According to the scriptures, the festival of Navratri is celebrated 4 times a year. Both Chaitra and Shardiya Navratri fall once a year whereas Gupt Navratri falls twice a year. Chaitra and Shardiya Navratri are the most important of the four Navratri. On the other hand, the festival of Gupt Navratri is celebrated in the month of Magh and Ashadha. Every year Chaitra Navratri is celebrated from the first day of Shukla Paksha (Waxing Moon Period) of Chaitra month to the Navami Tithi. This year the holy festival of Chaitra Navratri will start on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Chaitra Navratri 2023 begins with Gudi Padwa i.e. the Indian new year.
Know the History and Significance of Gudi Padwa
On March 22, 2023, on the occasion of Chaitra Navratri, the worship of Maa Durga will be started with the establishment of Kalash. It is also called Ghatasthapana. After the establishment of the Kalash or Ghat, the holy festival of Navratri Puja begins. Know about the timing and method of Ghatasthapana (Kalash installation) on Chaitra Navratri-
What is Ghatasthapana?
Worship in any temple or house on Navratri begins with the establishment of Kalash or Ghat Sthapana. Ghat Sthapana is the most important ritual of Navratri. The whole process of Ghatasthapana has been mentioned in the Hindu scriptures. All the devotees should follow these rules before installing Ghat in their homes. Ghatasthapana should always be done after sunrise and never during nighttime. The establishment of a Ghat is directly related to calling Maa Durga to our homes. This year the Ghat Sthapana ritual during Chaitra Navratri will be celebrated on March 22, 2023.
Chaitra Navratri Ghatasthapana 2023 Muhurat
- Chaitra Navratri 2023 Ghatasthapana Date: March 22, 2023
- Ghatasthapana Muhurta: 06:23 a.m to 07:32 a.m
- Ghatasthapana Muhurta falls on Pratipada Tithi
- Ghatasthapana Muhurta falls during Dvi-Svabhava Meena Lagna
- Pratipada Tithi Begins: 10:52 p.m on March 21, 2023
- Pratipada Tithi Ends: 08:20 p.m on March 22, 2023
- Meena Lagna Begins: 06:23 p.m on March 22, 2023
- Meena Lagna Ends: 07:32 p.m on March 22, 2023
Significance of Chaitra Navratri 2023
The word ‘Navratri’ is an amalgamation of two words, ‘Nava’ and ‘Ratri’. ‘Nav’ means nine. The word ‘Ratri’ is again composed of two words, ‘Ra’ and ‘Tri’. Ra means night and Tri means the three aspects of life – body, mind and soul.
On the day of Chaitra Navratri, nine different forms of Maa Durga are worshipped. They are:
Maa Shailputri on the first day,
Maa Brahmacharini on the second day,
Mata Chandraghanta on the third day,
Maa Kushmanda on the fourth day,
Maa Skandmata on the fifth day,
Mata Katyayani on the sixth day,
Maa Kalratri on the seventh day,
Maa Mahagauri on the eighth day and
Mata Siddhidatri on the ninth day.
The devotees keep a Chaitra Navratri fast to please Maa Durga and as per religious beliefs, the Chaitra Navratri puja is considered successful only after performing a Kanya Puja on the last day of Navratri.
Chaitra Navratri and Ghat Sthapana Puja Vidhi
- On the first day of Chaitra Navratri, the devotees who will keep a fast should wake up early, have a bath and wear fresh clothes.
- Then they should purify the whole house by sprinkling Gangajal in every corner.
- Then the idol of Maa Durga should be bathed with milk and water. After that, the idol is placed in the area of worship and Maa Durga’s Shringar is done with the help of red clothes, flowers and Sindoor.
- Ghat Sthapana: The establishment of Kalash or the Ghat has special significance before the puja. The devotees should spread a red cloth on the floor, in front of Maa Durga’s idol and place the Kalash.
- The Kalash or the earthen pot should be filled with 7 types of grains and soil. Then a coconut and 5 mango leaves are kept on the Kalash and finally, a sacred red dhaga (thread) is tied to the coconut by chanting some Mantras.
- A heap of five to eight centimetres of soil is made in the worship room or puja area and barley or wheat is sown in it.
- Then various offerings such as oil lamps, incense sticks, sweets, fruits, kheer etc are made and the puja is conducted. During the Puja, Maa Durga is invoked and is invited to stay in the house during the Ghatasthapana.
- According to religious beliefs, some devotees light a monolithic lamp during Navratri near the Ghatasthapana area and see to it that the lamp is lit continuously for nine days. Only then their worship is considered successful.
- The devotees observing the fast shouldn’t consume nine veg, onion and garlic. They should eat fruits only while observing the fast for nine days.
Puja Materials (samagri) of Ghatasthapana-
First of all, an idol of Mata Durga is required for Ghatasthapana or to invoke Maa Durga to come to our homes. The image of Maa Durga can also be used in place of an idol. Some of the other materials needed are saffron, incense, barley, honeycombs, turmeric bales, flowers, sugar, panchmeva, mace, coconut, sand, clay, betel leaves, cloves, bel patra, amrapatra , the picture of Mata Durga, Turmeric, Kalash, milk, fruits, sweets, mustard etc. Following this, offer Bhog to Goddess Durga to please her and gain her blessings and protection.
What is the Significance of Bhog in any Worship or Puja?
What is the Importance of Navratri Ghatasthapana?
Ghatasthapana holds special significance during Chaitra Navratri 2023. ‘Ghat’ is a symbol of auspiciousness. Paddy crops sown near it are believed to fill life with prosperity. Ghat is considered to be the real form of ‘Mathrubhumi’. The devotees should definitely chant any mantra of Maa Durga by lighting a lamp near the Ghat every day. Nine forms of Mata are worshipped on Navratri. If the nine days of Navratri are divided into three days, then it simply means, we worship Mata Kali, Mata Saraswati and Mata Lakshmi. At the time of Ghatasthapana, the chanting of the mantras of these three Mahadevis also provides excellent results.
Also Read: Benefits of Fasting during Navratri
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