Navratri is a nine-day long festival celebrated with great zeal in India. During these nine days, devotees worship the nine different forms of maa Durga. According to popular belief, maa Durga comes back to her maternal house when the Navratri festival starts. Her maternal home is believed to be Earth.
Today is the sixth day of Navratri when maa Katyayani is worshipped. She is believed to be the sixth avatar of maa Durga. The arrival of maa Katyayani brings cheerfulness and joy in the life of their devotees. She destroys evil and brings peace to life. Maa Katyayani is also known as Mahishasurmardini as she destroyed the demon named Mahishasur.
Katyayani is depicted with four hands. She holds a lotus in her two hands, a sword in one and blesses her devotess with the fourth hand. It is believed that she protects her devotees. She is believed to be a strong form of goddess durga who is fierce and destroy all the problems.
Read | Goddess Kushmanda: The fourth avatar of Maa Durga
Maa katyayani puja vidhi
Wake up early in the morning, bathe and wear fresh, clean clothes.
Light incense sticks in front of Maa Katyayani's idol and place her on an elevated spot like chowki or table and then offer her flowers and do tilak.
Offer shringhar like indoor, kajal, flowers, bangles to the goddess.
Now chant mantras and try to be mindful. Offer blog to maa such as jaggery, honey and distribute it as Prashad to everyone.
End you pooja by havan followed by aarti.
Mantra
Om Devi Katyayanyai Namah||
Chandrahasojjvalakara Shardulavaravahana|
Katyayani Shubham Dadyad Devi Danavaghatini||
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Ma Katyayani Rupena Samsthita|
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah||
Timings for puja
Shashathi tithi will start from October 11 between 2:14 Am to 11:50 PM
-1633777075.jpg "Navratri Day 3: Devotees worship Maa Chandraghanta")
