The ceremony begins with devotees gathering before Srila Prabhupada's deity or large photo/murti, often separate from the main Deity altar, and starts with the blowing of a conch shell. A pujari circles five key arati items - incense, ghee lamp, water, cloth, and flower - before the murti while the congregation sings traditional Guru Vandana prayers, such as "namas te sarasvateye," glorifying the guru as the ocean of mercy and giver of divya-jnana (transcendental knowledge).

Ecstatic kirtan fills the temple hall, with devotees dancing in a circular motion, showering flowers at Prabhupada's lotus feet as an expression of surrender and devotion. This creates a vibrant, spiritually charged atmosphere, often followed by a short recorded lecture from Srila Prabhupada himself. The puja reaffirms the eternal guru-disciple bond, emphasizing service to the spiritual master as per Bhagavad Gita 4.34, and is compulsory for all ISKCON members worldwide, underscoring Prabhupada's ongoing role in guiding devotees toward Krishna consciousness.