Navratri- Special Rituals to Worship the 9 Forms of Devi

The nine nights of Navratri are not only a celebration but a sacred practice, and knowing the right Navratri rituals to worship the 9 forms of Devi helps every devotee receive the Goddess’s full blessings. Each of the nine days is dedicated to one form of Navdurga, and each form has its own way of being honoured — a special bhog (offering), a sacred mantra, a colour and a mood of worship. This guide walks you through the daily rituals, offerings and mantras for all nine forms of the Goddess, so you can observe Navratri with devotion and correctness.

The Foundation of Navratri Worship

Navratri worship begins with Ghatasthapana (Kalash Sthapana) on the first day — the establishing of a sacred pot that invokes the presence of the Goddess for the nine days. Throughout the festival, devotees observe daily puja and aarti, keep a sattvic fast, light a lamp, and worship Maa Durga with flowers, incense and heartfelt prayer. The nine nights culminate on the tenth day in Vijayadashami (Dussehra), celebrating the Goddess’s victory over evil. To understand the deeper meaning behind these nine nights, see our companion guide to the sacred significance of Navratri.

Daily Bhog and Mantra for Each Form of Devi

A beautiful part of Navratri worship is offering the specific bhog each form of the Goddess loves, and chanting her mantra. Here is the day-by-day guide:

Offering the right bhog and chanting the mantra with devotion is believed to please each form of the Goddess and invite her specific blessings.

The Nine Forms and How to Worship Them

Each day carries its own spirit of worship:

• Day 1 – Shailaputri: the daughter of the mountains, worshipped for purity and strength; offer ghee for a healthy, disease-free life.
• Day 2 – Brahmacharini: honoured for devotion and discipline; offer sugar and fruit for longevity and peace.
• Day 3 – Chandraghanta: the fearless warrior; offer milk or kheer for courage and freedom from troubles.
• Day 4 – Kushmanda: the cosmic creator; offer malpua for prosperity and good health.
• Day 5 – Skandamata: the nurturing mother of Kartikeya; offer bananas for wisdom and wellbeing.
• Day 6 – Katyayani: the fierce goddess, invoked especially for happy marriages; offer honey.
• Day 7 – Kalaratri: the destroyer of darkness; offer jaggery for protection from negativity and fear.
• Day 8 – Mahagauri: the serene, pure form; offer coconut, and perform Kanya Pujan.
• Day 9 – Siddhidatri: the bestower of perfection; offer sesame for spiritual and material fulfilment.

Fasting and Sattvic Practice

Fasting is central to Navratri worship. Many devotees keep a full or partial fast across the nine days, eating sattvic foods such as fruits, milk, nuts and vrat-friendly dishes, while avoiding grains, onion, garlic and non-vegetarian food. The purpose is purification of body and mind, making the worship more focused and the devotion more sincere.

Kanya Pujan: Honouring the Living Goddess

One of the most cherished rituals of Navratri is Kanya Pujan (Kanjak), usually performed on the eighth (Ashtami) or ninth (Navami) day. Young girls are honoured as living forms of the Goddess: their feet are washed, they are offered new clothes or gifts, and they are served a feast of puri, halwa and chana. This ritual is believed to bring immense blessings and is considered the culmination of the nine days of worship.

Making Your Navratri Worship Complete

Beyond the daily rituals, Navratri is a powerful time for deeper spiritual practice — mantra chanting, charity, Garba and Dandiya in joyful devotion, and acts of seva. For those who wish to intensify the period’s blessings, a yagya or pooja and homan dedicated to the Goddess is especially auspicious, and the divine feminine energy of these days is also honoured through the nine mukhi rudraksha. For the most auspicious timings for your worship and rituals, a personalised astrology consultation can guide you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main rituals of Navratri?

The main Navratri rituals are Ghatasthapana (establishing the sacred pot), daily puja, aarti and fasting, chanting each form’s mantra, offering the day’s special bhog, and performing Kanya Pujan on Ashtami or Navami.

What bhog is offered on each day of Navratri?

Traditional offerings are ghee (Shailaputri), sugar (Brahmacharini), kheer (Chandraghanta), malpua (Kushmanda), banana (Skandamata), honey (Katyayani), jaggery (Kalaratri), coconut (Mahagauri) and sesame (Siddhidatri).

What are the mantras for the nine forms of Durga?

Each form has a mantra in the form “Om Devi [Name]yai Namah” — for example, “Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah” on Day 1 and “Om Devi Siddhidatryai Namah” on Day 9 — chanted daily with devotion.

What is Kanya Pujan in Navratri?

Kanya Pujan, performed on Ashtami or Navami, honours young girls as living forms of the Goddess. Their feet are washed and they are offered gifts and a feast of puri, halwa and chana.

What should I eat while fasting during Navratri?

During Navratri fasting, devotees eat sattvic foods such as fruits, milk, nuts and vrat-friendly dishes, avoiding grains, onion, garlic and non-vegetarian food to purify the body and mind.