The seventh day of Navratri, Saturday, 17 October 2026, is dedicated to Maa Kalaratri. Her bhog today is jaggery, and those reading the Saptashati in its seven-day order read Chapter 12 (The Glory of Reciting the Devi's Deeds), Chapter 13 (The Devi's Boons to Suratha and the Merchant).
Today's panchang
- Tithi
- Shukla Saptami, until 8:27 AM on 18 October
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:23 AM / 5:49 PM
- Abhijit Muhurat
- 11:43 AM to 12:29 PM
- Rahu Kaal
- 9:14 to 10:40 AM
The puja is best done in the morning, after sunrise. By tradition no new auspicious work is begun in Rahu Kaal (9:14 to 10:40 AM), while the Abhijit Muhurat is considered the most auspicious window of the day.
Who is Maa Kalaratri?
Kalaratri is the fiercest of the nine forms: dark-skinned, with loose hair and three eyes. Fearsome as she looks, she always brings good results, which is why she is called Shubhankari. Her worship is believed to drive away every kind of fear, obstacle and darkness. This year Saptami tithi lasts into the morning of 18 October, and Ashtami and Navami fall together on 19 October.
In her name 'kala' means both time and death: she is the power before which even time stands still. It is believed that this form appeared when the Goddess shed her golden skin to destroy Shumbha and Nishumbha. Fierce as she is, one hand is always raised in abhaya and the other in varada mudra, an assurance to the devotee to be without fear. In many homes and Shakti Peeths, the night of Saptami is kept with special worship and vigil. Her planet is held to be Saturn.
- Mount
- Donkey
- Form
- Four hands, the right in abhaya and varada mudra, a sword and an iron hook in the left
- Bhog
- Jaggery
- Favourite flower
- Night-blooming jasmine
- Planet (belief)
- Saturn (Shani)
How to worship today
After the morning bath, worship the kalash and the akhand jyoti, then meditate on Maa Kalaratri with the prayer below. Offer her night-blooming jasmine and jaggery 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 Kalaratryai Namah
ॐ देवी कालरात्र्यै नमः॥
एकवेणी जपाकर्णपूरा नग्ना खरास्थिता।लम्बोष्ठी कर्णिकाकर्णी तैलाभ्यक्त शरीरिणी॥वामपादोल्लसल्लोह लताकण्टकभूषणा।वर्धन मूर्धध्वजा कृष्णा कालरात्रिर्भयङ्करी॥
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ कालरात्रि 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 12 (The Glory of Reciting the Devi's Deeds), Chapter 13 (The Devi's Boons to Suratha and the Merchant). Read them after the Kavach, Argala and Keelakam.
In Chapter 12 the Goddess herself says that whoever reads or hears these deeds, especially on Ashtami, Navami and Chaturdashi, is freed from trouble, and that hearing this glory during the great yearly worship of autumn brings special merit. Chapter 13 returns to where the story began: King Suratha and the merchant Samadhi make a clay image on a riverbank and worship the Goddess for three years. Pleased, she grants Suratha his kingdom back and birth as Savarni Manu in his next life, and gives the merchant the knowledge that brings liberation.
What comes next
On Sunday, 18 October, Saptami tithi lasts until 8:27 AM, after which Ashtami begins. This year Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami both fall on Monday, 19 October, along with the Sandhi Puja and Kanya Pujan, and Dussehra is on 20 October.
Dates and times checked against Drik Panchang and our own panchang, for New Delhi.
