Significance

Bhumi Puja is performed to pacify Bhu Devi (Earth Goddess) before any kind of construction on land. This forgotten ritual used to be strictly performed during ancient times with great importance and fervour it deserves.
Khanana Dosha (Sin of Digging land) applies for all kinds of construction, even for temples. This ritual portrays how soft hearted our ancestors were. Deities such as Bhu devi and Sapta Samudra (Seven oceans) are invoked in pots. Bhu Devi is also depicted on a specific place and prayers are offered to forgive us from the disturbance we cause to nature. The tools used to dig the land is worshipped with a prayer to not hurt Bhu Devi and after digging the first handful of sand from the place where Bhu Devi has been invoked, water from the pots are poured to help heal the dug land. On the Ishana corner of the land, nine bricks are installed on which nine planets will be invoked and materials such as milk, curd, turmeric and Navadhanya (Nine grains for nine planets) are poured. An auspicious time (Shubh Muhurt) is chosen to begin construction works and on the same day morning, this ritual is performed.