Navratri Day 1: Maa Shailaputri, the Daughter of the Mountains
Navratri opens with Maa Shailaputri, the first of the goddess Durga’s nine forms. Her name means “daughter of the mountain” — shaila is mountain, putri is daughter — because she was born to Himavan, king of the Himalayas. She is Parvati in her earliest form, and the first night of the festival belongs to her.
Her story
In an earlier life, the goddess was Sati, daughter of King Daksha and wife of Lord Shiva. When Daksha held a great yagna and pointedly left Shiva out, Sati went anyway — and, unable to bear the insult to her husband, gave up her life in the sacrificial fire.
She was born again as the daughter of the mountain king, and once more chose Shiva as her husband. That is why Shailaputri stands for devotion that does not waver, and for a strength that returns, however many times it is tested.
How she is shown
Maa Shailaputri rides Nandi, the bull, which is why she is also called Vrishabharudha. She holds a trishul (trident) in her right hand and a lotus in her left, with a crescent moon on her forehead. The mountain gives her steadiness and the lotus her purity — strength that is grounded in nature.
What the first night means
Day one is also the day of Ghatasthapana, when Navratri is formally begun at home. A kalash (pot) is filled with water, crowned with mango leaves and a coconut, and placed on a bed of soil where barley seeds are sown. Over the nine nights the barley sprouts — a small, green sign of growth and blessing.
Many traditions see the nine nights as a journey that begins on solid ground and rises step by step towards the spiritual. As the first form, Shailaputri is that ground: the foundation the rest of the festival is built on.
Offering and prayer
Pure desi ghee is the traditional offering to Maa Shailaputri, and devotees pray to her for good health. A simple mantra for the day is:
Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah
What to wear on day one
- Follow the colour of the day: each night of Navratri has a colour, and the order shifts every year with the weekday the festival begins on — check this year’s list and build the look around it.
- Keep it light: a cotton or chanderi kurta set is easy to sit, pray and move in through a long first day of puja.
- Add a dupatta: useful for covering your head during the puja, and pretty for photos afterwards.
- Dress up for the evening: heading out for garba? A touch of mirror work or gota patti catches the light beautifully.
Find your first-night look in our festive edit, and read our full guide to Navratri across India.
Jai Mata Di — wishing you a blessed first night from all of us at Aavari.