Navratri — Nine Days, Nine Forms of the Goddess, Nine Colours
Navratri is a sacred nine-day festival of worshipping the power of the Goddess. It comes twice a year — Chaitra (spring) and Ashwin (autumn).
The nine forms of the Goddess
Day 1 — Shailaputri (yellow), Day 2 — Brahmacharini (green), Day 3 — Chandraghanta (grey), Day 4 — Kushmanda (orange), Day 5 — Skandamata (white), Day 6 — Katyayani (red), Day 7 — Kalaratri (blue), Day 8 — Mahagauri (pink), Day 9 — Siddhidatri (purple).
Ghatasthapana vidhi
Do the ghatasthapana on Pratipada (the first day). Fill an earthen pot with soil and sow wheat (javare). Place a copper kalash on top with a coconut on it. Keep an akhand diya burning at the puja place.
Vrat and fasting
Fast for the nine days if you can, eating only fruit, sabudana and sweet potato. Do the Goddess's aarti and bhajans in the evening. On the tenth day (Vijayadashami / Dussehra), do the visarjan and simollanghan.
Want this puja at home?
Experienced, verified pandits will perform it with the complete Vedic ritual.
