Navratri 2024: Rituals to practice during Ghatasthapana on the first day of Navratri

This year the nine-day festival of Navratri will be observed from 3 to 12 October. Navratri celebrated in the lunar month of Ashwin is Shardiya Navratri . The devotees of Maa Durga celebrate the festival with fervour. They worship the nine forms of Adi Shakti or the Navdurgas during this sacred period. The 9 forms of Goddess are: Maa Shailputri, Maa Brahmacharini, Maa Chandraghanta, Maa Kushmanda, Maa Skandamata, Maa Katyayani, Maa Kalaratri, Maa Mahagauri and Maa Siddhidatri as avatars. Hindus celebrate Maa Shailputri on the first day of Shardiya Navratri. On this day, another main ritual also takes place, this is named Ghatasthapana or Kalash Sthapana .

Kalash Sthapana is a holy practice of Sadhana where we worship Maa Durga, doing tapas for nine days to elevate our minds toward higher consciousness.

According to DrikPanchang, Ghatasthapana must take place at the initial hours of the day while Pratipada dominates. In case it is not possible, then Ghatasthapana can be performed during Abhijit Muhurta. The Nakshatra Chitra and Vaidhriti Yoga should be strictly avoided during Ghatasthapana, though in this place, they are not entirely forbidden. The most important thing is that Ghatasthapana must take place before the Hindus' midday time, with Pratipada still prevailing.

Muhurat and Time:
Pratipada Tithi starts on October 03 at 12:18 AM and ends on October 04 at 02:58 AM. The Ashwin Ghatasthapana Muhurat will last from 6:10 am to 07:08 am and Abhijit Muhurat will last from 11:47 am to 12:35 pm


Here are some crucial details that need to be taken into consideration:

Preparations Before Kalash Sthapna:

Cleanse and purify the space with Ganga Jal. The temple should be placed at eye level and be clean all the time.

Steps for Kalash Sthapna:

Take a mud kalash and tie a mauli (sacred thread) on it .

Fill kalash with water, up to the brim, add one coin, a teaspoon of turmeric, a clove, a cardamom, and another coin

Keep flowers in the kalash

Put five mango leaves in the kalash after applying turmeric and vermilion

Put one coconut upside head down and tie one chunni over it.

Pour some rice and do the kalash sthapna on it.

Put the idols of Maa Kali, Maa Laxmi, and Maa Saraswati, or just Maa Durga.

To keep the Akhand Jyoti, always lightened, keep it on the north-east side of the temple.

Pray to Maa Durga, requesting Her to accept your prayers and reside in the kalash for nine days of the ritual.