पूजा (poojaa)
noun
Mainly a noun meaning worship/religious ritual, but also a common Hindu girls' name -- context makes the difference obvious to native speakers.
Sense
1
:
worship, ritual prayer
noun, feminine
Synonyms: आराधना (aaraadhnaa, formal), अर्चना (archnaa, literary), उपासना (upaasnaa, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: पूजा (poojaa) refers to the whole ritual -- lighting a diya, offering flowers and prasad, ringing a small bell -- not just silent prayer; in most Hindu homes there's a पूजा घर (poojaa ghar, household shrine room) or at least a shelf-corner where the morning पूजा (poojaa) happens before the day starts. During Durga Puja season in Delhi-NCR you'll hear the word everywhere, from pandal announcements to office greetings.
Common Mistakes: 1) पूजा (poojaa) pairs with the verb करना (karnaa) -- पूजा करना (poojaa karnaa, to worship/perform puja) -- learners sometimes reach for होना (honaa) by analogy with English 'worship happens,' but the doer must be the subject with करना (karnaa). 2) Don't confuse with प्रार्थना (praarthnaa), which leans toward a spoken prayer or petition rather than the full ritual act.
Sample Sentences:
मेरी माँ हर सुबह पूजा करती है।
My mother does puja every morning.
(merii maan har subah poojaa kartii hai।)
दादी पूजा घर में दीया जला रही हैं।
Grandma is lighting a diya in the puja room.
(daadii poojaa ghar men diiyaa jalaa rahii hain।)
पंडित जी ने कल शाम पूजा करवाई थी।
The priest had the puja performed yesterday evening.
(pandit jii ne kal shaam poojaa karvaaii thii।)
पूजा शुरू होने से पहले सब लोग हाथ धो लें।
Everyone should wash their hands before the puja begins.
(poojaa shuroo hone se pahle sab log haath dho len।)
पूजा में देर मत करो, आरती शुरू होने वाली है।
Don't be late for the puja, the aarti is about to start.
(poojaa men der mat karo, aartii shuroo hone vaalii hai।)
अगर समय होता तो मैं भी पूजा में शामिल होता।
If I had time, I would have joined the puja too.
(agar samay hotaa to main bhii poojaa men shaamil hotaa।)
दुर्गा पूजा के समय पूरा पंडाल फूलों और रोशनी से सजाया जाता है।
During Durga Puja the whole pandal is decorated with flowers and lights.
(durgaa poojaa ke samay pooraa pandaal phoolon aur roshnii se sajaayaa jaataa hai।)
क्या तुम्हारे घर में रोज़ पूजा होती है?
Does puja happen at your house every day?
(kyaa tumhaare ghar men roz poojaa hotii hai?)
इस बार दिवाली की पूजा कौन करेगा?
Who will do the Diwali puja this time?
(is baar divaalii kii poojaa kaun karegaa?)
पूजा-पाठ से मन को शांति मिलती है।
One gets peace of mind from prayer and worship.
(poojaa-paath se man ko shaanti miltii hai।)
हे प्रभु, यह पूजा स्वीकार करो।
O Lord, accept this worship.
(he prabhu, yah poojaa sviikaar karo।)
Sense
2
:
a female given name
noun, feminine
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: पूजा (poojaa) is one of the most common Hindu girls' names in North India, drawn directly from the word for worship -- much like 'Grace' or 'Faith' as English names. Context (a person being addressed or referred to) makes clear this isn't the ritual sense.
Sample Sentences:
पूजा आज स्कूल नहीं गई।
Pooja didn't go to school today.
(poojaa aaj skool nahiin gaii।)
पूजा हर रोज़ सुबह जॉगिंग करती है।
Pooja goes jogging every morning.
(poojaa har roz subah joging kartii hai।)
पूजा, ज़रा वो किताब पकड़ाना।
Pooja, hand me that book, would you?
(poojaa, zaraa vo kitaab pakdaanaa।)
पूजा अभी अपने कमरे में पढ़ रही है।
Pooja is studying in her room right now.
(poojaa abhii apne kamre men padh rahii hai।)
क्या पूजा कल पार्टी में आएगी?
Will Pooja come to the party tomorrow?
(kyaa poojaa kal paartii men aaegii?)
अगर पूजा को बुलाया जाता, तो वो ज़रूर आती।
If Pooja had been invited, she would definitely have come.
(agar poojaa ko bulaayaa jaataa, to vo zaroor aatii।)
सुश्री पूजा शर्मा को यह पुरस्कार प्रदान किया गया।
This award was presented to Ms. Pooja Sharma.
(sushrii poojaa sharmaa ko yah puraskaar pradaan kiyaa gayaa।)
काश पूजा भी हमारे साथ ट्रिप पर होती।
I wish Pooja were on the trip with us too.
(kaash poojaa bhii hamaare saath trip par hotii।)
पूजा और मैं बचपन से सहेलियाँ हैं।
Pooja and I have been friends since childhood.
(poojaa aur main bachpan se saheliyaan hain।)
शायद पूजा को इस बात का पता न हो।
Maybe Pooja doesn't know about this.
(shaayad poojaa ko is baat kaa pataa n ho।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
पूजा
(poojaa)
(sg.f.oblique):
पूजा
(poojaa)
(pl.f.direct):
पूजाएँ
(poojaaen)
(pl.f.oblique):
पूजाओं
(poojaaon)