Table of Contents
Chaitra Navratri
Generally, New Year is celebrated all over the world on the first day of January. It starts from Pratipada date of Chaitra month. With the beginning of Navratri from the Pratipada date of Chaitra Maa, the new year also begins. According to the beliefs, the mother was born on this date and it was only on the behest of Mother Durga that Brahma ji started the beginning of the creation of the universe. The beginning of the new year also brings a change of season, that is why, with the change in season at the beginning of the new year, the body is made healthy by fasting to regulate one’s health.
During the nine days of Navratri, nine forms of Maa Shakti are worshiped. Every member of the house gets involved in the preparation of this festival. From elders to small children, everyone loves this festival very much. Apart from worshiping during Navratri, people also organize other programs like Jagran, Dandiya, Mela. During Navratri, women decorate the house, make up themselves and apply mehndi.
Fasting for the entire nine days during Navratri is of great importance. Navratri begins with the installation of the Kalash, also known as Ghatasthapana. In this Navratri, sowing of barley is also very important along with the establishment of Kalash. Which is sown for the happiness and prosperity of the house.
Kalash Sthapana Aur Pooja Vidhi
1. In the days of Navratri, worship of both the times is very important.
2. Get up before sunrise and purify yourself by taking bath etc.
3. First of all offer water to Lord Surya.
4. Take a post or make a swastika with kumkum in the temple itself.
5. Spread red cloth on it and install the picture and idol of Maa Durga.
6. Fill a pot with water and place mango leaves on it.
7. Tie Kalawa on the face of the lota and make a swastika on it with kumkum.
8. Now taking the name of Maa Durga, remembering Lord Ganesha, place the coconut on the water bottle.
9. Salute by bowing your head with folded hands in front of the Kalash.
10. Now take an earthen pot and tie Kalawa on it, but make a swastika with roli.
11. Sow barley jowar in the middle of the soil in that earthen pot.
12. Now wash the feet of the mother and also give her a splash of water.
13. Offer them new clothes. be red or pink in colour.
14. Now offer them Solah makeup items.
15. Make them tilak with turmeric kumkum.
16. Offer sweets like betel nut, Panchmeva, cardamom, cloves, leaves etc. to the mother.
17. Now which is the most important process, of the whole Navratri – in Navratri, the monolithic holding is lit, whose fruit is very auspicious. But you can raise the holding according to your capacity and capability.
Method of awakening the monolithic holding
- Take an earthen or brass or silver lamp.
- Put a light made of Kalava in it. And put melted ghee in it.
- Let the lamp remain completely immersed in ghee for some time and then take out the lamp and ignite it.
- While awakening the holding, recite this mantra of Maa Durga: – “Sarvarmangal Mangalye Shive Sarvarth Sadhake. Sharanye Tryambake Gauri Narayani Namostute”.
“Means: O Narayani! You are the bestower of all kinds of good luck. May you be the bestower of welfare. Shiva is the one who fulfills all the efforts (of Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha). Be a refugee Vatsala, three-eyed and Gauri. Oh Narayani, salutations to you.
Now recite Mother Goddess Saptashati and finish your morning worship by doing aarti.
Read Maa Durga Chalisa during Pradosh Kaal in the evening and do her aarti and offer her fruit food like Kuttu ki Pakori, Samak ki Poori Aloo Sabzi etc. and do Grahen yourself.
