Navratri — vrat katha & puja vidhi

What Navratri is

Four seasonal Navratris are recognised; Sharad (Ashwina, September–October) is the most widely celebrated and Chaitra (March–April) next, while the Gupt Navratris of Magha and Ashadha are kept by fewer people. At its centre is Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura, told in the Devi Mahatmya; the Durga Saptashati (700 verses) is read.

Source: Wikipedia — Navaratri

The katha

The nine forms are read as the nine stages of Durga during her nine-day battle with Mahishasura; on the tenth day, Vijayadashami, victory is celebrated. In North India, Chaitra Navratri ends with Ram Navami, and around Sharad Navratri the Ramlila retells Rama’s story, ending with Dussehra, when effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Indrajit are burnt.

Source: Wikipedia — Navaratri · Wikipedia — Navadurga

The nine days — the nine forms of Durga

The Navadurga forms come from the Devi Kavacha. Day-to-form order as given in Wikipedia’s Navaratri article.

• Day 1 — Shailaputri“Daughter of the mountain”; Parvati as a child, riding Nandi, with trident and lotus.
• Day 2 — BrahmachariniDevotion and penance; the ascetic form, with rosary and water pot.
• Day 3 — ChandraghantaThe destroyer of demons: ten-armed, riding a tiger, nine hands armed and one blessing devotees.
• Day 4 — KushmandaLinked with the cosmic egg; eight-armed, riding a lion.
• Day 5 — SkandamataMotherhood; holding the infant Kartikeya (Skanda) on her lap.
• Day 6 — KatyayaniThe warrior form, ready to fight the asuras.
• Day 7 — KalaratriThe fierce, protective form, three-eyed and four-armed — associated with auspiciousness and courage.
• Day 8 — MahagauriLinked with beauty; four-armed, riding a white bull, one hand granting protection.
• Day 9 — SiddhidatriThe giver of siddhis, seated on a full lotus.

Source: Wikipedia — Navaratri · Wikipedia — Navadurga

What you need for Ghatasthapana

• A wide clay pot, clean soil and seeds of seven grains (sapta dhanya)
• A small clay or brass kalash with a lid
• Gangajal or clean water, sacred thread (moli), scent, betel nut (supari) and coins
• Five mango or Ashoka leaves, akshat (unbroken rice) and durva grass
• An unpeeled coconut and a red cloth
• Flowers and a garland (marigold is preferred)

Source: Drik Panchang — Ghatasthapana puja vidhi

Puja vidhi — simple steps

1. Grain pot: lay the soil in three layers, scattering the seeds on the first two near the edge; sprinkle a little water.
2. Kalash: tie the moli round its neck, fill it with water, add supari, scent, durva, akshat and coins, set the five leaves at the rim and cover it.
3. Wrap the coconut in red cloth, tie it with moli and place it on the kalash; set the kalash in the middle of the grain pot.
4. Invite Goddess Durga to dwell in the kalash for the nine days.
5. Do a simple five-part puja: lamp, incense, flowers and scent, then naivedya (fruit and sweets). Many keep a lamp (akhand jyot) burning through the nine nights.
6. Each day, worship that day’s form of Durga.
7. On Ashtami or Navami, Kanya Puja: honour and feed young girls as forms of the Goddess, with small gifts.
8. Fasting is a personal choice — from one day to all nine, full or with fruit and milk. Many avoid meat, eggs, alcohol, onion, garlic, wheat or rice flour.

Source: Drik Panchang — Ghatasthapana puja vidhi · Wikipedia — Navaratri

When it falls and what time to keep

Ghatasthapana is done on Pratipada, never on Amavasya or at night. Drik Panchang gives the rule: the first third of the day while Pratipada prevails; if that is not possible, Abhijit muhurta — before midday. Chitra nakshatra and Vaidhriti yoga are best avoided but not forbidden. This page shows the first-third window for New Delhi; many Panchangs publish a shorter muhurta inside it.

Source: BornClock festival calendar (dates checked against Drik Panchang, New Delhi) · Drik Panchang — Ghatasthapana puja vidhi

Traditions differ

Bengal and East India keep Durga Puja (Mahalaya, Kumari Puja, Sandhi Puja, Sindur Khela). Gujarat dances garba and dandiya raas around a lamp-lit pot. South India sets up Golu / Bommai Kolu doll displays; Kerala does Ayudha Puja and Vidyarambham. Maharashtra keeps Ghatasthapana with Bhondla and Gondhal; Bihar and Purvanchal have Kalash Sthapana; Punjab and Haryana have kanjak (Kanya Puja) and jagratas; in Kashmir barley is sown in clay pots.

Source: Wikipedia — Navaratri