The third day of Navratri, Tuesday, 13 October 2026, is dedicated to Maa Chandraghanta. Her bhog today is milk and milk-based dishes, and those reading the Saptashati in its seven-day order read Chapter 4 (Indra and the Gods Praise the Devi).
Today's panchang
- Tithi
- Shukla Tritiya, until 11:28 PM
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:20 AM / 5:53 PM
- Abhijit Muhurat
- 11:44 AM to 12:30 PM
- Rahu Kaal
- 3:00 to 4:27 PM
The puja is best done in the morning, after sunrise. By tradition no new auspicious work is begun in Rahu Kaal (3:00 to 4:27 PM), while the Abhijit Muhurat is considered the most auspicious window of the day.
Who is Maa Chandraghanta?
Maa Chandraghanta wears a half-moon shaped like a bell on her forehead, which gives her her name. She is serene and at the same time ready for battle: the sound of her bell is believed to send demons fleeing in terror. She is worshipped for freedom from fear and for courage.
Chandraghanta is regarded as Parvati's married form: after her wedding to Shiva she wore the half-moon on her forehead. Her form shows that peace and power can live together, a gentle face on one side and weapons in ten hands on the other. That is why ringing the bell matters especially in today's puja, and her worship is believed to calm fear and anxiety. Her planet is held to be Venus, and she is also worshipped as Chandrakhanda.
- Mount
- Tigress
- Form
- Ten hands, bearing the trishul, mace, sword, kamandal, lotus, bow and arrow and japa mala
- Bhog
- Milk and milk-based dishes
- Favourite flower
- Jasmine
- Planet (belief)
- Venus (Shukra)
How to worship today
After the morning bath, worship the kalash and the akhand jyoti, then meditate on Maa Chandraghanta with the prayer below. Offer her jasmine and milk and milk-based dishes as bhog, chant her mantra at least 108 times, recite the stuti and perform the aarti in the evening. Those keeping the fast take only fruit and permitted foods during the day.
Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah
ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः॥
पिण्डज प्रवरारूढा चण्डकोपास्त्रकैर्युता।प्रसादं तनुते मह्यम् चन्द्रघण्टेति विश्रुता॥
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ चन्द्रघण्टा रूपेण संस्थिता।नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Today's Durga Saptashati reading
If you are reading the Saptashati in its seven-day order, today's portion is Chapter 4 (Indra and the Gods Praise the Devi). Read them after the Kavach, Argala and Keelakam.
Chapter 4 is the hymn that follows Mahishasura's death. Indra and all the gods, overjoyed, sing a long praise of the Goddess called the Shakradi Stuti, Shakra being another name of Indra. Pleased, she asks them to choose a boon, and they ask that whenever trouble comes she appear when remembered and protect them, and that whoever worships her with this hymn be granted happiness and prosperity. She grants it and vanishes, and with this chapter the Middle Charitra ends.
Tomorrow
Tomorrow, Wednesday, 14 October 2026, is the fourth day of Navratri, when Maa Kushmanda is worshipped with a bhog of malpua. In the seven-day order, tomorrow's reading is Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8.
Dates and times checked against Drik Panchang and our own panchang, for New Delhi.
