- Navratri day
- Day 6
- Date in 2026
- Friday, 16 Oct 2026
- Colour
- Green
- Vahan
- Lion
- Prasad / bhog
- Honey
- Tithi at sunrise
- Shashthi
About Maa Katyayani
Katyayani was born in the ashram of the sage Katyayan, who had prayed for years for the Goddess to be born as his daughter. She is the warrior form of Durga who fought and killed the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
She has four arms, holding a sword and a lotus, with the other two hands in the gestures of blessing and fearlessness. She rides a lion. In the Bhagavata Purana, the gopis of Vrindavan worshipped Katyayani hoping to have Krishna as their husband.
Puja vidhi
- Offer flowers (red or yellow), kumkum and akshat after the morning prayer.
- Offer honey as bhog, or a sweet made with honey.
- Chant her mantra. Unmarried girls traditionally pray to her for a good life partner.
- Finish with the aarti. In Bengal, Durga Puja begins with Bodhon on Shashthi.
Mantra
Mantra
ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नमः॥
Om Devi Katyayanyai Namah
Dhyana mantra
चन्द्रहासोज्ज्वलकरा शार्दूलवरवाहना। कात्यायनी शुभं दद्याद् देवी दानवघातिनी॥
Chandrahasojjvala-kara shardulavara-vahana, Katyayani shubham dadyad Devi danavaghatini.
Recite this while picturing the Devi before you begin the puja.
Stuti
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ कात्यायनी रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu Maa Katyayani 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
Katyayani is the power that removes injustice. Her worship is associated with courage, protection and the Ajna chakra. Because of the gopis' story, she is also prayed to for a happy marriage.
Day 6 in 2026: tithi and timings
Day 6 falls on Shashthi tithi. In Bengal, Durga Puja begins on Shashthi: in 2026 Bilva Nimantran is on the evening of 16 October, and Bodhon (the awakening of the Goddess) follows on 17 October.
| Date | Tithi at sunrise | Sunrise | Sunset | Moonrise | Rahu Kaal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, 15 Oct | Panchami | 6:21 AM | 5:51 PM | 10:41 AM | 1:33 PM – 2:59 PM |
| 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 |
On this day Rahu Kaal falls around midday, so an early morning puja is not affected. 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.