Navratri Day 3: Worship of Maa Chandraghanta
The third day of Shardiya Navratri is dedicated to Maa Chandraghanta, a form of Goddess Durga associated in Hindu tradition with courage, strength, protection and inner peace. Her name refers to the crescent moon shaped like a bell on her forehead.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: Maa Chandraghanta Puja on the third day of Shardiya Navratri.
Location: Observed by devotees in India and Hindu communities worldwide.
Authority/Organisation: Hindu religious and household traditions; local Panchang calendars guide tithi and muhurat observance.
Action Taken: Devotees perform morning puja, offer flowers and bhog, chant the goddess's mantra and conduct aarti.
Impact: The observance provides a devotional focus on courage, strength, peace and spiritual discipline during Navratri.
Devotees worship the goddess during Navratri with prayers, flowers, offerings and mantra chanting. Her traditional image is often depicted with multiple arms and riding a tiger or lion, symbolising strength and readiness to confront negative forces.
For devotees observing Navratri at home, the third day's worship can be performed through a simple morning routine. Elaborate arrangements are not essential for a basic household puja; families can follow the practices customary in their own tradition.
Maa Chandraghanta Puja Vidhi for the Morning
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
Navratri rituals are an important part of religious and cultural life for many Hindu families. A practical guide can help readers understand the day's deity, common offerings and basic puja sequence while recognising that traditions are not identical everywhere. Explaining both the ritual and its traditional significance also helps readers distinguish established devotional beliefs from mandatory rules or claims that apply universally.
1. Clean the puja area
Begin by cleaning the place of worship and arranging the puja items. Devotees may bathe and wear clean clothes before starting their prayers. Those who follow the Navratri colour tradition may choose red clothing on this day.
2. Light a diya
Light a diya before the image or idol of Maa Durga or Maa Chandraghanta. If a household is maintaining an Akhand Jyoti, it should be attended according to the family's established safety practices. Never leave an open flame unattended.
3. Offer prayers to the Kalash
Families that performed Ghatasthapana on the first day may continue their daily prayers to the established Kalash. Offer water and perform the customary worship without disturbing the arrangement.
4. Offer flowers and puja items
Devotees commonly offer flowers, roli or kumkum, akshat and incense as part of the puja. Red flowers are a popular choice for the day, but the specific flower and offerings can differ among regional and household traditions.
5. Prepare the bhog
Milk, kheer and milk-based sweets are commonly offered to Maa Chandraghanta. Fruits or other suitable sattvic offerings may also be included according to family custom. After the puja, the offering can be distributed as prasad.
6. Chant the Maa Chandraghanta mantra
Devotees may recite the goddess's name mantra during the morning worship:
“ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः॥”
Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah
Those who already follow a mantra-counting practice may repeat it 108 times. Others may chant it fewer times with attention and devotion.
7. Perform aarti and conclude the puja
Complete the worship with Maa Durga or Maa Chandraghanta aarti, followed by a prayer for peace, courage and well-being. Distribute prasad to family members according to household practice.
What Is the Significance of Maa Chandraghanta?
In Hindu devotional tradition, Maa Chandraghanta represents courage combined with calmness. Her bell-shaped crescent moon is a distinctive feature of her form, while her warrior-like appearance symbolises the strength to face challenges.
Devotees pray to her for confidence, protection and peace of mind. These are religious beliefs and devotional interpretations rather than scientifically established outcomes.
The third day also offers an opportunity for families to maintain a regular prayer routine during Navratri, whether through a short mantra, aarti, devotional reading or a simple offering at home.
Which Colour Is Associated with Navratri Day 3?
Red is commonly listed as the colour for the third day of Navratri in 2026. It is traditionally associated with energy, courage and strength.
Devotees who follow the day-wise colour custom may wear red or include it in their puja arrangements. However, wearing a particular colour is a customary observance, not a universal requirement for worship.
Do Devotees Need to Observe a Fast?
Fasting practices differ across households, regions and religious traditions. Some devotees observe a full fast, while others eat fruits, milk or foods permitted under their family's Navratri rules. Some participate in the festival through prayer without fasting.
Anyone observing a fast should consider their health, hydration and individual needs. Children, older adults, pregnant people and those with medical conditions or medication requirements should not undertake restrictive fasting without appropriate medical guidance.
What Time Should the Puja Be Performed?
Many families prefer morning worship after bathing and preparing the puja space. However, a specific auspicious time can vary by location, sunrise and local Panchang calculations.
Devotees should consult a Panchang for their own city if they wish to follow a particular muhurat. A general festival article should not be treated as confirmation of an exact local puja time.
