Day one is marked by Ghatasthapana, considered the most significant practice of Shardiya Navratri. Devotees prepare a pot with sacred water, coins, durva grass, supari, and turmeric rice, topped with five mango leaves and a coconut. Around this, seven or nine varieties of grains (Saptadhanya/Navadhanya) are sown in mud, symbolizing fertility and abundance. The arrangement is decorated with flowers, incense, fruits, sweets, and a lamp that remains lit throughout the festival. Offering bhog prepared with pure ghee is considered auspicious for seeking peace and prosperity from Maa Shailputri.
