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The nine-days-long Sharadiya Navratri 2023 is one of the most important Hindu festivals of the year, and is dedicated to the worship of the nine forms of Goddess Durga. The last five days of this festive period, meaning from Shashthi to Dashami, are also celebrated as Durga Puja 2023 by people in Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Tripura and Bihar. In 2023, Navratri began on October 15 and is scheduled to conclude on October 23, followed by Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami on October 24.
As you may already know, each day of the Navratri 2023 festival is dedicated to the worship of a particular form of Maa Durga. Following the worship of Devi Katyayani on Shashthi or the sixth day, the seventh day or Saptami is dedicated to the worship of Devi Kalratri. Known as the fiercest form of Maa Durga, Devi Kalratri’s worship is all set to take place on the night of October 21, 2023. Here is everything you need to know about this goddess, her significance and how to worship her.
Video Credit: YouTube/Gapar Chapar
The Story Behind Devi Kalratri’s Victory
Named after her dark complexion, Devi Kalratri is most famous for killing the demons Raktabeej, Shumbha, Nishumbha and more. Hindu scriptures say that Shumbha and Nishumbha attacked Indraloka or the abode of the gods, and the gods united to pray to goddess Durga, who took on the form of Devi Kalratri. The demons’ minions, Chanda and Munda attacked Devi Kalratri and was slain by them, after which the gods gave her the name of Devi Chamunda.
Hearing of Chanda-Munda's defeat, the demon Raktabeej (who had a boon that if even a drop of his blood fell on the ground then his clone would be born of it) attacked Devi Kalratri. As it got difficult for the goddess to kill all the clones of Raktabeej, she took a gigantic form and started swallowing every drop of the demon’s blood in a bid to defeat him. After an arduos battle, she was able to kill this demon too.
Finally, Devi Kalratri faced Shumbha and Nishumbha and defeated them after a huge battle. But then, in her fiercest form and pumping with adrenaline, Devi Kalratri could not calm down and continued slaying anyone on her way. The gods united to pray and calm her down, but to no avail. Finally, Lord Shiva lay down in front of her in an attempt to calm her battle rage and Devi Kalratri accidentally stepped on her. This mistake against her beloved husband immediately calmed her down, she stuck out her tongue and apologised to Lord Shiva.
How To Worship Devi Kalratri
Devi Kalratri is known for her Krishna Varna or dark complexion, and it is believed the colour blue is holy to her. A symbol of fearlessness, the colour blue is worn on Saptami by devotees to honour and worship Devi Kalratri. It is also believed that jaggery is much loved by Devi Kalratri, so this sweet and natural food must be offered to her during the Puja rituals. Offering marigold flowers to Devi Kalratri and lighting lamps of ghee is very important during the Puja rituals, and so is reciting the Durga Saptashati mantras under the direction of a pandit or purohit.
