घटस्थापना

१Before you begin

A clean place is chosen in the house, and over it a small maṇḍapī of mango twigs. A toraṇ of marigolds goes on the main door. Keep ready a basket of red soil and nine kinds of grain, two kalaśes with water, mango leaves, a coconut, a samaī, and a lamp that can burn for nine days, the nandādīp.

२Opening

Āchaman, a verse of purification, अपवित्रः पवित्रो वा, and prayers to Gaṇeśa and Sarasvatī, so that the vrat goes without obstacle. Then the saṅkalp for the nine days: the family states that it will keep the vrat, with the garland, the lamp kept burning, recitation and the rest, as its custom has it.

• वक्रतुण्डVakratunda Mahakaya

Not yet in the library: Sarasvatī vandanā (या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला)

३The ghaṭasthāpanā

A kalaś is filled with water, with something fragrant, a coin and a betel nut in it; five mango leaves are set in its mouth and a coconut on top. The Goddess is installed beside it, in many families as Mahākālī, Mahālakṣmī and Mahāsarasvatī together.

At the foot of the kalaś, nine kinds of grain are sown in the basket of red soil and sprinkled with water every day; the little field that springs up stands for plenty in the house. A bell goes on one side, a conch on the other, and a niranjan between them. The nandādīp is lit before the Goddess and kept burning for all nine days: its flame stands for her own radiance.

४Each day

The ghaṭ is worshipped every day, and a garland of marigolds is tied over it: one a day, or one more each day. Many homes recite from the Durgā Saptaśatī. In the evening comes the Goddess’s āratī, and in most homes Durge Durghaṭ Bhārī, closing as always with Ghālīn Loṭāṅgaṇ. The Mahiṣāsuramardinī Stotra is sung through these nights, and many homes add the āratī of Mahālakṣmī of Kolhapur.

• श्रीदुर्गासप्तशतीDurga Saptashati
• दुर्गे दुर्घट भारीDurge Durghat Bhari
• महिषासुरमर्दिनीMahishasura Mardini Stotra
• महालक्ष्मीची आरतीMahalakshmi Aarti
• घालीन लोटांगणGhalin Lotangan

Not yet in the library: the Navrātri āratī आश्विन शुद्ध पक्षी अंबा बैसली सिंहासनी

५Fasting and the kumārī

Those who keep the vrat fast, or eat one meal at night, through the nine days. Many families worship a young girl as the Goddess, the kumārī pūjan, and feed her, on each day or on one of the last days, as their custom has it.

६The bhoṇḍlā

Through these nights girls in Maharashtra play the bhoṇḍlā, also called hādgā: an elephant is drawn on a pāṭ and worshipped, and they sing the old bhoṇḍlā songs in a circle around it. It begins with Hasta nakṣatra in Āśvin and runs through Navrātri to Dasarā, and the mother of the girl whose home it is makes the khirāpat, a different treat in a different house each day.

७Navamī and Dasarā

The vrat runs to Navamī, when the fast is broken after nine days, often with recitation of the Saptaśatī and a homa. The ghaṭ is taken down at the end, at Navamī or on Dasarā, as the family’s custom has it. The tenth day is Vijayādaśamī, Dasarā.