To prepare a Kalash for Navratri, you will need the following items:
- Wide and open clay pot to sow Sapta Dhanya
- Clean soil to sow Sapta Dhanya
- Sapta Dhanya or seeds of seven different grains
- Small clay or brass pitcher
- Sacred water to fill the Kalash or Ganga Jal
- Sacred thread / Moli / Kalaya
- Scent (perfume)
- Supari (betel nuts)
- Coins to put into the Kalash
- 5 leaves of Ashoka or Mango tree
- A lid to cover the Kalash
- Raw rice or unbroken rice known as Akshat (अक्षत) to put in the lid
- Unpeeled coconut
- Red cloth to wrap coconut
Here are the steps to prepare the Kalash for Navratri:
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Take a wide clay pot to sow the grains. Spread the first layer of soil into the pot and then spread the grain seeds. Now add the second layer of the soil and grains. In the second layer, grains should be spread near the periphery of the pot. Now spread the third and final layer of the soil into the pot. If needed, add a little water to the pot to set the soil.
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Tie the sacred thread on the neck of the Kalash and fill it up with holy water up to the neck. Drop Supari, scent, Durva grass, Akshat, and coins into the water. Keep 5 leaves of Ashoka at the edge of the Kalash before covering it with a lid.
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Take the unpeeled coconut and wrap it inside the red cloth. Fasten the coconut and red cloth with the sacred thread. Now keep the coconut on top of the Kalash prepared in step 2.
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Finally, put the Kalash in the center of the grain pot prepared in step 1. Now you have a Kalash ready to invoke Goddess Durga into it.
Note: The items required for Ghatasthapana may vary slightly depending on the region and tradition.
