Shardiya Navratri 2025: Your Guide to Kalash Sthapana on September 22

The air is beginning to fill with a familiar sense of devotion and celebration as Shardiya Navratri approaches. This much-awaited Hindu festival, dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Durga, is a time for prayer, fasting, and spiritual reflection.In 2025, Shardiya Navratri will begin onMonday, September 22, and conclude on Thursday, October 2. The first day of Navratri is particularly significant as it marks the Ghatasthapana or Kalash Sthapana, a sacred ritual that symbolizes the invocation of the goddess.Auspicious Timings for GhatasthapanaPerforming the Kalash Sthapana at the right time is considered crucial for inviting the blessings of Goddess Durga into your home. The Pratipada Tithi (the first day of the lunar fortnight) begins at 1:23 AM on September 22 and ends at 2:55 AM on September 23, 2025.According to Vedic scriptures, the most auspicious times to perform the Ghatasthapana on September 22, 2025, are:Main Muhurat: 6:09 AM to 8:06 AMAbhijit Muhurat: 11:49 AM to 12:38 PMIt is traditionally advised to perform the ritual in the morning. However, if that is not possible, the Abhijit Muhurat in the afternoon is also considered a very favorable time It's important to avoid performing the Ghatasthapana during Amavasya (new moon) or at nightHow to Perform the Kalash Sthapana: A Simple GuideThe Kalash Sthapana is a beautiful ritual that can be performed at home with devotion. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you:Preparation:Begin by cleaning the area where you will be placing the Kalash.Gather all the necessary items: a clay pot (Kalash), clean soil, seeds of seven different grains (Sapta Dhanya), Ganga jal (or clean water), mango or ashoka leaves, a coconut, a red cloth, sacred thread (kalava), betel nuts, coins, and flowers.The Ritual:Prepare the Base: Take a wide clay pot and spread a layer of soil at the bottom. Sow the Sapta Dhanya (seven grains) in the soil.Ready the Kalash: Take the Kalash, tie the sacred thread around its neck, and fill it with Ganga jal or clean water. Add a betel nut, a coin, and some flowers into the water.Arrange the Leaves: Place five mango or ashoka leaves at the mouth of the Kalash.Place the Coconut: Wrap an unpeeled coconut in the red cloth, tie it with the sacred thread, and place it on top of the leaves at the mouth of the Kalash.Installation: Carefully place the prepared Kalash in the center of the clay pot with the sown grains.Invoke the Goddess: With folded hands, meditate on Goddess Durga and request her to accept your prayers and reside in the Kalash for the nine days of Navratri.Offer Prayers: Light a diya (lamp) and incense sticks, and offer them to the Kalash. You can also offer flowers and fruits as naivedya (offering).For the next nine days, a lamp should be lit near the Kalash every morning and evening, and the grains should be sprinkled with a little water daily This sacred Kalash is considered a representation of the goddess herself, bringing purity, prosperity, and positive energy into the home.