Navratri 2026 begins today, Sunday 11 October. For the next nine nights, homes across India light an akhand jyot, set up the kalash and worship one form of Maa Durga each day. Day 1 belongs to Maa Shailaputri, the first of the Navadurga, and it is also the day of Ghatasthapana, the ritual that formally opens the festival.
Who is Maa Shailaputri?
“Shaila” means mountain and “putri” means daughter. Shailaputri is the daughter of Himavan, king of the Himalayas. In her previous life she was Sati, daughter of Daksha, who gave up her body when her father insulted Lord Shiva. Reborn as the daughter of the mountains, she once again became Shiva’s consort as Parvati.
She is shown riding Nandi, the white bull, holding a trident (trishul) in her right hand and a lotus in her left, with a crescent moon on her forehead. Because she is the most direct form of Parvati, she is often called the root of all the other eight forms.
What Day 1 symbolises
- A firm foundation. A mountain does not move. Worshipping the daughter of the mountain on the first day is a prayer for steadiness and resolve before the nine days of discipline begin.
- Rebirth and devotion. Sati’s return as Shailaputri is a story of devotion that survives even death, which is why the first day is about beginning again with a clean slate.
- The Muladhara chakra. In yogic tradition, Day 1 is linked to the root chakra, the base from which spiritual practice rises through the nine days.
Ghatasthapana: setting up the kalash
Ghatasthapana is the invocation of the Goddess into a kalash (pot) on the first morning. A shallow bed of clean soil is laid and barley or wheat seeds (jau) are sown in it. A kalash filled with water, a coin, betel nut and rice is placed on top, its mouth covered with mango or ashoka leaves and a coconut wrapped in red cloth. The sprouts that grow over nine days are seen as a sign of prosperity for the year ahead.
Many families also light an akhand jyot, a lamp that is kept burning without interruption for all nine days. A glass-covered brass diya makes this far easier, because the flame is protected from fans and draughts.
How to worship Maa Shailaputri
- Mantra: Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah
- Bhog: pure desi ghee, or sweets made with ghee. It is believed to bring good health.
- Flowers: red hibiscus, jasmine or any fresh white or red flowers.
- Tip: clean the puja corner the evening before, so the morning can go to Ghatasthapana and not housework.
Why Day 1 matters
The first day sets the tone for the whole festival. The kalash, the jyot and the seeds you sow today stay with you until Navami, so it is worth taking a little extra care with the space: a clean cloth, a steady lamp, a small idol of the Goddess and some light for the evening aarti and garba.
Handcrafted pieces for Day 1
From our workshop in Jodhpur, here are pieces that suit Ghatasthapana and the first evening of garba and dandiya. Our Navratri Festival Sale takes an extra 10% off automatically at checkout until 20 October, and shipping is free anywhere in India.
Tomorrow (Day 2, 12 October): Maa Brahmacharini, the goddess of penance and devotion.
Navratri 2026: all nine days
- Day 1 (Sunday 11 October): Maa Shailaputri (you are here)
- Day 2 (Monday 12 October): Maa Brahmacharini
- Day 3 (Tuesday 13 October): Maa Chandraghanta
- Day 4 (Wednesday 14 October): Maa Kushmanda
- Day 5 (Thursday 15 October): Maa Skandamata
- Day 6 (Friday 16 October): Maa Katyayani
- Day 7 (Saturday 17 October): Maa Kalaratri
- Day 8 (Sunday 18 October): Maa Mahagauri
- Day 9 (Monday 19 October): Maa Siddhidatri
For decoration ideas for the whole festival, read our Navratri decoration guide.
