Ghatasthapana
Ghatasthapana – Rituals, Significance, and Cultural Context
“Ghatasthapana” (घटस्थापना) literally means “installation (sthāpana) of the pot (ghaṭa/ghat/kalasa)”. It is a ritual observed at the very start of Dashain festival in Nepal, when devotees formally invoke the presence of the Divine Mother (Devi, Goddess Durga / Shakti) by installing a sacred pot (kalasha) and sowing seeds in soil. It also marks the commencement of the nine days of worship of nine forms of Devi Durga (Nava Durga Bhavani).
In Nepal, Ghatasthapana is the first day of the 15-day Dashain festival, known locally as the day when jamara is sown and the kalasa/ghata is installed.
What is Done on this Day (Rituals and Practices)
The day of Ghatasthapana is decided on the basis of the lunar calendar. It is done on the Pratipada (first day of the bright half i.e. Shukla Paksha) in the month of Ashwin. If not possible, Abhijit Muhurta is sometimes used.
Families clean and purify their homes thoroughly, especially the spot where Ghatasthapana is done. A water-filled kalasha, decorated with leaves, a coconut, cloth, coins, and other sacred items, is installed to symbolize the Goddess. The kalasha is worshipped every morning and evening with offerings of flowers, incense, food, and water for the seeds.
A clean soil bed is prepared in a clay pot or a leaf plate for sowing jamara. Seeds of various grains—such as barley, wheat, and maize—are sown in the soil and watered daily. The sprouts that grow are called jamara. On the tenth day of Dashain, elders bless younger family members by placing jamara along with tika (a mixture of rice and vermilion) on their foreheads.
Mentions in Puranas
Some sources claim that the rituals of Ghatasthapana are described in the Skanda Purana. (OB News). However, exact references in the Puranas or Vedic texts directly mentioning Ghatasthapana are not available. This may largely be due to the fact that many such practices were preserved through oral tradition and passed down across generations within a society.
Significance
Ghatasthapana holds deep spiritual and cultural significance as it marks the invocation of the Divine Mother, symbolizing Shakti, the feminine energy that sustains the universe. Closely tied to Navaratri worship of Goddess Durga, it represents the beginning of her victory over evil, and also marks the start of Dashain, the most important cultural festival in Nepal.
The rituals emphasize purification, self-discipline, and spiritual renewal through fasting and prayer, while the sowing of seeds (jamara) symbolizes growth, fertility, prosperity, and the promise of inner transformation.
The kalasha (sacred pot), with its water, soil, leaves, and coconut, embodies cosmic principles and the presence of the divine in the home.
Beyond its spiritual meaning, Ghatasthapana also strengthens community and family bonds, bringing people together in shared tradition, while proper timing and direction of the ritual reflect the belief in astrological harmony and the flow of auspicious energy.
Conclusion
Ghatasthapana is a foundational ritual for Navaratri / Dashain that unites devotion to Shakti, cosmic symbolism, spiritual discipline, and cultural tradition. Even if textual sources are debated, the ritual’s significance as the start of the worship cycle remains profound and essential.
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