Navratri, a nine days long Hindu festival occasion is dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine incarnations. Her victory over evil is celebrated during days through worship offerings and dance performances.
This Brisk Post is about the first day of Navratri which is dedicated to the Goddess Shailputri who is worshipped this day with great reverence.
Color of the Navratri Day 1: Red; it indicates action and vigor.
Contents:
When is Navratri Day 1?
It falls four times in a year on the day of Shukla Pratripada:
- On Ashwin Shukla Pratipada during Sharadiya Navratri (Maha Navratri)
- On Chaitra Shukla Pratipada during Vasant Navratri
- On Ashadha Shukla Pratipada during Gayatri Navratri
- On Magha Shukla Pratipada during Magha Navratri
Shailputri Puja with Ghatasthapana on Pratipada
About Durga Puja Day 1
People worship Shailaputri (Also spelled as Shailaputri) as the Goddess of the first day of Navratri. As Shailputri is an incarnation of Goddess Durga, this day is known as Durga Puja Day 1 as well.
Navratri Observances: The Ritual of Kalashsthapana or Ghatasthapana
On this first day of nine days’ celebration, devotees establish a Kalash or ghada (water-pot) on a diya (container made of clay), filling it with the soil in which the grass is planted to grow.
This most important ritual of Navratri Day 1 is known as “Ghatasthapana” or “Kalashsthapna”.
Each of these words is made of two words which signify their nomenclature. Ghatasthapana is made of “Ghada” and “Sthapna”; Kalashsthapna is made of “Kalash” and “Sthapna”. Here Kalash or Ghada means a container of water and sthapana means establishment.
About Goddess Shailputri
The word Shailaputri is made of two Sanskrit words ‘Shaila’ and ‘Putri’. Here Shaila means ‘the rock’ or ‘mountain’ and Putri means ‘daughter’. Thus the literal meaning of Shailputri is the daughter of rock or the daughter of the mountain.
Goddess Shailputri is believed to be the incarnation of Parvati and worshiped as the spouse/consort of Lord Shiva. She is also believed to be the direct incarnation of Kali (Also known as Mahakali).
Depiction of Shailputri
Shailputri goddess is depicted with the lotus in her left hand, trishula (trident, a huge fork styled weapon of the old-time with three sharp points) in her right hand, and Nandi bull as her vehicle that she rides.
