Navratri begins with Kalash Sthapna or Ghatasthapana on the 1st day. Ghatsthapana is performed on the 1st day to invoke Goddess Shakti. If perform at the wrong time, it might make the Goddess angry. Muhurat for Ghatasthapana must be selected according to the below given rules:

Ghatasthapana Muhurat Rules

Before knowing the Muhurat rules for Ghatasthapana, one must know the right day to do it. Let’s know the Muhurat rules for calculating the 1st day of Chaitra Navratri below:

1. After sunrise, even if there is just one Muhurat that is coming below Pratipada, Navratri can be commenced and Kalash Sthapna or Ghatasthapana will be performing on this day in the morning.
2. If Pratipada is less than one Muhurat after the sunrise or is not occurring any day, the Amayukta Pratipada (Pratipada prevailing on the day of Amavasya) will be consider as the 1st day.
3. In any other case, it is banned to begin Chaitra Navratri on Amayukta Pratipada.
4. If Pratipada is current through the sunrises of two days, 1st day will be considered. It is banned to start the festival on the 2nd day in this condition.
5. If Goddess Chandika has to be worship on the 1st day, Amayukta Pratipada must be averting. In such case, Pratipada with Dwitiya can be taken.

Now, let’s know the Muhurat rules for Ghatasthapana:

1. The most excellent time duration for Ghatsthapana is the first one-third part of the day.
2. In any other case, the best appropriate time is Abhijit Muhurat.
3. Ghatsthapana must be avoiding while Chitra Nakshatra and Vaidhritti Yoga are prevailing. However, this duration is not completely banned.
4. In any situation, Ghatasthapana must be perform before the mid of the Hindu daytime of Pratipada Tithi.
5. It is also good to think the Dwi-Swabhava Lagna (dual-effect ascendant). The Dwi-Swabhava Lagna Meen (Pisces) prevails during the morning of Chaitra Navratris Pratipada. If everything is right during this time, this Muhurat can be considered for the Ghatasthapana.
6. Favorable Nakshatras to be considered for Ghatasthapana are: Pushya, Uttara Phalguni, Uttarashada, Uttarabhadrapada, Hasta, Revathi, Rohini, Ashwani, Moola, Shravan, Danistha, and Punarvasu.

Note: Ghatasthapana is prohibited after the 16 Ghatis from sunrise. In other words, it must not be perform after the mid of the Hindu day.

Things Required For Ghatasthapana

1. A flat and open earthen pot
2. Betel Nuts (Supari)
3. Garden soil
4. 5 leaves of Mango tree or Ashoka tree
5. 7 different grains
6. Few unbroken rice grains
7. Kalash (stoup)
8. Coconut with husk
9. Water (preferably Gangajal)
10. Red cloth
11. Kalava/Mauli
12. Flowers and garland (preferably marigold)

More things can be added as per the requirements.

How to Do Ghatasthapana

1. Sow the 7 grains in the garden soil in flat earthen pot and sprinkle the required water.
2. Now, take the Kalash filled with water and tie Kalava (holy thread) around its neck.
3. Put 5 Ashoka leaves or Mango leaves on the edge of Kalash.
4. After that, place the coconut with husk wrapped in red cloth on the mouth of the Kalash over the leaves.
5. The coconut must also be wrapped with Kalava as well.
6. As the Ghatsthapana is done, the Goddess should be invoking into it now.

The process can be tweaked as per the requirements.

Mantras

Vrat Sankalp

People who keep fast for 9 days must recite this Mantra:

ॐ विष्णुः विष्णुः विष्णुः, अद्य ब्राह्मणो वयसः परार्धे श्रीश्वेतवाराहकल्पे जम्बूद्वीपे भारतवर्षे, अमुकनामसम्वत्सरे चैत्रशुक्लप्रतिपदि अमुकवासरे प्रारभमाणे नवरात्रपर्वणि एतासु नवतिथिषु अखिलपापक्षयपूर्वक-श्रुति-स्मृत्युक्त-पुण्यसमवेत-सर्वसुखोपलब्धये संयमादिनियमान् दृढ़ं पालयन् अमुकगोत्रः अमुकनामाहं भगवत्याः दुर्गायाः प्रसादाय व्रतं विधास्ये।

The Mantra should be recited properly. You can see the word अमुक in bold here. The 1st word with Amuk is अमुकनामसम्वत्सरे. Here, you have to replace अमुक with the name of the Samvatsara. For example, if the Samvatsara’s name is Saumya, it will be pronounced as सौम्यनामसम्वत्सरे similarly, in अमुकवासरे, the अमुक will be replaced with the name of the day. In अमुकगोत्रः, you will say the name of your Gotra; and in अमुकनामाहं, you will say your name.

In case, the fast is kept for 1, 2, or 3 etc. days, the Mantra will be changed a bit. On the day of the fast, the Mantra will be recited with the name of the Tithi instead of एतासु नवतिथिषु. For example, Mantra for Fasting on 7th day will be recited as below:

ॐ विष्णुः विष्णुः विष्णुः, अद्य ब्राह्मणो वयसः परार्धे श्रीश्वेतवाराहकल्पे जम्बूद्वीपे भारतवर्षे, अमुकनामसम्वत्सरे चैत्रशुक्लप्रतिपदि अमुकवासरे प्रारभमाणे नवरात्रपर्वणि सप्तम्यां तिथौ अखिलपापक्षयपूर्वक-श्रुति-स्मृत्युक्त-पुण्यसमवेत-सर्वसुखोपलब्धये संयमादिनियमान् दृढ़ं पालयन् अमुकगोत्रः अमुकनामाहं भगवत्याः दुर्गायाः प्रसादाय व्रतं विधास्ये।

For eighth day, सप्तम्यां will be changed to अष्टम्यां. Similarly, words will be changed for each day.

Shodashopchar Puja Sankalp

If performing Shodashopachara pooja during Navratri, below given Mantra should be chanted every day:

ॐ विष्णुः विष्णुः विष्णुः, अद्य ब्राह्मणो वयसः परार्धे श्रीश्वेतवाराहकल्पे जम्बूद्वीपे भारतवर्षे, अमुकनामसम्वत्सरे चैत्रशुक्लप्रतिपदि अमुकवासरे नवरात्रपर्वणि अखिलपापक्षयपूर्वकश्रुति-स्मृत्युक्त-पुण्यसमवेत-सर्वसुखोपलब्धये अमुकगोत्रः अमुकनामाहं भगवत्याः दुर्गायाः षोडशोपचार-पूजनं विधास्ये।

We hope that this knowledge will help you in making the best out of this Ghatasthapana day.