Chamundeswari

Dasangam takes its name from the Sanskrit for ten parts: a temple blend of resins, woods and aromatic powders that has been burned in South Indian shrines for generations. According to the box, Chamundeswari Dasangam is made in Tamil Nadu by Vedavyasa Parimala Works under its Hari Haran label.

We stock it in pooja essentials, part of our personal care and household department, next to the camphor, agarbathi and lamp wicks.

Light a charcoal disc in a sambrani pot or dhoop holder and wait until the edges turn grey. Sprinkle a small spoonful of powder over the coal and the smoke rises at once. Families carry the pot from room to room after the evening lamp, wave it before the deity during a Friday pooja, a Navratri evening or a griha pravesh, and some let the smoke drift through freshly washed hair, an old Tamil custom. A little goes a long way; add more powder as the first spoonful burns down.

Use a proper holder on a heatproof surface, keep a window open, and never leave hot charcoal unattended near children. Close the box tightly after each use to keep the fragrance in, and store it somewhere dry. For camphor tablets and green karpooram, see the rest of our pooja range, and for incense and candles for the festival season, browse Navratri puja essentials.