Chaitra Navratri 2023, Day 1: Know about Maa Shailputri & ways to worship her

New Delhi: Beginning this year on March 22, the Hindu festival of Chaitra Navratri. Chaitra Navratri begins on the initial day of the Hindu Lunar calendar, which is usually in March or April. It also heralds the start of the Hindu New Year. Maa Durga and her nine avatars – Maa Shailputri, Maa Brahmcharini, Maa Chandraghanta, Maa Kushmanda, Maa Skandmata, Maa Katyayani, Maa Kaalratri, Maa Mahagauri, and Maa Siddhidatri – are worshipped during the event. Furthermore, the final day of Chaitra Navratri is known as Ram Navami, and it commemorates Lord Ram’s birth.

People idolize Maa Shailputri, a version of Parvati and a rebirth of Sati, on the opening day of the nine-day celebration. Her name is created with two words Shail (mountain) And Putri (daughter), meaning child of the mountain.

Who exactly is Maa Shailputri?

Among the Navadurgas is Maa Shailputri. After self-immolating as Goddess Sati, Goddess Parvati introduced the world to Lord Himalaya’s daughter, Maa Shailputri (Hemavati or Parvati). The Goddess rides a bull and has two hands, one holding a Trishul and the other a lotus flower. Goddess Shailputri, like her former incarnation as Goddess Sati, married Lord Shiva.

Puja Vidhi and Samagri:

Maa Durga followers worship Maa Shailputri on the initial day of Chaitra Navratri to strive for her blessings to safeguard the health of their family. They start the Ghatasthapana or Kalash Sthapana ceremony, in which a pot is placed in a consecrated location at home and a lamp is lit inside it for nine days. It is an important ceremony during Navratri. Mud and navadhanya seeds are combined in a pan with water. In the area of worship, a kalash with Ganga Jal, money, supari, and akshat (raw rice and turmeric powder) is laid. Five mango leaves are wrapped in coconut and placed around the Kalash. At Maa Shailputri, devotees also set up an oil lamp, incense sticks, flowers, fruits, and sweets.