Devi Katyayani Puja 2026

Day Six of Devi Navratri: Katyayani Puja

Katyayani Puja is performed on the sixth day of Devi (Sharad) Navratri, on Ashwayuja Shukla Shashti. Katyayani, the sixth Navadurga, is the warrior goddess who slew Mahishasura and is also worshipped as the mother who blesses young people with a good marriage. From this day the Dasara festive mood grows even stronger.

The Story of Katyayani

When Mahishasura's tyranny became unbearable, the devas combined their divine radiance and a great Shakti emerged from it. Because she was first worshipped in the ashram of Sage Katyayana, or, in another version, because she was born as his daughter in answer to his penance, she is called Katyayani. Tradition says she destroyed Mahishasura in the month of Ashwayuja, and Dasara celebrates that victory. She is golden in colour, has four arms holding a sword and a lotus, and rides a lion.

The Bhagavatam describes the gopikas of Vrepalle (Vraja) observing the Katyayani Vratam in the month of Margashira to win Sri Krishna as their husband. That is why girls hoping for marriage pray especially to Katyayani.

Chandrahasojjvalakara shardulavaravahana | Katyayani shubham dadyad devi danavaghatini ||

Puja Steps

• Bathe in the morning and bow to the Kalasha and Akhanda Deepam if you have set them up.
• Decorate the goddess with red flowers, turmeric and kumkum.
• Chant "Om Devi Katyayanyai Namaha" 108 times.
• Many families offer honey as the special naivedyam, along with payasam or sweet pongal.
• In some homes, those seeking marriage place turmeric and kumkum before the goddess and later give them with tamboolam to married women.
• Offer aarti and share the naivedyam as prasadam.

What Makes This Day Special

By now the queues for Kanaka Durga darshan on Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada grow longer, and Bathukamma songs fill the evenings across Telangana. If the Moola nakshatra, associated with Saraswati Puja, falls during these days, families travel to the Gnana Saraswati temple at Basara for their children's Aksharabhyasam.

Blessings of the Day

Devotees believe that worshipping Katyayani removes obstacles to marriage and replaces fear with courage. Her form shows that the strength to fight evil and the tenderness to protect the good live in the same mother.

May Mother Katyayani bless everyone with auspiciousness and happiness.