Navratri is one of the most auspicious festivals dedicated to Goddess Durga. Navratri 2025 is not just about devotion but also discipline, rituals, and spiritual awakening. In this article, we’ll cover important do’s and don’ts during fasting, detailed Kalash Sthapana process, Akhand Diya rituals, and the final Visarjan ceremony.

Avoid These Things While Fasting in Navratri 2025

Observing vrat during Navratri is not just about food, but about purity of body, mind, and soul. Devotees should follow these restrictions for best results:

Special Tip on Ashwin Navratri

Food & Lifestyle Restrictions

1. Do not sleep during the daytime.
2. Always maintain cleanliness in your surroundings.
3. Wash utensils thoroughly, especially those used for food containing onion or garlic.
4. Avoid onion, garlic, non-veg, and alcohol (preferably lifelong).
5. Eat only one vegetarian meal a day (without onion & garlic).If unable to sustain one meal, eat fruits as required.
   

Discipline & Spiritual Rules

1. Follow celibacy during all 9 days.
2. Take meals/fruits at the same place and time daily.
3. Observe Maun Vrat (speak less).
4. Do not lie in thought, word, or action.
5. Do not close the doors of your temple/pooja room during Navratri.
6. Chant Chamunda Mantra – 11 mala daily.
7. Light a desi cow ghee diya while chanting.
8. For Akhand Diya, light it in shubh muhurat.

Durga Puja

Kalash Sthapana Vidhi for Navratri 2025

Kalash Sthapana (Ghatasthapana) marks the beginning of Navratri. Performing it with proper rituals invites Maa Durga’s blessings.

Ghatasthapana Muhurat 

22nd Sept 2025 : 6:27 am to 8: 16 am & 12:07 am to 12:55 pm

Preparations for Navratri 2025 Ghatsthapana

1. Clean the area a day before.
2. Place a wooden plank (Chaurangi/Bajot).
3. Spread red asana (cloth) for Maa Durga.
4. On it, spread jau in the form of a Swastik.
   

Kalash Preparation 

1. Fill kalash with Gangajal + pure water.
2. Add Chandan powder, turmeric, supari, 1 coin, kumkum.
3. Tie mauli on kalash neck.
4. Draw Swastik on kalash with roli/sindoor.
5. Add Sarva-Aushadhi mixture (Haridra, Tulsi, Neem, Ashwagandha, Shilajit, etc.).
6. Add 7 sacred soils (cow shed, riverbank, snake mound, crossroads, etc.)
   

Kalash Sthapana

Completing the Kalash 

• Place mango/Ashok leaves on top.
• Add Durva.
• Close kalash with lid/plate containing rice.
• Draw Swastik on rice and place a mauli-tied coconut horizontally.
• Keep Akhand Diya in front of kalash for 9 days.
  

Lighting the Akhand Diya in Navratri 2025

Lighting Akhand Diya brings divine blessings and wish fulfillment.

Steps to Light Akhand Diya 

1. Take a large clay or brass diya.
2. Place a cotton wick inside.
3. Add 50–100 gms of cow ghee or as per capacity of diya
4. Ensure Chandra Swar (left nostril) is active before lighting.
5. Hold breath and light diya while repeating your wish.
6. Pray to Maa Durga for blessings.
   

Daily Practice 

1. Chant “Aim Hrim Klim Chamundaye Vichee” – minimum 5 or 11 malas daily.
   
2. Offer prayers in front of the diya for 9 days.
   

Nandavartk Swastik

Visarjan Ritual After Navratri 2025

On Vijayadashami, Visarjan is performed to respectfully immerse the worship materials.

Steps for Visarjan 

1. Perform Havan with cow ghee – 1/10th of your total mantra count.
   • Example: If 10,000 mantras are chanted, offer 1,000 ahutis.
2. Offer Brahma Bhojan to 1, 3, 5, or 9 kanya (girls under 10).
3. Collect pooja materials (except kalash & coconut) in the asana.
4. Tie all items in a cloth potli and immerse in the river/sea.
5. Offer coconut in a Durga/Shakti temple.
   

Conclusion

Navratri 2025 is not only about devotion but also about self-discipline, rituals, and spiritual awakening. 

By following these vrat rules, performing Kalash Sthapana, lighting Akhand Diya, and completing the Visarjan properly, devotees can invite divine blessings, prosperity, and inner peace.

Durga Darshan Abhilashi,
Nirav Hiingu