Vinayaka Chavithi/Ganesh puja : the preparations

Our Ganesha this year

Ganesha after our puja

Jilledakayalu

Let me add a disclaimer even before I start writing this post.
I am not a person who is regularly into the traditional pujas and stuff. For me, God is everywhere and I pray wherever and whenever I feel the need to have a conversation with Him
I celebrate all our festivals by wearing new clothes, preparing sweets and a longer prayer than usual. But if there is one puja/festival that is done with great zeal, it is Vinayaka Chaturthi.When praying to this God, one does not ask for riches or any other generous gifts. All that we ask is removal of obstacles on the path to our intended goals
This post is for all infrequent worshipers like me who want to follow the traditional path once in a while but are not conversant with the preparations. Provided below, a check-list of all things that need to be bought or readied as it is considered inappropriate to get up in the middle of performing the puja. If I have left out anything, do let me know. Probably, the same method is used by all South Indians.
We need two of everything as we worship the pasupu vinayakudu first and repeat the puja with the actual idol.

No:	Telugu	English	Quantity	Description
1	Pasupu	Turmeric		One is not supposed to ask 'how much' for Pasupu and Kumkuma. Their supply ought to be limitless.
2	Kumkuma	Vermillion
3	Doodi	Cotton	Two for each family member who performs puja	To make Vattulu, Vastramlu, Yagnyopaveetamlu: (Wicks, clothes, sacred thread)
4	Gandham/Chandanam	Sandalwood paste	One teaspoon
5	Akashantalu	Sacred rice	Half cup	Rice and a pinch of turmeric powder mixed with half teaspoon of water or a drop of oil
6	Agarbattullu	Incense Sticks	Two for each family member who performs puja
7	Karpooram	Camphor
8	Aku- Vakka	Betel leaf and Betel Nut	Ten  of each
9	Panchamrutam	Translated as a nectar made of five liquids	Half-cup	A mix of milk, sugar, ghee, honey and curd
10	Neellu	Water	Half glass for each family member who performs puja	Insert spoon in each glass
11	Deepamulu	Lamps	Two	Deepam to be filled with oil. Light them at the beginning of puja
12	Puvvullu	Flowers	About 250 grams for each family member who performs the pooja	Any kind, one of which may be a lotus
13	Aakulu	Leaves	To use 21 varieties if possible, but I make do with 5	Of these, one that is compulsorily  used is grass. I try to include leaves of fruit-bearing trees like guava, jamun
14	Pallu for naivedyam	Fruits as offering	No limit but at least one per family member if possible	Banana is considered Ganesha's favorite. Coconut is compulsory. And any other fruit that you want to offer
15	Jilledakayalu	An Indian sweet		A sweet made of rice flour is compulsorily made for this puja
16	Vinayakudi vigraham	Ganesha Idol	One	Available in the markets a day before or can easily be made with clay (link)
17	Pasupu Vinayakudu	Ganesha idol made of turmeric paste	One	A few drops of water added to turmeric powder and shaped into a small mound
18	Data needed at the beginning of puja			Name of the Telugu year, the tithi, name of the week, your name, surname and your gothram
19	A camera			Gods and pujas have to be uploaded to Face book and other social networks (Sigh!)