The ritual worship of Lord Vishnu—the Sri Satyanarayana Puja—constitutes a special thanksgiving to the Godhead of the Hindu Trinity. It is generally performed on a full moon day, or Purnima, of every month or on any special occasion, such as achieving a milestone or fulfilling a wish. The months of Kartik, Vaisakh, Shravan, and Chaitra in the Hindu Calendar are ideal for this ritual. It can also be observed on new moon day or on a Sankranti, the beginning or end of a Hindu month. Hindus believe that repeatedly chanting the name of Sri Satyanarayana or Lord Vishnu with love while listening to the Satyanarayan Katha (moral stories) can help one lead a righteous life. As the Bhagavad Gita says, "The Mahatmas among devotees, always speak and sing My glories, and try with determination, to realize Me."

The observance of the Satyanarayana Vrata requires the worshipper to offer some wheat flour and sugar as 'prasad' (divine offering) along with a little curd and some fruit. This enables even the poorest to observe this Vrata (vow). Many people fast throughout the day, but it's not a must. A major concomitant of this ritual is the narration of the Satyanarayan Katha, consisting of a few stories that speak of the glory of Lord Vishnu and the benefit of observing the Vrata. It is believed that devotees who listen to these stories with a focused mind and try to inculcate the moral lessons embedded in them receive the blessings of the Lord.