Ghatasthapana is being observed today across the country amongst Hindu, marking the beginning of Dashain, the country's most widely celebrated festival. Today is also the start of Sharadiya Navaratri, the nine-night worship period dedicated to Divine Mother.
The central ritual of the day is the establishment of a sacred vessel, known as a kalash, and the sowing of seeds that grow into yellow shoots called jamara.
Dashain more broadly is a time of worship, family reunions, travel, gifts and feasting, and the start of Ghatasthapana signals the beginning of preparations for many families.
Meaning of "Ghatasthapana"
The word Ghatasthapana comes from two Sanskrit terms: ghata which means a pot or a vessel and sthapana meaning placing or establishing.
In the Dashain tradition, the vessel is treated as a ritual representation of divine presence, particularly Goddess Durga. The ceremony today gives the festival its formal religious beginning and the days to follow involves worship, family, preparations and a series of observances that ends with Vijaya Dashami.
Practices of observing the day may vary in accordance with family, locality, temple and ritual tradition.
In a commonly described form, a worship place often called the Dashain ghar, is cleaned and prepared, and soil or sand is arranged in a container or ritual bed. The kalash is then placed in the designated area, often with water and ritual decorations, while a priest or family member recites the prescribed prayers. Seeds are then sown. Maize is used commonly . The seeds are cared for over the following days, often kept away from strong direct sunlight so the shoots retain their pale yellow color. Watering and other care are offered on daily basis.
On the 10th day, also known as Vijaya Dashami, the grown shoots are used as a blessing alongside red tika when family members visit elders. That link connects the first day's sowing with the festival's main family ceremony. Jamara is not a separate plant species. It is the name given to the sacred shoots grown for the ritual.
Jamara is commonly associated with blessings, prosperity, vitality and renewal. Its growth gives the ritual an agricultural and seasonal dimension, and its later use with tika links the opening ritual to family bonds across generations.
Religious and cultural meaning
Dashain is associated with the worship of Durga, a manifestation of divine feminine power in Hindu traditions.
One widely recognized story associated with the celebration of Dashain is Maa Durga's battle with the demon Mahishasura, a victory understood to represent the triumph of good over evil. In some traditions the festival is also linked to the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. Both of these are distinct religious narratives amongst communities.
Shailaputri, worshipped on the first day of Navaratri in the Navadurga tradition, is commonly understood as the "daughter of the mountain" and is identified with Parvati, the daughter of the mountain deity Himalaya.
Upcoming days
The festival period continues through a sequence of observances. Phulpati is observed for October 17th this year, and the days that follow are Ashtami, Navami finally ending in Vijaya Dashami. The committee’s auspicious time for tika on Vijaya Dashami was reported as 10:26 a.m. Dashain also sets many people in motion. Advance bus bookings opened ahead of the festival, and authorities have announced transport arrangements for the holiday period.
