Navratri, one of the most vibrant and widely celebrated festivals in India, began on October 3 and will continue until October 13. This nine-day festival is dedicated to honoring the nine forms of Goddess Durga. Each day is devoted to one of her divine incarnations, with Day 5, observed on October 7, dedicated to Maa Skandamata.
Maa Skandamata, the fifth form of Goddess Durga, is revered as the mother of Skanda, the war god also known as Lord Kartikeya. Depicted riding a fierce lion and holding her child Murugan in her lap, Maa Skandamata symbolizes the motherly love, power, and protection she bestows upon her devotees. Her blessings bring prosperity, salvation, and spiritual growth to those who worship her with a pure heart.
According to tradition, devotees of Maa Skandamata must free themselves from worldly distractions and focus solely on prayer to receive her divine blessings. The day begins with an early morning ritual, where devotees bathe, dress in new clothes, and offer flowers, kumkum, ghee, incense sticks, and yellow flowers in their puja to the goddess. A special banana-based bhog is also prepared as an offering.
On October 7, the Brahma Muhurat, an auspicious time for worship, starts at 4:33 AM and ends at 5:21 AM.
Yellow, the color for Day 5, represents joy, prosperity, and happiness. Wearing yellow on this day is believed to invite Maa Skandamata’s blessings, bringing peace, prosperity, and salvation into the lives of her devotees.
