Navadurga 2026: The Nine Forms of Goddess Durga and Their Mantras (Shailaputri to Siddhidatri)

Quick answer: Navadurga refers to the nine forms of Goddess Durga — Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. In 2026 they are worshipped one per day across Sharad Navratri, from 11 to 19 October.

Navadurga — literally 'the nine Durgas' — is the sequence of nine forms of Goddess Durga traditionally worshipped on the nine nights of Navratri. Each night is dedicated to one form, in a fixed order from Shailaputri on the first day to Siddhidatri on the ninth. In 2026, these nine forms are worshipped across Sharad Navratri, from 11 to 19 October.

This guide walks through all nine forms in their traditional order, with each one's symbolism and its widely recited public-domain mantra, so you can follow the day-by-day worship along with your family or temple. Panchang timings vary by region, so treat the dates below as the framework and confirm tithi windows with your local panchang or temple.

Navadurga 2026: Quick Facts

• FestivalSharad Navratri (Navadurga worship)
• Year2026
• Dates11-19 October 2026
• Number of forms9 (Shailaputri to Siddhidatri)
• Presiding deityGoddess Durga in nine forms
• Ninth dayMaha Navami
• Following dayVijayadashami / Dussehra
• RegionObserved across India and by the diaspora

Note on reckoning: Navratri tithis are counted by the lunar calendar, and Amanta (western/southern) and Purnimanta (northern) panchangs share the same Shukla-paksha tithi count for Ashwin Navratri, so the nine days generally align. However, a tithi can be shortened or extended (kshaya or vriddhi) in a given year, which can shift a form's day by one in some panchangs. Neither reckoning is 'more correct' — follow the panchang your family and temple use.

The Nine Forms in Order

The traditional order below is the one recited in the Devi Kavach and followed in most Navratri observances. Day 1 corresponds to Pratipada (11 October 2026) and Day 9 to Navami; the exact tithi start and end each day should be read from your panchang.

Where a panchang shows a tithi kshaya or vriddhi in 2026, the day assigned to one or two forms may differ by a day in your region. This is a normal feature of lunar reckoning — check your family or temple practice for the exact day each form is worshipped.

1. Shailaputri and 2. Brahmacharini

Shailaputri, the 'daughter of the mountain' (Himalaya), is the form worshipped on the first night. Her traditional dhyana mantra is 'Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah'. Brahmacharini, worshipped on the second night, represents penance and single-minded devotion; her mantra is 'Om Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah'.

3. Chandraghanta and 4. Kushmanda

Chandraghanta, whose forehead bears a crescent moon shaped like a bell (ghanta), is worshipped on the third night with 'Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah'. Kushmanda, said in tradition to have created the universe, is worshipped on the fourth night with 'Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah'.

5. Skandamata and 6. Katyayani

Skandamata, the mother of Skanda (Kartikeya), is the fifth-night form, invoked with 'Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah'. Katyayani, the warrior form born to sage Katyayana, is worshipped on the sixth night with 'Om Devi Katyayanyai Namah'.

7. Kalaratri, 8. Mahagauri and 9. Siddhidatri

Kalaratri, the fierce night form who destroys ignorance, is worshipped on the seventh night with 'Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah'. Mahagauri, the serene, radiant white form, is worshipped on the eighth (Ashtami) with 'Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah'. Siddhidatri, who bestows siddhis and completes the cycle, is worshipped on the ninth (Navami) with 'Om Devi Siddhidatryai Namah'.

How to Observe Navadurga Worship

The worship of the Navadurga forms is woven into the daily Navratri routine. The steps below describe a simple, traditional home observance; scale it up or down to suit your household and the guidance of your temple or elders.

1. On each morning, bathe and clean the puja space, and light a lamp before the image or picture of the Goddess.
2. Recall the form of the day (from Shailaputri on Day 1 to Siddhidatri on Day 9) and recite its 'Om Devi ... Namah' mantra.
3. Offer flowers, kumkum, incense and a naivedya (offering) appropriate to your family custom; many households offer a specific fruit or bhog to each form.
4. Recite the Durga stotras your family follows — such as the Durga Saptashati or Devi Kavach — as time permits; long stotras are recited from a proper text.
5. Conclude with aarti and distribute prasad. On Ashtami or Navami, many families perform Kanya Pujan (honouring young girls) as per their tradition.

Regional Variations

• In West Bengal and eastern India, these nine days overlap with Durga Puja, where the Goddess is worshipped with elaborate pandals; the Navadurga form-per-day framing is followed more closely in the northern and western Vratic tradition.
• In Gujarat, the nights are marked by Garba and Dandiya-Raas performed before the Goddess, alongside the daily form worship.
• In many southern homes, Navratri is observed with Golu / Bommai Kolu (display of dolls) and Saraswati worship in the final days, with the Navadurga sequence honoured devotionally.
• The specific bhog or fruit offered to each form, and the exact day-to-form mapping in a kshaya/vriddhi year, differ between panchangs and family lineages.

Fasting During Navadurga Days

Many devotees keep a vrat (fast) through some or all of the nine days, ranging from a single meal a day to a fruit-and-milk regimen or a full nirjala fast on select days. Fasting practice is deeply personal and varies by family and region — follow what your household and temple advise rather than any fixed rule.

Anyone who is pregnant, nursing, elderly, a child, or living with a medical condition (such as diabetes) should consult a doctor before fasting, and should not hesitate to modify or skip the fast on health grounds. The vrat is about devotion, not endurance.

Who Observes Navadurga Worship

Traditionally, Navratri and the Navadurga worship are observed across the household — by men and women, married and unmarried, young and old. Some regional customs place particular roles on certain family members (for instance, in leading Kanya Pujan or specific vrats), while contemporary practice is widely inclusive, with everyone participating according to ability and interest. There is no single prescriptive rule; follow the range of practice your family and temple uphold.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the nine forms of Navadurga in order?

In the traditional order, the nine forms are Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri — worshipped one per day across the nine nights of Navratri.

When is Navadurga worshipped in 2026?

The nine Navadurga forms are worshipped across Sharad Navratri, from 11 to 19 October 2026, with one form honoured on each of the nine days.

Which form is worshipped on the first day?

Shailaputri, the daughter of the mountains, is worshipped on the first day of Navratri — 11 October in 2026 — with the mantra 'Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah'.

Which form is worshipped on the ninth day?

Siddhidatri, the bestower of siddhis, is worshipped on the ninth day (Navami) — 19 October in 2026 — completing the Navadurga cycle. Vijayadashami follows the next day.

What is the simplest mantra for each Navadurga form?

The most widely recited form is 'Om Devi <Name>yai Namah' — for example, 'Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah' or 'Om Devi Siddhidatryai Namah'. Devotees also recite longer Durga stotras from a proper text.

Do Amanta and Purnimanta panchangs give different Navadurga dates?

For Ashwin (Sharad) Navratri both reckonings share the same Shukla-paksha tithi count, so the days generally align. A tithi kshaya or vriddhi in a given year can shift a form's day by one — follow the panchang your family and temple use.

Is fasting required to worship the Navadurga forms?

Fasting is a traditional part of Navratri for many, but it is not universally required; practice ranges from one meal a day to fruit-based or full fasts. Anyone pregnant or with a medical condition should consult a doctor before fasting.

Who can observe Navadurga worship?

Traditionally the whole household participates — men and women, married and unmarried. Contemporary practice is widely inclusive; there is no single prescriptive rule, so follow the range of practice your family and temple uphold.