Shodasa upachara
As per puranas, Şodaś meaning 16 and Upacār meaning offerings. Şodaśopacāra is a set of 16 offerings to a deity. āsanaṃ svāgataṃ pādyamarghyamācamanīyakam | madhuparkācamanasnānaṃ vasanābharaṇāni ca | gandhapuṣpe dhūpadīpau naivedyaṃ vandanaṃ tathā | ~ Śrī Śiva Purāņa The rituals are:- Āvāhana– Invitation to deity Āsana– Offering a seat Pādya – Cleansing of the feet of the deity Arghya – Offering drinking water Acamāna – Cleaning the self. Snāna – Bathing. Vastra – Offering new Clothes. Yagñopavīta – Offering the sacred thread. Śrīgandha – Offering Sandalwood powder/paste. Alankāra – Decorating with ornaments . Puśpa – Offering flowers. Dhūpa – Perfume or sacred smoke. Dīpa – Showing the lamps to deity. Naivedya– Offering food and water alongside. Tambūla – Offering Pān. Nīrajana– Making the ambience warmer so that the guest/deity feels warm. These are the 16 rituals prescribed by the scriptures.