A parents’ wedding anniversary puja is a small, warm ritual, and more families now bring in children and grandchildren scattered across countries through a video call rather than treating distance as a reason to skip it. Here is how that coordination typically works.
Whose time zone sets the muhurat
The auspicious window for the puja is calculated for wherever it is physically happening, usually the parents’ home in India. Family abroad checks that window and works out what it means locally: a morning muhurat in India can land at an awkward late night or early morning slot in the US or UK, and most families accept that rather than trying to shift the ritual’s timing to suit every viewer.
Setting up the call itself
A phone or tablet propped near the altar, with a stable enough connection to hold audio through the key moments, usually works better than trying to get a full production going. Many families do a quick test call the day before to check the signal at the priest’s or parents’ location, since that is usually the weaker connection.
Sankalpa and being named in the ritual
If it matters to the family that those abroad are named in the sankalpa, the priest can usually include it if asked ahead of time. The offerings themselves are still made by whoever is physically present, but hearing your name spoken during the ritual, even from thousands of miles away, is something many families specifically request.
Sending dakshina without being there
Handing dakshina over in person is not possible from abroad, so most families now send it by wire transfer or UPI to the priest, or to the parents directly so they can pass it along. It is worth checking the priest’s preferred method in advance so nothing gets held up on the day.
When the connection drops mid-puja
A rural network at the parents’ home, or a crowded WiFi during a family gathering, can drop the call exactly during the key moment. Most families designate one person locally to record the ceremony on their own phone as a backup, so even if the live call cuts out, a video reaches everyone abroad within the hour instead of the moment being lost entirely. A test call the day before is not a guarantee, since coverage can vary hour to hour, so having that local recording as a fallback is worth setting up regardless of how the test went.
How much dakshina is customary
There is no fixed rule, but many NRI families settle on an amount in the range of 501 to 2,100 rupees for a priest handling a home anniversary puja, rounded to an odd number ending in 1, a common convention for dakshina generally. Families sending it from abroad often convert a round figure in their own currency, like $25 or £20, rather than trying to hit a specific rupee amount exactly, and most priests are used to receiving it this way from NRI clients.
Helping grandchildren follow along
If grandchildren joining the call don’t follow Hindi or Sanskrit closely, a short heads-up beforehand about what’s happening at each stage, the aarti, the exchange of garlands, the blessing, helps them stay engaged rather than just watching a call they don’t understand. A one-line translation typed into the family group chat as each step happens works well for older kids following on their own phone.
Check your city’s timing
Check the muhurat page for the parents’ city to see the day’s auspicious windows before settling on a time for the call.