The fifth day of Navratri, Thursday, 15 October 2026, is dedicated to Maa Skandamata. Her bhog today is banana, and those reading the Saptashati in its seven-day order read Chapter 9 (The Slaying of Nishumbha), Chapter 10 (The Slaying of Shumbha).
Today's panchang
- Tithi
- Shukla Panchami, until 3:25 AM on 16 October
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:21 AM / 5:51 PM
- Abhijit Muhurat
- 11:43 AM to 12:29 PM
- Rahu Kaal
- 1:33 to 2:59 PM
The puja is best done in the morning, after sunrise. By tradition no new auspicious work is begun in Rahu Kaal (1:33 to 2:59 PM), while the Abhijit Muhurat is considered the most auspicious window of the day.
Who is Maa Skandamata?
Skandamata is the mother of Skanda, Kartikeya, who led the army of the gods and slew the demon Tarakasura. The infant Skanda sits in her lap, so worshipping her also honours him. She also sits on a lotus, which gives her the name Padmasana.
Skandamata is the Goddess as mother: the infant Skanda in her lap shows that the power which destroys demons also cares for her devotees as a mother does. That is why special worship is done today for the wish for children and for their wellbeing. Her worship is believed to bring the fruit of worshipping Kartikeya too, something unique to this form. Her complexion is described as shining white, her planet is held to be Mercury, and she is believed to grant knowledge and liberation.
- Mount
- Lion
- Form
- Four hands, lotuses in the upper two, the infant Skanda held in one and the other raised in abhaya mudra
- Bhog
- Banana
- Favourite flower
- Red flowers
- Planet (belief)
- Mercury (Budha)
How to worship today
After the morning bath, worship the kalash and the akhand jyoti, then meditate on Maa Skandamata with the prayer below. Offer her red flowers and banana 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 Skandamatre Namah
ॐ देवी स्कन्दमात्रे नमः॥
सिंहासनगता नित्यं पद्माञ्चित करद्वया।शुभदास्तु सदा देवी स्कन्दमाता यशस्विनी॥
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ स्कन्दमाता 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 9 (The Slaying of Nishumbha), Chapter 10 (The Slaying of Shumbha). Read them after the Kavach, Argala and Keelakam.
In Chapter 9 Nishumbha, enraged by Raktabija's death, enters the battle and falls to the Goddess. In Chapter 10 Shumbha taunts her for fighting on the strength of others. She draws all the Matrikas back into herself and declares that she alone exists in this world, there is no second beside her. After a long battle in the sky Shumbha is slain, and the gods' distress comes to an end.
Tomorrow
Tomorrow, Friday, 16 October 2026, is the sixth day of Navratri, when Maa Katyayani is worshipped with a bhog of honey. In the seven-day order, tomorrow's reading is Chapter 11.
Dates and times checked against Drik Panchang and our own panchang, for New Delhi.
