Navratri 2020 Image: Ghatsthapna in Pratipada or First Day of Shardiya Navratri
Navratri starts tomorrow. This Navratri is also called Shardiya Navratri as it happens during ‘Sharad’ or the fall season. Shardiya Navratri is the most significant of the four Navratris in a year observed by Hindu devotees. The first day of Navratri is known as ‘Pratipada’. Before the day, most of the people who observe Navratri, clean their houses and decorate with flowers and rangoli. The most important ritual of ‘Pratipada’ is’Ghatasthapana‘ wave ‘Kalash sthapana‘. This can be described as the seat where the goddess Durga is received. The ‘Kalash’ or launcher stays for nine days and at Vijaya Dashami it plunges into a nearby body of water.
Navratri 2020: know all about ‘Ghatasthapana’
‘Ghatasthapana’ is actually the beginning of the nine-day Navratri. This ritual is also performed for Durga Puja. According to the scriptures, ‘Ghatasthapana’ can be described as the invocation of Ma Durga.
Muhurat or auspicious time for ‘Ghatasthapana’
- ‘Ghatasthapana’: Saturday October 17
- ‘Ghatasthapana’ Muhurat: From 6.23 am to 10.12 am
- ‘Ghatasthapana’ Abhijit Muhurat‘: 11:43 AM to 12:29 PM
Navratri 2020: Items Needed for ‘Ghatasthapana’
- A wide clay pot with soil to sow the ‘Sapta Dhanya’ or seven kinds of grains
- ‘Sapta Dhanya’ or the seven types of grains
- A steel or brass jug (Kalash)
- Clean water or Ganges river water
- Red thread
- Betel Nuts
- Coins for the Kalash
- A small twig of the mango tree with five leaves.
- A small bowl of rice grains.
- A coconut
- Flowers and Durva (a commonly found king of grass)
Navratri 2020: what you should do for ‘Ghatasthapana’
- The seven types of grains are sown on moist soil in the clay pot.
- The Kalash is kept in the clay pot.
- A piece of red thread is tied around the neck of the Kalash and filled with water.
- Betel nut, flowers, Durba and the coin is put into the Kalash along with the Mango leaves
- A coconut is placed on mango leaves in the Kalash
- Now preparations are complete to receive Goddess Durga
We wish you a safe and happy Navratri!
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