At the beginning of every puja, there is a section called nyasam where the deity is invoked first in the body and limbs of the priest and then transferred into the purified water contained in the kalasam as is seen in the photo above. Interestingly, the water pot in this photo (taken in Varanasi) is made from brown clay. In the south the pots are always brass or copper. Another interesting difference between the traditions of north and south India!