good to know

• 8 inches (about 20 cm) across — the standard household size
• Separate raised wells so the roli stays out of the chawal
• Silver finish; wipe clean, no polishing routine like brass needs
• Light in the hand — the point of it