Ghatasthapana, or Kalash Sthapana, is a ritual marking the beginning of the nine-day Navratri festival to invoke Goddess Durga and invite divine blessings. The ceremony involves establishing a sacred pot (Kalash) filled with water, decorated with mango leaves, and topped with a coconut wrapped in red cloth. Barley seeds are sown in a pot with sacred soil, which symbolize growth and prosperity, and will sprout into "Jamara" (yellowish grass) over the festival. It's performed during the first third of the day on Pratipada Tithi (the first day of the lunar fortnight) to ensure prosperity and strength.