The nine forms of Durga, from Shailaputri to Siddhidatri: what each name means, how each is depicted and the offering commonly linked to each Navratri day.
The nine forms of Durga, the Navadurga, at a Durga Puja pandal. Photo: AjayDas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
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.
The nine forms of Durga, the Navadurga, at a Durga Puja pandal. Photo: AjayDas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
The young Parvati performing long austerities to win Shiva as her husband.
The nine forms of Durga, the Navadurga, at a Durga Puja pandal. Photo: AjayDas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
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.
An illustrated leaf of the Devi Mahatmya. Photo: SpeakingArch, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
The mother of Skanda, also called Kartikeya or Murugan, the gods' commander.
The nine forms of Durga, the Navadurga, at a Durga Puja pandal. Photo: AjayDas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
The fiercest form: dark, wild-haired and fearsome, riding a donkey. She destroys darkness, ignorance and fear itself.
The nine forms of Durga, the Navadurga, at a Durga Puja pandal. Photo: AjayDas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
After long austerities, the Goddess regains a radiant, fair complexion.
The nine forms of Durga, the Navadurga, at a Durga Puja pandal. Photo: AjayDas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
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.
Mahishasuramardini, Durga slaying the buffalo demon: a 12th-century chlorite sculpture of the Pala school. Photo: SpeakingArch, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
You may see lists of nine colours, one per day, especially in Maharashtra.
Sabudana khichdi, a common Navratri fasting food. Photo: Mrudit161187, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
The nine forms of Durga, from Shailaputri to Siddhidatri: what each name means, how each is depicted and the offering commonly linked to each Navratri day.
Navadurga → Next story: Durga Puja 2026 themes: Kolkata's big pandals All photo storiesMusic: Garba dance during Navaratri festival in Mehsana Gujarat India, Nizil Shah, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.