How to celebrate the first day of Navratri without a priest: Simple puja and mantras for Maa Shailaputri

The first day of Navratri is the start of a nine-day holy celebration in honour of Maa Durga and her avatars, and the first day is dedicated to Goddess Shailputri. She is revered as the daughter of mountains and is a manifestation of Mother Nature herself. Representing purity, power, and peacefulness, Maa Shailputri is depicted sitting on a bull with a trident in one hand and a lotus in another. Worshippers feel that this day's prayer before her lays the groundwork for a spiritually satisfying Navratri. It is imperative to understand how to perform the puja on the first day to set the precedent for the upcoming nine divine days.

The first day is the most important day of Navratri, the homes are filled with positive vibes and enchanted devotees. Begin the day with cleaning the house and setting up the altar. Position the idol or photo of Maa Shailputri over a chowki draped with a red or yellow cloth, as both are dear to her. Light a diya with ghee, make offerings of flowers, kumkum, and rice, and recite simple mantras like "Om Shailputryai Namah." If you do not know complex mantras, sitting in front of the Goddess with hands together and true devotion is as effective. It is a tradition to place a kalash commonly known as kalash sthapana, on this day as a symbol of good energy. Fill the water in the kalash, place mango leaves at its mouth, and put a coconut covered in red cloth over it. This kalash is a symbol of abundance and the presence of the divine for nine days.

Once the altar is set, begin the puja by entering in a state of calm and reflection or dhayana by chanting the goddesses name, the worshipper mentally invokes the divine presence of Maa Shailaputri, seeking her blessings for strength, peace, and spiritual devotion during the nine sacred nights.
The first day is marked with the color yellow. One can decorate the altar with yellow flowers and dress the goddess in yellow clothes during the puja. Sweets, pure ghee, or milk are some of the offerings that are regarded as auspicious for Maa Shailputri.

Maa Shailputri is considered to control the planet Moon, which affects emotions and mind stability. Worshiping her is said to generate peace, emotional stability, and courage to face issues. Her devotees also believe that she bestows families with peace and prosperity.
Apart from rituals, maintain a pure and positive state of mind. Spend some minutes of meditation or quiet recitation of "Om Durga Namah" with a focus on gratitude. Even a gesture of devotion, like gifting a flower or lighting a diya with love, brings you in tune with the spirit of Navratri.

Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah
Om Aim Hleem Kleem Chamundaye Vichche
Om Devi Shailaputryai Cha Vidmahe
Himashaila Rajnyai Dhimahi
Tanno Devi Prachodayat
The first day already establishes the mood for the subsequent days. Starting with humility, purity, and dedication to Maa Shailputri allows you to attract divine grace that would then take care of the rest of the festival. Seeking the blessings of maa durga, will invite prosperity, luck, abundance into homes.