Durga — nine forms
Sharad Navratri
The nine great nights of the Mother — kalash, garba, and the Devi Mahatmya.
Tithi: Ashwin Shukla Pratipada – Navami
In the simplest words
The nine great autumn nights of Ma Durga — fasting, garba dancing, and the story of the Goddess defeating the buffalo demon, one night at a time.
The story & purpose
For nine nights the Devi is worshipped through her nine forms — Shailaputri to Siddhidatri — the nights Mahishasura fell. Bengal builds her pandals for Durga Puja; Gujarat circles her flame in garba; homes keep the kalash and the akhand jyoti.
Ashtami and Navami bring kanya pujan — nine girls honoured as the nine forms — and the tenth day is Vijayadashami, victory itself.
In one common teaching the nine nights ladder through the Mother's three faces — Durga's courage, Lakshmi's plenty, Saraswati's wisdom — three nights each.
What is done
Ghatasthapana
The kalash with sown barley established on day one — the Devi's seat for nine nights.
Daily Devi puja & Saptashati
One form daily with the Navarna mantra; Durga Saptashati path across the nine days.
Kanya pujan
On Ashtami/Navami, nine girls are fed and honoured.
Garba & pandal darshan
The community's nights of dance and darshan.
Best timings
Ghatasthapana in Pratipada's morning muhurat; sandhi puja at the Ashtami–Navami junction.
Exact muhurat varies by city and tradition — for the precise hour, consult a local panchang for your location.
Worth knowing
Bengal's Durga Puja is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
Mysuru's Dasara has run in royal procession for over four centuries.
Golu steps in the south seat dolls of the whole cosmos — gods, saints, market and village — a nine-night exhibition in the front room.
Mantras of this festival
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे
Navarna mantra
Begin jaap →या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता । नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu
Begin jaap →सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके । शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Sarva Mangala Mangalye
Begin jaap →ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः
Durga mantra
Begin jaap →