The first day of Navaratri is known as Ghatasthapana or Kalasha Sthapana. Kalash (Ghat) means a vessel made out of gold, silver or copper. Sthapana means to install. Therefore Ghata Sthapana or Kalasha Sthapana means installing a pot filled with water
The Ghata or Kalash is meant to represent Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga is invited and prayed to stay in the Kalasah or the Ghata. This process is known as Avahana. Avahana is a Sanskrit word, which in this context means to stay in the Kalash or Ghata.
Where to do the Ghatasthapana or Kalash Sthapana
The best place in a house to do the Ghata Sthapana or Kalasha Sthapana is in a direction called Eshanya (the north east corner) of the house. If no place is available then Ghatasthapana can be done preferably in a place so that we face east while doing the pooja to the Goddess. If not any other direction would also do, the only restriction is that the devotee performing the prayer to the Goddess should not see the South direction. The reason being that the lord of South direction is Lord Yama and any prayer or Namaskaram done seeing south would be taken by Lord Yama and hence it is best avoided to do puja facing south.
Process of doing the Ghata Sthapana
How to perform Ghatasthapana?
Once the place is selected, clean the place. If possible clean the place with cow dung. Then the Kalash is placed over mud brought from the banks of the river. If mud from river or lake is not possible it is ok to use the mud used for plants in the house. Turmeric, Gold/Silver coin or a rupee coin is placed inside the Kalasah, water is poured, flowers, sandalwood paste is added.
Some people would cover the pot or the vessel with an inverted coconut, before which mango leaves are kept around the opening. Some would simply close the pot or vessel with a red cloth.
After the Kalash is ready, seeds of Barley are sowed in the mud surrounding the Kalasah or Ghata. Some people would sow seeds of nine kind of cereals in the mud. By the end of Navaratri, the plants from the seed would have grown upto 4 or 5 inches and are given as Prasad to the devotees and family members.
Best time to do Ghatasthapana or Kalasha Sthapana, Time of Ghata Sthapana
The best time to do Kalasha Sthapana or Ghata Sthapana is during the Pratipada Time or the time before 16 Ghatis after sunrise. That is equivalent to 1/3rd or one third of the day just after sunrise. Therefore the best time would be around 3-4 hrs after the sunrise, which would be around 6:30am to 9:30 or 10:30 am.
What should one do on the day of Ghata Sthapana or Kalasha Sthapana?
Devotees should get up early in the morning i.e before sunrise. Clean the house and surroundings. Take a head bath and keep the mind focused on Goddess Durga. Clean the place where one wishes to establish the Kalash or Ghata. Prepare the Kalash or Ghata and peform the process of Sthapana by doing the proper pooja and invite Goddess Durga to the home and to be seated in the form of Kalash in the house.
Devotees would then perform the Shodasa Pooja to the Kalash (Goddess Durga). Devotees would observe a fast during the Navaratri and eat only in the night.
What to eat during Navaratri?
It is advised that devotees avoid Non –Vegetarian food during the Navaratri and if possible should only eat fruits and milk in the night. If that is not possible one can have meals in the night or can even have some snacks.
amir
Mar 11. 2014
I found the detailed description very useful; thanks