Pushpanjali

For the films, see Pushpanjali (1970 film) and Pushpanjali (1972 film).

Pushpanjali (Sanskrit:पुष्पाञ्जलि, literally folded hands full of flowers) is an offering of flowers to Hindu deities.

Pushpanjali to an Aikya Linga in Varanasi

Pushpanjali is the offering of flowers to Hindu gods and goddesses. Pushpanjali is the combination of two words, pushpam and anjali. In Sanskrit, pushpam means flower and anjali means offering with folded hands.

Bharatnatyam

Pushpanjali is also an invocatory dance conducted at the beginning of a Bharatnatyam performance.^{[citation needed]} It is the salutation to Lord Nataraja, the Guru, the musicians, and the audience.

The dancer holds flowers to offer prayers to the Trinity of Gods, goddesses, ashta dikpalakas, and scholars in dance.