How to Make Palavelli for Ganesh Puja - Vinayaka Chavithi Celebrations

In 2026, Ganesh Chaturthi tithi falls on 14th September, Monday. The Chaturthi tithi begins at 07:06 AM and ends on 15th September at 07:44 AM.

Pratima stapana muhurat is from 11:02 to 01:30 PM.

Ganesh Puja celebrations at your home include the Palavelli Decorations. A Palavelli is a bamboo cane frame used to place your Ganesha idol beneath it during the Vinayaka Chavithi (Ganesh Chaturthi) puja. In other words, the decorated paalavelli is tied as a roof over the puja sthal.

This frame of Palavelli is decorated with mango leaves, flower garlands, fruits, etc., which are hung on it using twine or thread. 

This Palavelli Decoration is an important part of Ganesha Chaturthi, especially for all South Indians. I hope that even those who live in the US or other countries also follow this practice for Vinayaka Chavithi festive decorations.

Now, let us discuss how to make this Palavelli, the Bamboo Frame for Ganesha.

How to Make Palavelli for Vinayaka Chavithi Puja

Items required for making the palavelli

1. Bamboo panes of thin size: 10 pieces
2. Thread or Tiny Nails for fixing the panes into shape
3. Coarse thread for tying the corners and for hanging to any hook
4. Thin sticks, such as incense sticks, for hanging mango leaves
5. Twine for hanging the fruits and other items on it
6. Fruits of small size and flower garlands, etc.

Step 1

Cut and/or slice the bamboo panes into your required size for the palavelli. Normally, a size between 18 and 24 inches is enough for placing your home Ganapati. You may make it square-shaped or rectangular. In the case of a rectangular one, take 5 panes of 24-inch size or 20" size and 5 panes of 18-inch or 16" size. 

My palavelli is a 16" square. And another 2 panes of 24" or 20" size for cross placement.

Step 2

Now fasten the panes with twine or thread to give them shape and hold. 5 panes are to be placed lengthwise and 5 panes breadthwise. The remaining two panes are to be placed crosswise. You can fasten each and every joint, or you may do away with it by binding only the four corners and each pane joint at the ends only.

Step 3

Apply turmeric paste to the panes slightly with your hands. 

Step 4

Now, take the twine or some coarse thread and tie all four corners of the palavelli so that you have four long threads needed for hanging it.

Step 5

Take another long rope for the ultimate hanging purpose to a hook or any other point to which you need to hang the palavelli so that the Ganesha idol can be placed beneath it. The four threads of the corners are to be knotted and tied to this rope before hanging it on the hook.

I hung my palavelli to the curtain rod of a window in my room where I perform my daily puja.

Step 6

Now, you can decorate the palavelli with all that you want. Fix mango leaves, one by one, to each space of each square in the palavelli. Tie fruits like guava, bel, custard apple, maize cobs, etc., to it with threads or twine so that they hang downward. You may also decorate the top circumference with artificial garlands and hang down some flower garlands from all four corners of it.

This is how the Palavelli for Ganesh Chaturthi is prepared before starting the worship. After hanging the Palavelli over Ganesha, start the puja by offering the preliminary services like arghyam, pAdyam, and snAnam, etc. Sprinkle some holy water on the paalavelli also after purifying the puja sthal.