- Navratri day
- Day 7
- Date in 2026
- Saturday, 17 Oct 2026
- Colour
- Grey
- Vahan
- Donkey
- Prasad / bhog
- Jaggery (gud)
- Tithi at sunrise
- Saptami
About Maa Kalaratri
Kalaratri means "the dark night" of time. She has a dark complexion, open, flowing hair and three eyes, and she breathes fire. She took this form to destroy demons such as Shumbha, Nishumbha and Raktabija.
She has four arms: one holds a sword, one a hooked iron weapon, and the other two bless and protect. She rides a donkey. Though she looks frightening, she always does good for her devotees, so she is also called Shubhankari.
Puja vidhi
- Offer flowers, kumkum and akshat after the morning prayer. Many devotees also do a special puja at night on Saptami.
- Offer jaggery (gud) or sweets made with jaggery as bhog.
- Chant her mantra and pray for freedom from fear.
- Finish with the aarti. In Bengal, Maha Saptami and the Navapatrika (Kola Bou) bath fall on 18 October in 2026.
Mantra
Mantra
ॐ देवी कालरात्र्यै नमः॥
Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah
Dhyana mantra
एकवेणी जपाकर्णपूरा नग्ना खरास्थिता। लम्बोष्ठी कर्णिकाकर्णी तैलाभ्यक्तशरीरिणी॥ वामपादोल्लसल्लोहलताकण्टकभूषणा। वर्धनमूर्धध्वजा कृष्णा कालरात्रिर्भयङ्करी॥
Ekaveni japakarnapura nagna kharasthita, lambosthi karnikakarni tailabhyakta-sharirini. Vamapadollasal-lohalata-kantaka-bhushana, vardhana-murdhadhvaja krishna Kalaratrir-bhayankari.
Recite this while picturing the Devi before you begin the puja.
Stuti
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ कालरात्रि रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu Maa Kalaratri rupena samsthita, namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah.
Aarti
Aarti: Om Jai Ambe Gauri
This is the aarti of Maa Durga (Ambe Maa) sung every evening of Navratri, whichever form is worshipped that day. It is traditionally credited to Shivanand Swami, as its last verse says.
जय अम्बे गौरी, मैया जय श्यामा गौरी। तुमको निशदिन ध्यावत, हरि ब्रह्मा शिवरी॥ ॐ जय अम्बे गौरी॥
Jai Ambe Gauri, Maiya Jai Shyama Gauri, Tumko nishdin dhyavat, Hari Brahma Shivri. Om Jai Ambe Gauri.
माँग सिंदूर विराजत, टीको मृगमद को। उज्ज्वल से दोउ नैना, चंद्रवदन नीको॥
Maang sindoor virajat, tiko mrigmad ko, Ujjval se dou naina, chandravadan neeko.
कनक समान कलेवर, रक्ताम्बर राजै। रक्तपुष्प गल माला, कंठन पर साजै॥
Kanak saman kalevar, raktambar raajai, Raktapushp gal mala, kanthan par saajai.
केहरि वाहन राजत, खड्ग खप्पर धारी। सुर-नर-मुनिजन सेवत, तिनके दुखहारी॥
Kehari vahan raajat, khadag khappar dhaari, Sur-nar-munijan sevat, tinke dukhhaari.
कानन कुण्डल शोभित, नासाग्रे मोती। कोटिक चंद्र दिवाकर, सम राजत ज्योती॥
Kaanan kundal shobhit, nasagre moti, Kotik chandra divakar, sam raajat jyoti.
शुंभ-निशुंभ बिदारे, महिषासुर घाती। धूम्र विलोचन नैना, निशदिन मदमाती॥
Shumbh-Nishumbh bidaare, Mahishasur ghaati, Dhumra vilochan naina, nishdin madmaati.
चण्ड-मुण्ड संहारे, शोणित बीज हरे। मधु-कैटभ दोउ मारे, सुर भयहीन करे॥
Chand-Mund sanhaare, Shonit Beej hare, Madhu-Kaitabh dou maare, sur bhayheen kare.
ब्रह्माणी, रुद्राणी, तुम कमला रानी। आगम निगम बखानी, तुम शिव पटरानी॥
Brahmani, Rudrani, tum Kamala Rani, Agam Nigam bakhaani, tum Shiv patrani.
चौंसठ योगिनी मंगल गावत, नृत्य करत भैरों। बाजत ताल मृदंगा, अरु बाजत डमरू॥
Chausath yogini mangal gaavat, nritya karat Bhairon, Baajat taal mridanga, aru baajat damru.
तुम ही जग की माता, तुम ही हो भरता। भक्तन की दुख हरता, सुख संपति करता॥
Tum hi jag ki mata, tum hi ho bharta, Bhaktan ki dukh harta, sukh sampati karta.
भुजा चार अति शोभित, वर मुद्रा धारी। मनवांछित फल पावत, सेवत नर नारी॥
Bhuja chaar ati shobhit, var mudra dhaari, Manvanchhit phal paavat, sevat nar naari.
कंचन थाल विराजत, अगर कपूर बाती। श्रीमालकेतु में राजत, कोटि रतन ज्योती॥
Kanchan thaal virajat, agar kapur baati, Shrimalketu mein raajat, koti ratan jyoti.
श्री अम्बेजी की आरती, जो कोई नर गावै। कहत शिवानंद स्वामी, सुख-सम्पत्ति पावै॥
Shri Ambeji ki aarti, jo koi nar gaave, Kahat Shivanand Swami, sukh-sampatti paave.
Significance
Kalaratri teaches that the Goddess removes fear rather than causes it. Devotees pray to her for protection from enemies, bad dreams and fear of the unknown. Her worship is linked with the Sahasrara chakra.
Day 7 in 2026: tithi and timings
Day 7 falls on Saptami tithi, which starts at 5:54 AM on 17 October and runs past the next sunrise. That is why 18 October is also Saptami in 2026.
| Date | Tithi at sunrise | Sunrise | Sunset | Moonrise | Rahu Kaal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 16 Oct | Shashthi | 6:22 AM | 5:50 PM | 11:34 AM | 10:40 AM – 12:06 PM |
| Sat, 17 Oct | Saptami | 6:23 AM | 5:49 PM | 12:22 PM | 9:14 AM – 10:40 AM |
| Sun, 18 Oct | Saptami until 8:28 AM, then Ashtami | 6:23 AM | 5:48 PM | 1:05 PM | 4:23 PM – 5:48 PM |
On this day Rahu Kaal falls in the morning, soon after sunrise. Families who avoid it usually finish the morning puja before it starts or begin after it ends. What sunrise, moonrise and Rahu Kaal mean
Timings are calculated for New Delhi in Indian Standard Time. Tithi start and end times are the same moment across India, but sunrise, sunset, moonrise, Rahu Kaal and muhurats change with your city. Other panchangs may differ by a minute or two.