Navaratri, the celebration of Adi Shakti, begins on Thursday with much fanfare.
The first day of Navratri begins with Kalash sthapana followed by offering puja to the goddess. Devotees worship nine different forms of the goddess during the nine days of Navaratri and Shailputri is the first of them.
Different regions of the country have different ways of worshipping the goddess and performing the rituals. Here, we talk about the traditions that originated near Banaras.
How to worship
Kalash sthapana: Place an earthen pot filled with water on a clean area. Put a branch with mango leaves over the pot. Place a plate full of rice above the pot and a coconut wrapped in red cloth on top of the plate. Draw a swastik on the pot with sindoor/roli. Offer water, flowers, akshat (rice). Take some water, akshat and flowers in your right hand and seek the goddess’s blessings to complete the Navratri puja.
Offering puja to Shailputri: Jasmine flowers are offered to Shailputri, along with kumkum and akshat. Offer beetlenuts, cloves and ghee to the goddess and chant this mantra ‘pratham durga bhavsagarah taaraneem, dhan aishwary daayinishailputri praanamabhyam trilojanani twahim paramanand pradeeyaman saubhagyarogya daayini shailputri pranamaabhyam charachareshaswari twahim mahamohah vinaashin mukti mukti daayini shailputri pramannaamyaham (First form of Durga, who saves the entire universe, blesses us with prosperity, fame , Shailputri, I bow before you. The one who created the three realms of this world, you are the one who blesses us with the divine bliss and good fortune. I bow before Shailputri, the goddess who blesses us with ultimate freedom)”.
Mythological story around Shailputri: Shailputri literally means daughter of the mountains. She is considered Parvati’s initial form and wanted to marry Lord Shiva. Her father, Daksha, did not want Shiva as his son-in-law. Shailputri, nonetheless, got married to Shiva and later, when Daksha organised a grand yagna, he did not invite Shiva and Shailputri. The goddess wanted to attend the ceremony but was infuriated to see her husband being insulted. She jumped into the yagna fire and killed herself.
{{/usCountry}}Mythological story around Shailputri: Shailputri literally means daughter of the mountains. She is considered Parvati’s initial form and wanted to marry Lord Shiva. Her father, Daksha, did not want Shiva as his son-in-law. Shailputri, nonetheless, got married to Shiva and later, when Daksha organised a grand yagna, he did not invite Shiva and Shailputri. The goddess wanted to attend the ceremony but was infuriated to see her husband being insulted. She jumped into the yagna fire and killed herself.
{{/usCountry}}What to eat and wear: According devotees wear red and yellow coloured clothes as they are considered Shailputri’s favourite. The same applies for the food and food items that are red or yellow in colour are preferred for the first day of Navaratri.
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