A Puja Chowki (also called Manai or Palagai in Tamil, Bajot in Hindi) is a low wooden platform or seat placed in the puja room to elevate deity idols, Kalash vessels, or ritual items during worship. Offering the deity an elevated seat (asana) is one of the sixteen upacharas (ritual offerings) of formal Hindu puja — placing the idol on a dedicated platform is an act of respect and reverence. The Puja Chowki also creates a clearly defined sacred space that separates ritual items from the everyday surface below. Giri UK stocks over 57 carved wooden Manai Chowki options in a range of sizes and traditional South Indian rangoli-carved designs.

Giri UK's Manai Puja Chowki range covers three square sizes (3x3, 4x4, 5x5, and 6x6 inches) and a rectangular option (6x4 inches). Choose based on your idol's base dimensions: a 3x3 inch chowki suits idols with a base up to 2.5 inches wide (small desktop Ganesha, miniature lamp); a 4x4 inch suits idols up to 3.5 inches; a 5x5 inch suits idols up to 4.5 inches; and a 6x6 inch is appropriate for larger altar centrepiece idols. The 6x4 inch rectangular Manai suits elongated formats such as tall lamps or family idol groupings. Always choose a chowki slightly wider than the idol base for a secure, well-proportioned presentation.

Giri UK's Manai Puja Chowki come in six carved rangoli pattern variants — Design 2 through Design 6 — each featuring a different traditional South Indian kolam (floor pattern) motif carved into the top surface. These carved designs add visual sanctity to the puja space, echoing the daily kolam drawn at the threshold of South Indian homes. The designs are purely decorative variations — all Manai function identically as puja platforms, so the choice of design is personal. All design variants are available across the full size range (3x3 to 6x6 inches), allowing you to match or coordinate with other carved wooden items in your puja room.

Yes — a Puja Chowki has multiple uses on a well-organised home altar. Beyond providing the seat for the primary deity idol, it can: elevate a Kalash (sacred pot) during ceremonies; provide a raised platform for the pancha patra and uddharani set during daily puja; act as a base for the agarbatti stand or deepam; serve as a reading support for puja books or stotram cards; or create a stepped display effect when multiple chowki of different sizes are used. In a tiered South Indian altar setup, multiple Manai of different sizes create an elegant visual hierarchy for the deity arrangement.

Traditional South Indian Manai Puja Chowki (Palagai) are typically made from neem (Azadirachta indica), teak, or jackwood — locally available hardwoods that are durable, insect-resistant, and considered auspicious in Ayurvedic and Hindu tradition. Neem in particular is highly regarded for its purifying properties and its association with goddess Mariamman, and neem wood objects are used in many South Indian rituals. The carved Manai Chowki at Giri UK are made from quality South Indian hardwood with carved rangoli surface designs, intended for long-term ritual use. The solid, weighty construction ensures stability for idol placement.

Giri UK (giriuk.com) stocks over 57 Puja Chowki products in its Manai range — covering 3x3, 4x4, 5x5, 6x6 inch square formats and 6x4 inch rectangular, each in up to six different carved rangoli design variants. As the UK franchisee of Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, these are authentic South Indian carved wooden Manai sourced from India's most established puja supply network, not generic wooden platforms. UK-wide delivery with free delivery on qualifying orders. The Puja Chowki category sits within the Hindu Puja Items section at giriuk.com.