Navadurga: the nine forms of Durga in Navratri

The Navadurga ("nine Durgas") are the nine forms of the Goddess worshipped one after another across the nine days of Navratri. In order they are Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. The sequence is often read as the story of Parvati's life and as a spiritual path: birth, austerity, courage, creation, motherhood, battle, destruction of darkness, purity and, finally, perfection.

The list is widely followed in north and west India. Iconography follows common temple and print traditions, and the "commonly associated offering" column records popular practice, not scripture: families and regions differ.

The nine forms at a glance

Day 1: Shailaputri

Shaila means mountain and putri daughter. She is Parvati as the daughter of Himavat, king of the Himalayas, and in many tellings the rebirth of Sati. Her worship begins Navratri on the same day as ghatasthapana, and she is associated with steadiness and the root of spiritual life.

Day 2: Brahmacharini

The young Parvati performing long austerities to win Shiva as her husband. Shown walking barefoot with a rosary and water pot, she stands for discipline, devotion and endurance, and is often honoured by people beginning a fast.

Day 3: Chandraghanta

After her marriage, the Goddess adorns her forehead with a half-moon shaped like a temple bell (ghanta). Her form is martial and alert, and the sound of her bell is said to drive away negative forces. She combines grace with readiness to protect.

Day 4: Kushmanda

Her name is traditionally explained as the one who brought the universe (the cosmic egg, anda) into being with a gentle smile when only darkness existed. She is linked to the sun's energy, health and creative power. Ash gourd (kushmanda in Sanskrit) is associated with her in some offerings.

Day 5: Skandamata

The mother of Skanda, also called Kartikeya or Murugan, the gods' commander. She holds her infant son on her lap and is worshipped as the loving, protective mother. In Bengal, Kartik stands at Durga's side in every pandal idol, a reminder of this bond.

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Day 6: Katyayani

Born, in one account, in the hermitage of the sage Katyayana, she is the warrior form who slays Mahishasura. In parts of north India, unmarried young women pray to Katyayani for a good marriage, a tradition linked to the gopis of Vrindavan in the Bhagavata Purana.

Day 7: Kalaratri

The fiercest form: dark, wild-haired and fearsome, riding a donkey. She destroys darkness, ignorance and fear itself. Despite her appearance she is also called Shubhankari, "the one who does good", because her ferocity protects devotees. In Bengal, Saptami is when the Kola Bou is bathed and the Goddess is installed in the idol; see Saptami.

Day 8: Mahagauri

After long austerities, the Goddess regains a radiant, fair complexion. Dressed in white, calm and gentle, Mahagauri represents purity and forgiveness. Ashtami is one of the most important days of the festival everywhere, the day of kanya pujan in many north Indian homes and of pushpanjali in Bengal.

Day 9: Siddhidatri

The giver of siddhis, spiritual attainments. Seated on a lotus, she is worshipped by gods, sages and seekers, and her day closes Navratri with prayers for fulfilment. Many households hold a havan (fire ritual) and kanya pujan on Navami.

Navadurga in Bengal

Bengal's Durga Puja does not follow the day-by-day Navadurga sequence; its focus is the ten-armed Durga slaying Mahishasura, with her children around her. The nine forms do appear, though, in the Kola Bou, or Navapatrika: nine plants bound together and worshipped on Saptami, each representing a form of the Goddess (a different set of nine from the Navadurga). Read more about the Goddess Durga herself.

About Navratri colours

You may see lists of nine colours, one per day, especially in Maharashtra. These are not fixed: the colour for each day is generally chosen by the weekday on which that day falls, so the list changes every year. Treat any colour list as a fun, local custom and use a current year's source if you want to follow it.