Hi everyone
My greetings to you
Hope you are doing well
Yesterday I visited the temple, it was the first day of Navratri. First day is very important as most of the rituals are done on the first day only.
One of the most important ritual that takes place on first day is Kalash sthapna or ghat shthapna Kalash or ghat here means a pot, it may be made of clay, Brass, copper or Gold etc., Kalash sthapna is done to invoke Goddess Durga. So Kalash stays there for nine days and then it is immersed in any water body.
A few things are required for this ritual, a pot, seven kinds of grains, a coconut, red thread, clean water, turmeric, betel nuts, coins, mango leaves, rice grains, flowers, and durva grass.
Basil leaves
Barley seeds sown in the soil
Parsaadam
Durva grass and rice grains
Kalash with coconut on the top and mango leaves below the cocount.
Significance of Kalash Sthapna
I really feel good to know, that all the things used for this ritual are collected gratefully from nature. Actually all the rituals are related to nature in someway. All the things that are used are either the basic need as food or, they are very beneficial to human body in medicinal terms.
As the Kalash(Pot) is full of clean water, we can relate it to a prayer to the Supreme God to keep our mind and heart neat and clean the same way as the water.
The ritual of Kalash sthapna signifies the importance of mother nature in our lives. Just to make us aware of the significance of nature so that we respect and preserve the natural resources around us.
May Goddess bless all!
Thank you
