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Ghatasthapana
Navaratri Festival:-
Ghata the sacred nectar pitcher represents goddess and hence play on important role in the Navaratri festival.
The colourful Navaratri festival starts on the first auspicious day of Ashwin Shudha fortnight. The holy celebration starts with pitcher (Ghata) installation (Sthapana), also called as Ekam. This is essentially an agricultral festival with the first new crop at hand and hence new offering to Goddess is a must.
The place where Ghata is to be installed is first well cleaned and a colourful rangoli is drawn which represents an auspicious occassion. In yester years Ghata was an earthen pitcher, now a days it is replaced with Grass, Copper or even precious metal like silver.
Coins, holy basil leaves (dear to lord Krishna), Bermuda grass (Durva: where all the three God Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva resides), betel nut, haldi-kumkum, flowers are placed in the pitcher and then filled with water.
Five mango leaves are arranged on the top and a clean greased coconut, which represents soul and intelligence is placed in the centre, symbolizing Goddess Durga.
The Ghata is then placed on the dry leaves plate (Patraval) or metal plate in many homes even bamboo basket or banana leaf is used. This plate is then filled with black soil around the pitcher. Nine varieties of cereals and pulses like rice, wheat, jawar, millet, green gram, fenugreek seeds, matki, tur (aher), black gram mixture are sown, which germinate as the days pass and seedlings beautify the Ghata.
The goddess is then worshipped with Panchamrut (Milk, ghee, honey, sugar and curd mixture). The pitcher dressed witha new fabric or cotton. A marigold or sesame flower garland is a must for the Puja, all the nine days, it is worshipped with a fresh new garland.
An oil lamp (Nandadeep) illumination, everyday and night near the Ghtas is a must. Slow illumination of the wick spreads brightness, happiness and is a symbol of new spirit and zest the atmosphere get charged with serenity. In some communities oil lamps is also worshipped with the flower garland. Evening prayers and offerings prasadam is also a must. Tuesday and Friday worship has a special significance.
On all the nine days lunch is served to a married woman or a girl child (Kumarika). In some families it could be on the first and the last day of Navaratri. In some families keeping the fast is also a tradition, on the fifth or eighth day, ladies are served with a fasting food and worshipped. At least one person in the family observes fast during the Navaratri celebration.
Navaratri deal with the warrior character of Mahakali and her spirit who killed the demons and spread the happiness on the earth.
Earth is called Shakambhari creator ofcrops, leaves. However, fruits and roats which are colourful and beautiful. She creates, nurtures, supports and finally gives respite. To appreciate and honour her role various flok and nature festivals are celebrated.
Ghatasthapana rituals and traditions spread happiness and help strengthen the family bonds and rejuvenate the spirit / energy in this hectic and stressful life.
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