Shardiya Navratri Ghatasthapana: Here is What You Need to Know
The most awaited time of the year is here! Navratri is the most celebrated and loved festival, not only across India but in the world as a whole. The festivals begin with the ritual of the Ghatasthapana. It is performed on the praitpada tithi, both during Chaitra Navratri and Shardiya Navratri, before praying to Maa Shailputri, the 1st form of Maa Durga to be worshipped on the Navratri. In this blog, we will tell you about Shardiya Navratri Ghatasthapana and what you are required to know about it.
Shardiya Navratri Ghatasthapana October 2024 Tithi and Date
Shardiya Navratri Ghatasthapana Date – October 03, 2024
- Ghatasthapana Muhurat – 06:16 AM to 07:22 AM
- Pratipada Tithi Begins – 12:19 AM on October 03, 2024
- Pratipada Tithi Ends – 02:58 AM on October 04, 2024
- Kanya Lagna Begins – 06:16 AM on October 03, 2024
- Kanya Lagna Ends – 07:22 AM on October 03, 2024
As per our texts, performing this ritual at the wrong time can invoke the wrath of the Goddess. Performing Ghatasthapana at the Amavasya at night time is strictly prohibited. On October 02, the Mahalaya Amavasya will be observed. You can read about that in detail here.
The best time to perform this ritual is the first 1/3rd of the day when the Pratipada is prevailing. However, if you are not able to perform during that, you can do it during Abhijit Muhurta. The most important thing you need you take care of is that it should be performed before the mid-day.
What Are the Puja Items Required for Shardiya Navratri Ghatasthapana October 2024?
You will require the following items to perform the Shardiya Navratri Ghatasthapana:
- Wide and open Clay Pot to sow Sapta Dhanya
- Clean Soil to sow Sapta Dhanya
- Seeds of seven different grains (Sapta Dhanya)
- Brass Pitcher
- Sacred water to fill the Kalash or Ganga Jal
- Moli
- Scent (perfume)
- Supari
- Coins to put into the Kalash
- 5 leaves of Ashoka (the leaves of Mango tree will do as well)
- A Lid to cover the Kalash
- Unbroken rice (अक्षत) to put in the lid
- Unpeeled Coconut
- Red Cloth to warp coconut
- Flowers and Garland preferably marigold
- Durva grass
Now that you know what puja items are required for Shardiya Navratri Ghatasthapana October 2024. Let us tell you about the puja vidhi.
Puja Vidhi for Shardiya Navratri Ghatasthapana October 2024
Our texts have defined the guidelines for performing the Ghatasthapana.
Follow these steps to perform the Ghatasthapana, in case you doubt any step or want to know about them in detail, you can speak to experienced astrologers and pundits at NamoAstro.
- First, clean the puja area properly, where you want to perform the ritual.
- Next, take a pitcher and fill it fill soil of 7 types. Nowadays, people perform it with a single grain. During that, chant the mantras for Bhagwan Narayan.
- Now, using another set of soil, make a thick square or rectangular bed. It should have a thickness of at least 5/7 centimeters in the puja area.
- Now, install Maa Durga idol in the puja room near the thick square of sand bed.
- A copper earthen pot should be made the Kalash pot. Fill it with Chandan, water, flowers, durva grass, Akshata, five leaves, five gems, or a gold coin and betel nut. Place a coconut on top of the kalash.
- The Kalash is the symbol of the Shakti.
- Perform aarti in the morning and evening. In some places, people also lit a lamp and kept it lit for all 9 days. Offer prasad after the puja.
- People chant different mantras regionally.
- On all 9 days, offer fresh garlands and flowers.
What is the Vahan of Maa Durga for Shardiya Navratri in October 2024?
Each year, Mata chooses a different Vahan as a mode of transportation to arrive on Earth. Devotees are anxiously waiting for Maa to arrive. And in Hinduism, nothing ever happens without a reason. The most important Vahan of Maa is the Lion. However, apart from that Maa also comes on 4 other vahans. These are – the elephant, the horse, the boat, and the palanquin.
On the Shardiya Navratri 2024, the Maa is coming on the palanquin or a palki.
What Does It Mean When Maa Durga Arrives on a Palki?
According to the scriptures, when Maa Durga comes on the Palanquin, it indicates that there is an epidemic on the corner. It is considered not good. We should worship Maa to deal with these upcoming challenges together.
As mentioned in Devi Puran,
दिनशशि सूर्य गजरुढा शनिभौमै तुरंगमे।
गुरौशुक्रेच दोलायां बुधे नौकाप्रकीर्तिता॥
गजेश जलदा देवी क्षत्रभंग तुरंगमे।
नौकायां कार्यसिद्धिस्यात् दोलायों मरणधु्रवम्॥
Meaning
रविवार और सोमवार को भगवती हाथी पर आती हैं, शनि और मंगल वार को घोड़े पर,
बृहस्पति और शुक्रवार को डोला पर, बुधवार को नाव पर आती हैं।
दुर्गा हाथी पर आने से अच्छी वर्षा होती है, घोड़े पर आने से राजाओं में युद्ध होता है।
नाव पर आने से सब कार्यों में सिद्ध मिलती है और यदि डोले पर आती है तो उस वर्ष में अनेक कारणों से बहुत लोगों की मृत्यु होती है।
To know about the Vahan of Maa Durga and what does each Vahan symbolise, you can read that in detail here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the time of Ghatasthapana in 2024?
A: Shardiya Navratri Ghatasthapana Date is October 03, 2024.
Q: What is the timing of Navratri in 2024?
A: Shardiya Navratri 2024 will begin on 03 October 2024.
Q: Can we keep Kalash without coconut?
A: In some regions, people place the Kalash without the coconut.
