Navratri 2016 Day 1: Date, Time, Colour and Some Facts About Navratri

The festival season has begun with Navratri, and so, has the celebrations begun. Navratri is given its name due to nine forms of goddess Durga which are believed to appear during these nine different nights (Nav – 9; ratri-night) of Navratri. Each night and each form of Durga has its own significance. Navratri falling in the month of Sept – October is “Sharad Navratri” and holds grand importance in Hindu Mythology.

Day 1
The first day starts with Ghatasthapana (also called Kalashsthapana). The devotees today start the nine-day festival with placing the picture or idol of Goddess in the temple and Kalash (pot) full of water in front of the picture. This pot, covered with red cloth. A coconut is placed on it and finally, the Kalash is placed on the soil mixed with dung and jaw seeds.

Tithi: Pratipada

Date: 1st October 1, 2016

Begin Time (Muhurat):  5:41 AM on 1st Oct

End Time: 7:45AM on 2nd Oct

Colour of the Day: Grey

Goddess: Shailputri

Names and Meaning of Goddess Shailputri
Day 1 of Navratri is day of Goddess Shailputri- a form of Mother Nature.
Real meaning of Shailputri can be understood by allocating the words into two parts – ‘shail’ – meaning ‘mountains’ and ‘putri’- meaning ‘daughter’. Hence, Shailputri is the Hindi name for daughter of mountain. She is the daughter of Himalaya (named Himalayan) and so, her name is Hemavati. She is Sati Bhavani, daughter of king Daksha and importantly, goddess Parvati is the rebirth of Sati who was wife of Lord Shiva – as per Hindu Mythology.

In short, all these names and forms are parts of none other than goddess Parvati.

Goddess, rather Devi Shailputri embodies the three most powerful bodies – Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva). Carrying a trident in one of her hands and lotus in the other hand, riding on bull named nandi, Devi Shailputri gives the image of a divine lady. Also known as the goddess Maladhura Chakra, Shailputri has the power to begrime spiritual discipline.

Colour of the Day:
Grey. The colour is believed to be auspicious on the 1st day of Navratri and idol of goddess Durga is dressed in grey saree on this day. Even the females and other devotees get dressed up in grey attire. The colour grey signifies the colour of mountains as Navratri’s 1st day is devoted to Shailputri – daughter of mountain.

Navratri Foods:
Keeping fast in Navratri is one of the important aspects of the festival-a nine day long festival. Some people observe these fasts for all nine days. They open their fasts either on Ashtami (eighth day) or Navmi (ninth day). Fortunately or unfortunately, there are limited options of foods for Navratri fasts that the devotees can take. This food ingredients involve – fruits, potatoes, sendha namak (rock salt), kuttu aata, sabudana, and other such ingredients made of fruits or dry fruits. Shakarkandi or sweet potato, arbo or kachalu or Colocasia, Suran or Jimkand or yam, raw bananas are some of the best options to go with while fasting for Navratri.

Navratra Day 1 Chanting

Mantra for Goddess Shailputri- वन्दे वाञ्छितलाभाय चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्। वृषारुढां शूलधरां शैलपुत्रीं यशस्विनीम्॥
Vande Vanchhitlabhay Chandrardhkritshekhram. Vrisharudham Shuldharam Shailputri Yashswinim.