Paath and Bhajan programs are an integral part of Indian culture and are performed to seek blessings from the gods and goddesses. Paath refers to the recitation of religious texts, while bhajans are devotional songs that are sung in praise of the deities.
Paath and bhajan programs are typically held in temples or at home. The programs are conducted by priests and other religious leaders who are well-versed in the complex rituals and hymns involved in the paath and bhajan.
The purpose of paath and bhajan programs is to establish a connection between the worshipper and the divine. It is believed that the deity is present in the image and sees the worshipper. The interaction between human and deity, between human and guru, is called darshan, seeing.
Paath and bhajan programs are done on a variety of occasions, frequencies, and settings. They may include a daily paath done in the home, or occasional temple ceremonies and annual festivals. In other cases, paath and bhajan programs are held to mark a few lifetime events such as the birth of a baby, house entering ceremony or grihapravesh, first rice-eating ceremony or annaprasana, wedding, sacred thread ceremony or upanayana ceremony for the Brahmins or to begin a new venture.