Festival · Ashwin Shukla Pratipada
Ghatasthapana 2026
On Ashwin Shukla Pratipada the ghat is set up for the Goddess, and Navratri begins. Nine nights for her, and on the tenth day, Dussehra!
Date, tithi and timing
Times are for New Jersey. The app gives times for your city.
Date by city
The date is the same in every city listed.
Next year, 2027
Quick facts
- Also known asNavratri begins, Sharadiya Navratri, Kalash Sthapana
- WhereAll of India; a ghat in Maharashtra homes, garba in Gujarat, Durga Puja in Bengal
- Puja forDurga and her nine forms, the Navadurga
- In one lineNine nights of the Goddess, remembering Durga's victory over Mahishasura.
Ghatasthapana, in a little more detail
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About the festival
Nava means nine, and ratri night. Navratri is the Goddess's nine nights. They begin today, and the tenth day is Vijayadashami, Dussehra.
The ghat stands for the Goddess. Grain is sown in soil, a pot of water is set on it, and it is worshipped for nine days. A fresh garland every day, and a lamp kept burning through the nine nights.
Over nine days the grain sprouts. That's what Navratri means: the Goddess at home, and something new growing. Worshipping her is worshipping shakti, strength itself.
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Durga and Mahishasura
Mahishasura was a demon who could take the form of a buffalo. He had a boon: no man could kill him. With it he beat the gods.
The defeated gods gathered in the mountains. From all their energies together a goddess appeared: Durga. Riding a lion, she went out to fight him.
He fought on, changing his form, but at last she killed him with her trident. Ever since she is Mahishasuramardini, the slayer of Mahishasura. The nine nights of Navratri sing of that battle.
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In Maharashtra and beyond
At home the ghat goes up: grain in soil, the pot on top, and a fresh garland of flowers or leaves each day. A lamp burns without break through Navratri. On Dussehra, in some places, the sprouts from the ghat go into the men's turbans.
Maharashtra has the Goddess's three and a half shaktipeeths: Ambabai at Kolhapur, Tulja Bhavani at Tuljapur, Renuka at Mahur, and Saptashrungi at Vani, held to be the half. All four are packed through Navratri.
Girls play Hadga, or Bhondla: an elephant drawn on a low stool, songs sung in a circle round it, and then a race to guess the khirapat, the snack. And the Gondhalis sing the Goddess's gondhal.
In Gujarat the nights are for garba: a lamp in a pot full of holes, and dancing round it. In Bengal these days are Durga Puja, and in the south homes set up golu, steps of dolls.
How to do the puja
In short: The ghat and the nandadeep on Pratipada, a garland and the aarti each of the nine days, and the ghat taken down on Navami or Dussehra.
- 1On Pratipada morning, clean the place for the ghat, as your family does.Every family has its own way: keep to the one your home has always followed.
- 2Spread soil, or a heap of rice, on a low wooden pat, and sow grain in it.Many homes sow wheat, and some add a few more kinds of grain.
- 3Set a copper or brass kalash filled with water on top.If you have no copper or brass, a clean clay pot works too.
- 4Crown the kalash with a turmeric root, mango leaves and a coconut, and place the Goddess's tak or image.Some homes place the family deity's tak beside the ghat.
- 5Worship the ghat with haldi-kunku, akshata and flowers.Once set up, the ghat is not moved for the nine days.
- 6Light the nandadeep, and keep it burning through the nine nights.Keep enough oil or ghee, and keep the lamp away from curtains, clothes and children.
- 7Each day, tie on one more garland, give the grain a little water, and do the aarti.One more garland each day makes nine by the ninth day: of flowers, leaves or fruit.
- 8On Navami or Dussehra, do the last puja, take out the sprouts, and take the ghat down.Family members tuck the sprouts in their hair or cap as a blessing.
What you needTick as you go
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Frequently asked questions
Do I have to fast all nine days?
No. Some fast all nine days, some only the first and last, and some eat once a day. If you're unwell, pregnant or elderly, skip the fast: the puja and the garland are enough.
What if the nandadeep goes out?
Don't worry. Bow to the Goddess and light it again. Check the wick and the oil in good time, and it rarely goes out.
How is the kanya puja done?
On Ashtami or Navami, little girls are invited home as forms of the Goddess. Their feet are washed, haldi-kunku and sandalwood applied, bangles or a gift and dakshina given, and they are fed.
What do I do with the soil and water after?
Pour the kalash water on your plants, and put the soil in a pot or under a tree. Don't put plastic or waste in a river.
What if my home doesn't set up a ghat?
A ghat follows the family's custom. If yours has none, light a lamp and do the aarti before the Goddess each day, or visit a nearby Devi temple.
Set a reminder in the app
The app sends a notice the day before and on the day, even offline.