Saptami: Nabapatrika, and the Longest Day of Walking

Saptami, 17 October. Before dawn, the nabapatrika — nine plants bound together, banana at the centre — is taken to the river, bathed, dressed in a red-bordered saree and installed beside the idol. It is one of the oldest parts of the ritual and probably older than the goddess-worship layered over it.

Then everybody spends the rest of the day and night walking.

Saptami is the walking day

Ashtami is the day everyone dresses for. Saptami is the day everyone actually covers ground on — the queues are long but survivable, the pandals are all open, and there is a full day and evening ahead of you.

So today's outfit is judged on one criterion: can you be in it for twelve hours.

What that means

• Cotton, Kota, light Tussar or Chanderi. Not silk. See cotton and linen, Kota sarees, Tussar.
• Or a straight-cut suit and stop thinking about it. Salwar suits, co-ord sets.
• Pleat short. An inch off the floor. The full reasoning is in the pandal-hopping guide.
• Pin the pallu twice — shoulder and waist.
• Nothing that needs a hand. You will be carrying food, a phone, and possibly a child.

For men

Cotton kurta, and today is not a jacket day. RANJH kurta pajama.

Get tomorrow ready tonight

Ashtami is the one that matters. Before you go out tonight, hang tomorrow's saree so the creases drop, check the blouse and put the jewellery in one place. Coming home at one in the morning and starting to look for a blouse hook is how Ashtami mornings go wrong.

Tomorrow's guidance: the six-day plan, the jewellery guide, and the anjali question.