Navratri 2020: Know How Ghatasthapana Ritual Invokes Durga And Muhurat For This Year

The festive season begins with Navratri, 9 days that are dedicated to each form of Goddess Durga. Here's why the Ghatasthapana ritual is conducted on the first day of Navratri.

Chennai: A shopkeeper holds an idol representing deities and characters from the Hindu mythology, ahead of the Navaratri festival, in Chennai. (PTI Photo)(PTI10-10-2020_000116A)

New Delhi: Navratri which begins tomorrow is 9 days which are dedicated to each form of Goddess Durga. The first day of Navratri is Pratipada, during which the Ghatasthapana ritual is conducted. The first three days of Navratri are devoted exclusively to the worship of Goddess Durga when her energy and power are worshiped and each day is dedicated to a different appearance of Durga, namely Kumari, Parvati, and Kali. On the first day of Navratri or known as Pratipada, Goddess Durga’s form Shailaputri (literally "Daughter of Mountain"), an incarnation of Parvati is worshiped. Depicted as riding the bull, Nandi, with a trishula in her right hand and lotus in her left. Shailaputri is considered to be the direct incarnation of Mahakali. The color of the day is red, which depicts action and vigor. During Pratipada, Ghatasthapna which is a very important ritual is conducted. 'Ghatasthapana' is the beginning of the nine-day Navratri. This ritual is done for Durga Puja as well, it is described as the invocation of Goddess Durga. It begins with 'Sapta Dhanya’, a pan like a wide-mouthed utensil, three layers of mud is put in and nine different grains are sowed, it is sprinkled with water for the grains germinate. Followed by Ghatasthapana, during which a Kalash (a brass, copper utensil) is washed clean and filled with Ganga Jal or clean regular water, some coins and durva grass are added. Five mango leaves are placed around the neck of the Kalash and topped with a coconut with its fibrous tail upwards. The Kalash is kept in the middle of the pan with mud and seeds. Haldi-Kumkum is applied on the utensil and a coloured cloth is placed over it. Some like to draw a Swastika sign or put a flower garland on it. This is placed in the Puja room and a Panchopachara Puja is conducted to welcome the Goddess. Worshippers light lamps and incense sticks and offer flowers and special Naivedya sweets which are prepared for the day to the Goddess. As per Drikpanchang, the Ghatasthapana muhurat falls during the Chitra Nakshatra. Shubh Ghatasthapana Muhurat begins at 6:23 AM and will go on till 10:12 AM. The Chitra Nakshatra begins at 2:58 PM on October 16 and will end at 11:52 AM on October 17. The first one third of the day during Pratipada is the most prevailing time for Ghatasthapana.