Navratri, the nine nights of the Goddess, begins with Ghatasthapana, also called Kalash Sthapana. The word ghata means pot. A pot is set up as the seat of Durga, a small patch of barley is sown beside it, and for nine days the household worships the Goddess at that spot. There are two main Navratris in the year, in the spring month of Chaitra and the autumn month of Ashwina, and both begin this way.
This page covers the opening ritual. For the nine days that follow, see the Navratri daily puja page, which also holds the story of the Goddess.
Timing
The ritual is done on the first tithi of the bright half (Pratipada), early in the day. Almanacs generally name a window in the morning, and some also give a second, shorter window around midday for when the first one is not available. The windows differ by city and by almanac. For dates and times in 49 cities, see the Sharad Navratri page or the Chaitra Navratri page, the New Delhi page, or the any-city tool. Where your family or temple names a different time, follow it.
Samagri: what to gather
| Item | Use |
|---|---|
| A wide clay pot or tray | The bed for the barley |
| Clean soil, ideally from a clean field or garden | Spread in the pot about a hand deep |
| Barley seeds (jau), or a mix of grains | Sown to sprout over the nine days; a symbol of growth |
| A kalash of brass, copper or clay | Filled with clean water, a little Ganga water if you have it |
| Five mango leaves, or betel leaves | Placed around the mouth of the kalash |
| A coconut wrapped in red cloth with mauli thread | Set on top of the kalash |
| Supari, a coin, rice, a few drops of ghee | Dropped into the water or placed beside |
| Kumkum, turmeric, flowers, incense | For worship |
| A lamp with ghee or oil and wicks | The akhand jyoti, if you keep it lit |
| Pictures or an idol of Durga | The focus of daily worship |
Steps in order
- Clean the place of worship the evening before and bathe on the morning of the day.
- Spread a layer of soil in the pot, sow the barley, sprinkle a little water and add another thin layer of soil.
- Fill the kalash with water, add the supari, coin and a few grains of rice, and arrange the mango leaves around the mouth.
- Wrap the coconut in red cloth, tie it with mauli, and place it on the leaves.
- Place the kalash in the centre of the barley pot. Place the Goddess’s picture behind or beside it.
- Light the lamp. Take the sankalp: state your intention to keep the nine days, in your own words or your priest’s.
- Offer tilak, flowers, incense and a sweet to the kalash and the Goddess, and call upon Ganesha first.
- Many families read the Devi Mahatmya (also called Durga Saptashati) or sing an aarti. The Ambe aarti is commonly sung.
- Sprinkle a little water on the barley morning and evening through the nine days. At the end, the sprouts are given as prasad or released into water.
The katha
There is no separate story for Ghatasthapana. The nine days are tied to the account of the Goddess defeating the buffalo demon Mahishasura in the Devi Mahatmya, which is retold in the daily Navratri puja page. The sprouted barley is read as a sign of life and growth, and the steady lamp as the Goddess’s presence.
Regional variations
Customs differ by region and family; follow your family’s custom. In Gujarat many homes set up a pierced clay pot with a lamp (garbo) and gather around it for garba. In Bengal the Goddess is welcomed with a different set of rituals on Shashthi. Some families light a lamp that burns for nine days, and others light it only during worship. Some also bring a second pot or a small idol.
Fasting and food
Many devotees eat only fruit, milk, potatoes, sabudana and kuttu flour in these days, avoid onion, garlic and grains, and some eat one meal. Others keep the first and last days only. Anyone who is pregnant, nursing, diabetic, unwell or on regular medication should check with a doctor before taking on a long fast, and may choose a lighter way of observing.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What is the difference between ghata and kalash?
In common use the two words are used for the same set-up. Strictly, the ghata is the pot and the kalash is the water vessel placed on or near it. Different families set them out differently.
↳ Why is barley sown?
Barley is one of the oldest grains in the Vedic tradition and sprouts in a few days. The green shoots are seen as a sign of life and prosperity.
↳ Does the lamp have to burn for nine days?
Many families keep an akhand jyoti that burns for the nine days, but it is a custom, not a requirement. If you cannot watch a lamp, light it for each worship.
↳ What if the sprouts do not grow?
Check that the soil is damp but not wet, and that the pot has some light. If the barley does not sprout, it is not taken as a sign of anything; sow fresh seeds and continue.