Ghatasthapana marks the auspicious beginning of Navratri. This year, the festival will begin on 11th October 2026. During this 9-day festival, devotees invoke Goddess Durga into their homes.
According to Vastu Shastra, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Durga reside only in places filled with Sattvic (pure, vibrant) energy. Before setting up the kalash on Day 1 of Navratri, a devotee should remove specific items from their home which are believed to attract Vastu Dosh and disrupt the positive flow of energy.
Let’s understand in detail what are these 7 things and why they must be removed from the house before Ghatasthapana.
1. Broken Idols Or Faded Pictures (Khandit Murti)
According to Vastu Shastra, keeping broken, cracked, or faded idols in the temple or home creates Vastu imbalances.
Vastu Impact: Damaged idols attract negative Rahu influences, leading to mental stress and confusion.
What To Do: Before Ghatasthapana, it is advised to respectfully immerse (Visarjan) broken idols or photos in a natural water body or bury them under Holy Basil (Tulsi).
2. Stopped Clocks And Cracked Glass
In Vastu Shastra, hanging a stopped clock creates stagnant energy, while cracked mirrors disrupt the positive flow of energy.
Vastu Impact: These items bring delays in career and personal growth.
What To Do: Repair or remove the cracked mirrors, glass tables, or broken glassware.
3. Worn-Out Shoes And Main Entrance Clutter
According to the Vastu Shastra, the main entrance is the palace from which positive energy enters. If dirty footwear, rusty locks, or dirty doormats are placed at the entrance, it blocks the Goddess Durga’s blessings and causes a Dwara Dosha.
Vastu Impact: An untidy entrance attracts financial instability and energetic blockages.
What To Do: Maintain cleanliness at the main entrance. Place a fresh, clean doormat, and store footwear out of sight in a neat shoe rack outside the main threshold.
According to the Vastu Shastra, the main entrance is the palace from which positive energy enters (Image: Pexels)
ALSO READ: 5 Powerful Durga Mantras Traditionally Chanted For Protection
4. Remove Dead Plants
While plants represent vitality, a dead or dried-up plant is believed to absorb positive vibrations.
Vastu Impact: Dead or wilted plants represent decay and are believed to disrupt the harmony of the house and create conflict in relationships according to Vastu.
What To Do: Remove flowers and place vibrant green plants like Money Plants or Tulsi near the North/East zones.
5. Rusted Iron Objects And Electronic Waste
Accumulating unnecessary and unusable gadgets, broken wiring, old batteries, and rusted iron junk in storerooms or balconies creates heavy Rahu energy.
Vastu Impact: Items made of iron are associated with Rahu and Saturn (Shani). If they rust, then it can lead to anxiety and cause unnecessary expenses.
What To Do: Devotee should sell or scrap all electronic junk and rusted hardware before the festival.
6. Old And Worn-Out Puja Materials
According to Vastu Shastra, the puja room should be cleaned properly. Remove old, dried-up Kumkum, rancid Ghee, stale incense packs, and faded Kalava (sacred thread).
Vastu Impact: Using impure or degraded puja samagri reduces the spiritual benefits that one can get from Navratri prayers.
What To Do: Replace all old ritual supplies with fresh, pure ingredients. Clean the temple metal items with brass polish or lemon juice.
According to Vastu Shastra, the puja room should be cleaned properly (Image: Pexels)
7. Torn Religious Books And Old Documents
Torn pages of sacred books or scriptures, or stacks of useless documents stored in the North-East (Ishan Kone) corner cause mental blockages.
Vastu Impact: North-East is associated with Goddess Saraswati and Lord Shiva. Clutter in this zone creates mental fog.
What To Do: Bind or repair torn holy books. Recycle old, useless paperwork and organise your home office/study space.
How To Energise After Removing These Items
Once you've removed these 7 items, energise your home by following these steps:
1. Clean and mop the floor with water mixed with rock salt (Sendha Namak).
2. Then burn camphor (Kapur) in every corner of the house.
3. Last, sprinkle holy water (Ganga Jal) around the main door to bring positive energy into the household.
ALSO READ: Navratri 2026: Start And End Dates, Significance And What Colour To Wear On Each Day
These are a few things one should remove from their home before Navratri to seek Goddess Durga's blessings.
FAQs
1. What should we do with old Navratri decoration items?
One should respectfully discard them rather than storing them, as it creates Vastu imbalances.
2. Can we keep leather items at home during Navratri?
It is generally advised that one keep leather items away, but because they are expensive, instead of throwing them, keep them out of the puja room and refrain from wearing leather belts/wallets during Ghatasthapana rituals.