Navratri 5th Day 2024 Maa Skandamata: Date, Puja Vidhi, Shubh Muhurat, Colour.

The vibrant nine-day festival of Navratri, which honors Goddess Durga, began on October 3, 2024, and will conclude on October 12, 2024. This festival is marked by fasting, cultural celebrations like garba, and rituals that invoke the nine forms of Goddess Durga, also known as Aadishakti. The celebration reaches its peak on the tenth day with Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami), symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.

Navratri 2024 Day 5: Worshipping Mata Skandamata

On the fifth day of Navratri, devotees pay homage to Mata Skandamata, the mother of Lord Kartikeya, a form of Goddess Durga. She is depicted as a four-armed deity, holding baby Kartikeya in her lap and riding a lion. Worshipping Mata Skandamata is believed to bestow blessings of wisdom, prosperity, and salvation.

It is said that those who worship Skandamata on this day are blessed with power and prosperity. Even those who lack knowledge can receive wisdom through her grace. Offering selfless devotion to her leads to success and wealth in life.

Navratri 2024 Day 5 Color: White

White is the chosen color for the fifth day, symbolizing purity and innocence. Wearing white is believed to invoke a sense of peace and worthiness to receive the blessings of Mata Skandamata.

Puja Vidhi for Mata Skandamata

The ritual for worshipping Mata Skandamata includes:

1. Bathing, wearing clean clothes, and preparing an offering (bhog).
2. Offering prasad such as bananas, the goddess’s favorite fruit, along with flowers and cardamoms.
3. Lighting a deepam (lamp) and offering sacred water.
4. Reciting the mantra: Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah.

Shubh Muhurat for Day 5

According to Drik Panchang, the auspicious timings for performing the puja on Day 5 are as follows:

• Brahma Muhurat: 4:39 AM – 5:28 AM
• Abhijit Muhurat: 11:45 AM – 12:32 PM
• Pratah Sandhya: 5:04 AM – 6:17 AM
• Amrit Kalam: 3:03 PM – 4:48 PM
• Vijaya Muhurta: 2:06 PM – 2:52 PM

Bhog to Offer Mata Skandamata

On Day 5, devotees offer bananas and prepare banana sweets to seek the blessings of Mata Skandamata for power and prosperity. Bananas are considered the goddess's favorite fruit, making it a key part of the offerings.