Kalash Sthapana Puja or Ghatasthapana is one of the significant rituals during Navratri which marks the beginning of nine days festivity, which commenced on Tuesday, March 28, 2017.

Kalash means pot and Sthapana means to establish or place.

There is an auspicious timing, defined rules and guidelines to perform Ghatasthapana on Navratri.

Ghatasthapana is invocation of Goddess Shakti. The most auspicious or Shubh time to do Ghatasthapana is first one third of the day while Pratipada is prevailing.

A pot containing holy water is considered as symbol of Goddess Durga. It is placed in puja room and worshiped for nine days.

If due to some reasons this time is not available then Ghatasthapana can be done during Abhijit Muhurta.

This year on Chaitra Navratri Kalash Sthapana Puja Muhurta is from 08:26 am to 10:24 am on Tuesday.

Items needed to perform Ghatasthapana

Wide and open Clay Pot to sow Barley seeds (Many families have a tradition of sowing barley seeds during Ghatasthapana. On the last day of Navratri, these are taken out and disturbed as form of blessings.)
Clean Soil to sow Barley seeds
Barley seeds (or seeds of seven different grains)
A Kalash
Holy water or clean water to fill the Kalash
Sacred thread
Incense sticks
Akshat (rice)
Supari (betel nuts)
Coins to put into the Kalash
5 Mango or Ashoka leave
Unpeeled Coconut
Red Cloth to warp coconut
Flowers and Garland
Durva grass



Please Note that rituals and traditions followed during Ghatasthapana or Kalash Sthapana Puja vary from region to region and family to family.

First take the wide clay pot to sow the grains.
Put some soil in it and make a bed for sowing grains. Now place some barley or other grains seeds in it.
If needed add little water to the pot to set the soil.
Now tie the sacred thread on the neck of the Kalash and fill it up with the clean water or holy water up to the neck.
Drop Supari, incense sticks, Durva grass, Akshat and coins into the water.
Keep 5 leaves of Ashoka or Mango at the edge of the Kalash before covering it with a lid.
Now wrap the un-peeled coconut inside the red cloth and tie it with the sacred thread.
Keep it on top of the Kalash
Now, put the Kalash in the center on the grain pot.
Your Kalash is ready to invoke Goddess Durga into it.
Invoke Goddess Durga
Now invoke Goddess Durga and request Her to accept your prayers.
Light a lamp every morning and evening. You can also keep it as 'Akhand Jyot'.
Offer Chunari, flowers, incense sticks, paan, rice, tumerice, sindoor, chandan and other puja items to please Maa Durga.
Now, chant mantras or simple recite 108 names of Maa Durga.
Reciting Durga saptasati during Navratri is considered highly auspicious.
Offer prasad and do aarti of Goddess Durga.

Note: Ghatasthapana or Kalash Sthapana Puja is prohibited during Amavasya and night time.