The sixth day of Navratri, Friday, 16 October 2026, is dedicated to Maa Katyayani. Her bhog today is honey, and those reading the Saptashati in its seven-day order read Chapter 11 (The Narayani Stuti and the Devi's Boon).
Today's panchang
- Tithi
- Shukla Shashthi, until 5:54 AM on 17 October
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:22 AM / 5:50 PM
- Abhijit Muhurat
- 11:43 AM to 12:29 PM
- Rahu Kaal
- 10:40 AM to 12:06 PM
The puja is best done in the morning, after sunrise. By tradition no new auspicious work is begun in Rahu Kaal (10:40 AM to 12:06 PM), while the Abhijit Muhurat is considered the most auspicious window of the day.
Who is Maa Katyayani?
Maa Katyayani appeared in the home of the sage Katya, which gives her her name, and it was she who slew Mahishasura. In the Bhagavata Purana the gopis of Braj keep the Katyayani vrat to win Krishna, which is why she is also worshipped by those hoping for a good life partner.
Katyayani is the Goddess as warrior, which is why she is also called Mahishasuramardini, and in the eleventh chapter of the Durga Saptashati the gods praise her by the name Katyayani. Her worship is especially loved in Braj: in the Bhagavata Purana the gopis made an image of her from sand on the Yamuna's bank and kept her vrat in the month of Margashirsha. That is why unmarried girls facing delays or obstacles in marriage worship her especially today. Her planet is held to be Jupiter.
- Mount
- Lion
- Form
- Four hands, a lotus and a sword in the left, the right hands in abhaya and varada mudra
- Bhog
- Honey
- Favourite flower
- Red flowers, especially roses
- Planet (belief)
- Jupiter (Brihaspati)
How to worship today
After the morning bath, worship the kalash and the akhand jyoti, then meditate on Maa Katyayani with the prayer below. Offer her red flowers, especially roses and honey 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 Katyayanyai Namah
ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नमः॥
चन्द्रहासोज्ज्वलकरा शार्दूलवरवाहना।कात्यायनी शुभं दद्याद् देवी दानवघातिनी॥
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ कात्यायनी 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 11 (The Narayani Stuti and the Devi's Boon). Read them after the Kavach, Argala and Keelakam.
Chapter 11 is the gods' Narayani Stuti after Shumbha's death, whose best-known verse is 'Sarvamangala mangalye Shive sarvartha sadhike'. Pleased, the Goddess grants a boon and foretells her future forms: born in Nanda's home and dwelling in the Vindhyas, Raktadantika, Shatakshi and Shakambhari in a hundred-year drought, Durga after slaying the demon Durgama, then Bhima and Bhramari. She promises that whenever demons trouble the world, she will take form and destroy them.
Tomorrow
Tomorrow, Saturday, 17 October 2026, is the seventh day of Navratri, when Maa Kalaratri is worshipped with a bhog of jaggery. In the seven-day order, tomorrow's reading is Chapter 12, Chapter 13.
Dates and times checked against Drik Panchang and our own panchang, for New Delhi.
