Ghatasthapana(Start of Dasain Festival)

Celebration of Dasain, the greatest Hindu festival, begins with ceremonial Ghatasthapana. This falls exactly on the first day of the bright fortnight of Ashwin (September/October) Ghatasthapana literally means setting a ceremonial water jar at a certain purified place in one's household ' following the instructions of the holy scriptures. The ceremonial water jar symbolizes the Shakti or energy of Devi Durga, worshipped during the entire period of Dasain. This would usually take place on the top floor of the Nepalese homes symbolizing detachment. It does not necessarily mean that there won't be any thing festive to see in the streets. One of the main features of this festival is the colourful crowd of devotees going to the temples to make offerings, all dressed up in their best attire. One can see them almost everywhere-at the temples, along the side-ways, and likewise in many other places. This phenomena however would start only from the 8th day of the celebration. This is the day for sacrificing animals to different gods and goddesses. The sacrifice of animals acceptable to gods and goddesses are of only five kinds. They are water buffaloes, goats, sheep. chicken and ducks. According to Shakti cult, these animals symbolize demonic anger (buffalo), luster or desires (goat.), stupidity (sheep). timidity (chicken) and indifference (duck) respectively. Some of the Puja (workship) materials required for Ghatasthapana rites are seed-grains of barley, holy water and sand from the river. The one who performs the rites as the tradition has it, must be the family priest or the eldest person in the family. He spreads out sand at a place chosen for the purpose, sets the ceremonial jar in the middle of it and then sprinkles the seeds around the jar enchanting hymns to Devi. Some tribes have their own ways to do this. After this act is over, the performer covers up the entire sand with a huge clay pot on a basket. The seeds soon grow into seedlings. But one won't be allowed to pull them out until the ninth day of the plantation. Interestingly enough, this particular period of nine days is strongly believed to symbolize the aspirant's deep devotion to Devi. It is also said that this is the only perfect period of time round the whole year to invoke Devi Durga to have one's desires fulfilled. This is very much keeping with the puranic prescriptions for invoking Devi.

 On the ninth day of Ghatasthapana when the priest picks some of the seedlings grown long enough by this time, it really seems to add a great colour to the festivity of Dasain. And, at the same time it also reminds us of the beaming beauty of kumarihood (creative energy) which makes every body feel quite happy and gay. The yellow-green colour of this ceremonial seedling is really great. It is so refreshing even to look at.

 Celebration of Dasain without these seedlings is like celebrating Christmas without young pine trees. Despite all these values attached to this, the funniest thing to notice is that after the Vijayadasmi day (the 10th day of celebration), these beautiful seedlings no longer appeal to any body, no matter how fresh and fine they may look. This tells us about the seasonal value of Dasain.

 Another significance of Ghatasthapana is linked with  Nava Ratri. Nava Ra ery special to the devote the Nepalese devotees ' clifferent places of holy ntycie of Ghatasthapana is linked with es ofand take first nine holy nights, es of Devi. This is the reason why ees with great enthusiasm go to the nine all nine days without any breaka.nIt its generally ak e purification   b e l ie vbeadt ht that  for one who takes the golden opportunity to have a holy dip in these nine different rivers or springs will never suffer any skin disease. The tradition of this nine day bathing in the holy rivers also has the same theme to emphasize the importance of nine day long period of devotion to Devi known to the entire Hindu community as Nava Ratri Vrata. As mentioned in Devi Bhagavata, several saints and heroic kings like Rama Chandra, Surath and other devotees had their tremendous tasks done with great success by gaining the grace of Devi. The main credit to their successes went to their fasting on Nava Ratri days and worshipping with one mindedness to Devi, the Universal Mother. According to an old religious text, Devi is said to have assumed nine different forms each day a new form (a fresh mood) for all nine days. These nine forms of Devi are: (1) Kumari, (2) Trimurti, (3) Kalyani, (4) Mohini, (5) Kalika, (6) Chandika, (7) Sambhavi, (8) Durga and (9) Shubhadra. These goddesses are strongly believed to bestow on their devotees different divine boons. Since Devi is a primordial Shakti who takes care of the entire creation, it is quite natural for her to assume different forms as needed by time for the sake of Dharma. The tenth day of Ghatasthapana is considered the most important day. According to the puranas, this is the day where Devi destroyed the demon king Mahisasura and freed her devotees from the demonic dangers. That is the reason why we worship Devi in her Mahisasuramardini form more elaborately than in any other form. Killing of Mahisasura by Devi is quite symbolic of her victory over vice or devil forces. As if it is to symbolize the same theme right after the Vijayadasami Day, we throw away all the ceremonial offerings including the seedlings piled up in the prayer room. Thus Ghatasthapana along with Dasain comes to the end. •