Ghatsthapana: Sharadiya Navratra
Ashwin-Sharad Navdurga Kalashsthapana Day
Sat, 17 October 2020
Ghat Sthapan Muhurat - 06:24 am to 10:11 am
7:49 am to 9:15 am
(प्रतिपदा तिथि और शुभ की चौघड़िया का संयोग)
Abhijit Muhurta : 11:44 am to 12:28 pm
(प्रतिपदा तिथि और शुभ की चौघड़िया का संयोग)
Abhijit Muhurta : 11:44 am to 12:28 pm
Chitra Nakshtra : Until 11:52 am, 17 Oct 2020
चित्रा नक्षत्र समय निषिद्ध है, किन्तु मुहूर्त के अभाव में इस समय का विचार छोड़ सकते है ।
* Delhi, India Local Time (IST)
- Pratipada Tithi Until 21:08 hrs of 17 October 2020
- Pratipada Tithi Until 21:08 hrs of 17 October 2020
The first day of Navratra is called Ghatasthapana, which literally means pot establishing. On this day the kalash, (holy water vessel) symbolising Goddess Durga often with her image embossed on the side is placed in the prayer room. The kalash is filled with holy water and covered with cowdung on to which seeds are sown. A small rectangular sand block is made and the kalash is put in the centre. The surrounding bed of sand is also seeded with grains.
The Ghatasthapana ritual is performed at a certain auspicious moment determined by the pundits. At that particular moment the priest intones a welcome, requesting goddess Durga to bless the vessel with Her presence. At several places there is a tradition of sowing barley seeds during the Durga Puja - Navratri period. In this a small bed of mud is prepared in a little container and barley seeds are sown in it. This is placed in the Puja room and cared for during the Navratri period. At the end of Navratri the shoots reach a height of 3-5 inches. These are pulled out and given to devotees as form of blessings.
