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The auspicious nine-day festival of Navratri begins today, 17th of October. Popularly known as ‘Shardiya Navratri’ as it falls in the month of ‘Sharad’ or the autumn season. It is one of the most significant festivals of Hindus that devotees to Mother Goddess look forward to.
The first day of the Navratri is known as ‘Pratipada’. The most important ritual of ‘Pratipada’ is ‘Ghatsthapana’ or ‘Kalashathapana’.
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The ‘Ghata’ or ‘Kalash’ or the pitcher is seated where Goddess Durga and her different forms are welcomed. It stays at the same spot for nine days and on the 10th day or ‘Vijay Dashami’, it is immersed in a water body nearby. People pray to the Goddess, clean and decorate their homes with flowers and unique rangolis.
Each day of this nine-day long festival is dedicated specifically to one form of Goddess Durga. On the first day, ‘Maa Shailputri’, the daughter of Himalaya is worshipped. She is pictorially represented with two hands, holding a ‘Trishul’ or trident in one hand and a lotus in the other. A crescent moon adorns her forehead and she remains mounted on a bull, her ‘vahana’.
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Goddess Sati self-immolated herself when Daksha, her father, insulted Lord Shiva by not inviting him in the ‘yagyna’. She was reincarnated as ‘Shailputri’ or ‘Parvati’, daughter of ‘Himavan’ or Mountain King. After realizing her divine origin, she vowed to return to her husband, Lord Shiva’s adobe. She meditated deeply to gain back her husband. Finally, Lord Brahma appeared in front of her and told her that Shiva would accept her as his wife.
‘Parvati’ was the most important form of Goddess Durga. Hence, she is worshipped on the first day of Navratri.
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Indian Legion wishes everyone a very happy navratri.
