Navratri Begins: Celebrating Day 1 with Maa Shilaputri

Navratri Begins: The vibrant nine-day festival dedicated to Goddess Durga, known as Navratri, kicks off on Thursday, October 3. This celebration features overnight festivities, fasting, and cultural events like garba. Each day of the festival honors a different form of the goddess, also referred to as ‘Aadishakti’.

Day 1: Worship of Maa Shilaputri

The first day is dedicated to Goddess Maa Shilaputri, often recognized as the daughter of mountains. The name “Shilaputri” combines two Sanskrit words: ‘shil’ meaning rock, and ‘putri’ meaning daughter. She symbolizes positivity, happiness, and light, akin to countless suns and moons. Maa Shilaputri is depicted riding a bull (Nandi) and holding a trident and a lotus, with a moon adorning her forehead.

Puja Timings for Day 1

For the first day of Shardiya Navratri, the puja timings are as follows:

• Ghatasthapana Muhurat (Kalash installation): 6:30 AM to 7:31 AM
• Abhijit Muhurat: 12:03 PM to 12:51 PM

Auspicious Color

The auspicious color for Day 1 of Shardiya Navratri is Orange. This color is chosen based on the day of the week the festival starts, setting the tone for the subsequent days.

About Maa Shilaputri

Maa Shilaputri governs the moon and blesses her devotees with fortune. She is believed to alleviate negative effects related to the moon in one’s horoscope and is known by other names, including Shilaputri, Hemavati, and Parvati. Also read: PM Modi Celebrates 10 Years of Swachh Bharat Mission on Gandhi Jayanti As the festival begins, devotees prepare to embrace the festivities with joy and devotion, welcoming the divine energy of Goddess Durga into their lives.