Even as Dhurandhar continues its thunderous box office run, Akshaye Khanna has quietly chosen silence over spotlight. While fans can’t stop talking about his intense performance as Rehman Dakait, the actor
himself has been keeping a low profile, away from public appearances. With no personal social media presence, it came as a surprise when a rare video of Akshaye surfaced online.
Shared by a priest named Shivam Mhatre on Instagram, the clip shows the actor performing a Vastu Shanti hawan at his Alibaug residence. The moment offered a glimpse into the actor’s spiritual side and sparked curiosity about the ritual itself.
What Is Vastu Shanti Hawan
Vastu Shanti Hawan is a traditional Hindu ritual performed to bring peace, balance and positive energy into a home or workplace. Rooted in Vastu Shastra, the ancient Indian science of architecture, the ceremony aims to harmonise a physical space with natural forces and the five elements—earth, water, fire, air and space.
The word Vastu refers to a space while Shanti means peace. Together, the ritual seeks to calm disturbances in a property’s energy, often referred to as Vastu doshas. During the ceremony, the hawan is performed which acts as a purifier. Offerings like ghee and herbs are made while Vedic mantras are chanted to energise the space.
When And Why Is It Performed
Most people perform Vastu Shanti Hawan during Griha Pravesh (housewarming) before moving into a new home. It is also commonly done after major renovations, when shifting into a rented house or if residents feel persistent negativity, health issues, financial obstacles or emotional unrest.
In cases where a house cannot strictly follow Vastu guidelines due to structural limitations, the ritual is believed to restore harmony without physical alterations.
How The Ritual Is Performed
It all begins with the preparation. The house is thoroughly cleaned, especially the puja area and main entrance. A small altar is arranged with idols or pictures of deities, a kalash (sacred pot) and often an image of Vastu Purush.
The priest guides the family through Sankalp where names, lineage, address and purpose of the puja are stated. This is followed by Gauri Ganesh Puja, invoking Lord Ganesha to remove obstacles and Kalash Puja, where protective energies and planetary forces are invited into the home.
The comes the Vastu Puja, where Vastu Purush and deities of the eight directions are worshipped. Offerings are made at the northeast, southeast, southwest and centre of the house to balance energies.
To follow it up, a sacred fire is lit in a havan kund. As mantras are chanted, ghee and havan samagri are offered into the fire. Family members participate by giving ahutis (offerings) and the ceremony concludes with Purnahuti, aarti, distribution of prasad and sprinkling of holy water throughout the house.
Believed Benefits Of Vastu Shanti Hawan
Traditionally, the ritual is believed to remove negative energies, reduce the impact of Vastu doshas and support peace, prosperity and emotional well-being. Many families also view it as a grounding exercise to start a new chapter in a space.
Who Performs The Puja
A trained Vedic pandit conducts the full ritual, guiding the homeowners through each step. The family’s participation, during Sankalp, offerings and aarti is considered essential though.
How To Find A Pandit
In a city like Mumbai, finding a qualified priest is relatively straightforward but verification matters. Many people book pandits through established platforms such as 99Pandit or Panditji on Way which offer city-specific services and often include samagri in their packages.
Local directories like Justdial also list pandits across areas such as Andheri, Dadar and Thane, complete with reviews and contact details. Word-of-mouth recommendations from housing societies, temples or friends who recently performed a Griha Pravesh are equally reliable.
When speaking to a pandit, it is important to evaluate clarity and transparency. A professional priest will explain the procedure, duration, required items and total cost upfront.
Cost And What To Expect In Mumbai
In Mumbai, a standard Vastu Shanti Puja with one pandit and complete samagri usually costs between Rs 6,500 and Rs 11,000, depending on duration and tradition. Premium packages involving multiple pandits or additional rituals cost higher than usual. Some packages with 2 pandits, longer puja and specific regional traditions (Marathi, Marwadi, Maithili etc) go up to roughly Rs 10,000–Rs 12,000 in Mumbai.
A few pan‑India online platforms list wider ranges like Rs 9,500–Rs 17,600 depending on city, property size and add‑ons. Always confirm whether samagri, travel and dakshina are included to avoid last-minute hassle.
