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An Indian woman based in the US revealed that Hindu priests can charge $300-$350 for a small home puja, with extra fees for temple services and ritual materials.
Her video also explained the visa route many priests use to move to America. (Image: Instagram/@sarika_in_america)
An Indian woman living in the United States shared details about how much Hindu priests, commonly known as ‘Pandit ji’, earn for conducting religious ceremonies there. Her remarks sparked a discussion about the profession and its earnings abroad.
US-based content creator Sarika Yadav spoke about the topic in an Instagram video. She said people often ask her how much priests make in America and what type of visa they use to move to the country. “You’ll be surprised to know how much a Pandit ji charges for a small puja in America,” she said.
She Shared The Costs Of Common Rituals
According to Yadav, a simple Satyanarayan Puja performed at a family’s home can cost anywhere between $300 and $350 (around Rs 28,000 to Rs 33,000). She explained that this amount applies even when only close family members are part of the ceremony.
She added that temples may charge an extra fee of around $100 to $150 (approximately Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000). In some cases, families arrange the required puja items themselves. Others choose to pay the priest separately to bring all the materials needed for the ritual.
Yadav also said that priests are especially busy during certain festivals and occasions. She mentioned that events such as housewarming ceremonies, Dhanteras and the Hindu month of Sawan increase the demand for their services. Blessing ceremonies for newly purchased vehicles can also come with separate charges.
She Explained How Priests Move To The US
In the same video, Yadav spoke about the visa process for priests who relocate to the United States. She said many of them travel on an R-1 visa, which is meant for religious workers.
According to her, obtaining this visa requires religious education and meeting certain conditions before moving abroad.
“Ismein struggle bhi hai, mehnat bhi hai, lekin yahan aakar unhe achhi life milti hai aur kaafi paisa bhi kamate hain,” she said.
People Had Different Opinions Online
Many social media users pointed out that the earnings should be viewed alongside the cost of living in the US instead of simply converting the amount into Indian rupees.
A user wrote, “$400 is not a big amount for a pooja. They have to live too; let’s not expect minimum wage for them.”
“This is totally WRONG to compare income with Indian rupees, Panditji has to pay all the bills that everyone pays, I have no idea why people have this notion,” commented another.
“Converting a U.S. salary into Indian rupees without considering U.S. living expenses is an economic fallacy. Income should be evaluated in the context of local purchasing power and cost of living, not just exchange rates. The real question is not how much it is worth in rupees but whether that income is sufficient for someone living in America,” expressed a person.
“Engineering chhodni pdegi,” jokingly wrote another. A comment read, “Last option for me.”
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