Devotees worship the Goddess Katyayani as they celebrate the sixth day of Navratri on Tuesday. She has four hands and holds a lotus and flower and has the swastika imprinted on her third hand. With her fourth hand, she blesses her devotees.She is believed to have killed demon Mahishasur. Worshiping her is said to cancel out the ‘manglik dosha’ of devotees.
Different regions of the country have different ways of worshiping the Goddess and performing the rituals. Here, we talk about the traditions that originated near Banaras.
How to worship Ma Katyayani: Cloves, cardamoms, diya and sandalwood are offered to Ma Katyayani. Light a diya, incense sticks and chant “Om Hreeng Katyayaayanye Swaha, Om Shreeng Katyayaayanye Swaha”. Devotees also recite the Durga Saptashati after offering the puja.
Best time for the pooja: The best time for puja on Tuesday is anytime before 4:47pm.
Mythological story around Katyayani Mata: It is believed that she was born to sage Katyayan. The sage performed tapa for thousands of years to impress Goddess Durga and as a boon, Adi Shakti took birth as his daughter and was called Katyayani. This form of the goddess signifies knowledge and courage. She is also said to inspire women to face challenges and to fight for their rights. She also blesses devotees with marital bliss.
What to eat and wear: Red is Katyayani Devi’s favourite colour, so devotees should eat red-coloured food and wear red clothes.
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