Idols of the Hindu goddess Durga arrive from various pandals in Chitaroli during Navratri in Nagpur
Explaining the rituals observed on the first day, priest Dipen Jog said that devotees first prepare space for worship and perform Ghatsthapana, the ceremonial installation of a kalash. A Kalash filled with water is then prepared with offerings such as betel nut, Durva grass, turmeric rice and coins,” he said. “Recitation of the Goddess’s vrat katha or the first-day Navratri narrative forms part of the worship in many households,” said Jog.
From early morning, devotees visited prominent shrines, while households welcomed the nine-day festival with traditional prayers and rituals. For many families, the first day of Navratri marks the beginning of a spiritual journey centred on devotion, discipline and the worship of Shakti. As per Hindu mythology, Shailputri is the daughter of King Himavan, the personification of the Himalayas, and is considered a manifestation of Goddess Parvati. Her name combines the Sanskrit words Shail, meaning mountain, and Putri, meaning daughter. The goddess is revered as a symbol of strength, purity and stability, and is also associated with the grounding and foundation of spiritual awakening. “The ritual involves placing a wide earthen pot filled with layers of soil and sowing barley or Navadhanya seeds, which are watered throughout the nine days. Devotees then invoke Shailputri Mata through mantras and prayers, lighting a ghee lamp and offering incense, flowers, kumkum and sweets.
Idols of the Hindu goddess Durga arrive from various pandals in Chitaroli during Navratri in Nagpur Idols of the Hindu goddess Durga arrive from various pandals in Chitaroli during Navratri in Nagpur Nagpur: The sound of temple bells, the fragrance of incense and chants invoking the goddess marked the beginning of Shardiya Navratri on Sunday, as hundreds of devotees queued up at temples across the city to seek blessings of Devi Shailputri, the first of the nine forms of Goddess Durga worshipped during the festival.
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