puja

noun

pu·​ja

variants or less commonly pooja or poojah

ˈpüjə

plural -s

1

: a Hindu act of worship or propitiation

the priest advised us to do puja and make offerings … for relief from our terrible problem

—New Yorker

2

: a Hindu rite or religious festival

some engage in puja and some perform salat

—J. C. Archer

Word History

Etymology

Sanskrit pūjā, probably of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil pūcu to anoint, besmear

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