Jaipur gets into nine-day Navratri festive fervour with Ghatasthapana

17 October, 2012

On the first day of Navaratri on October 16, Ghatasthapana processions were carried out by women devotees in Jaipur. In many Durga temples in the city, prayers were held invoking Goddess Mother in Ghat or Kalash. As a part of Navadurga Puja, Goddess Shailputri Puja was observed on Tuesday.

IN THE processions, mainly earthen pots were carried around while in temples, the silver and copper pots were decorated along with holding mass prayers and singing of devotional songs praising Goddess Durga.

On the occasion of Ghatasthapana, the famous Mother Goddess temple in Amber Fort was thronged by devotees. Also, the lamps were lighted in temples, which will remain lit for all the nine days of Navaratri.

During the festival of Navratri, Goddess Durga Devi is worshiped in nine avatars. During these nine holy days, each day of Goddess Durga Mata is worshiped in different avatars. In Jaipur, special prayers to be held during Navratri are as follows:

October 16: First day of Navratri – Ghata Sthapana and Shailaputri Puja

October 17: Preeti Dwitiya or Brahmacharini Puja

October 18: Chandrakanta puja

October 19: Kushmanda puja

October 20: Skandamata Puja or Lalitha Panchami

October 21: Katyayani Puja or Durga Shashti

October 22: Kaalratri Pooja or Maha Sapthami

October 22: Maha Gauri Pooja – Durgashtami

October 23: Siddhidatri Puja – Mahanavami

On October 24, the tenth day of Navratri, Aparajitha Puja or Vijaya Dashami or Dashara festival will be held.

The legend of Goddess Shailputri was also narrated in the temples. It was told that Mata Shailputri was the daughter of Himalaya. She is regarded as the first among nine avatars of Durga and worshiped on the first day of Navaratri. In one of her previous births, she was ‘Sati Bhavani Mata’, the daughter of King Daksha. Furthermore, Mata Shailputri, also known as Parvati got married to Lord Shiva. The deity is depicted as holding a ‘Trishul’in her right hand and a lotus in her left hand riding a bull.