Before every Puja or Yagna, the priest ties a sacred thread / dhaga on the hand of the person who is getting the Puja done. This thread called, Moli / Mauli, is tied and the person is asked to take a Sankalp which is like a vow, a purpose for which a particular Puja or Yagna is being done. Mauli is a cotton red thread tied on the right wrist by Hindus during religious ceremonies to invoke the blessings of the Hindu deities, said to protect a person from diseases, enemies and other dangers as well as bring good fortune.