Ashwin Shukla Panchami, the sixth day of Navaratri, marks the worship of Skandamata, the fifth of the nine forms of Goddess Durga. Today, devotees across Nepal perform rituals and prayers to honor Skandamata in their Dashain Ghar or Puja rooms.
According to the Chandogya Upanishad, the goddess Parvati became known as Skandamata after giving birth to Skanda (Sanatkumara). As the mother of Skanda, she is revered as Skandamata. During Navaratri, devotees perform the recitation of Durga Saptashati (Chandi), Shrimad Devi Bhagwat, and other hymns to praise the goddess. It is believed that by worshipping the goddess during Navaratri, devotees receive blessings of power, prosperity, and knowledge.
Every year, followers of the Vedic Sanatan tradition worship Goddess Durga from Ashwin Shukla Pratipada (Ghatasthapana) to Navami. The offerings made during these nine days are taken as prasad and worn from Vijayadashami to Kojagrat Purnima, making the Dashain festival a 15-day celebration for Nepali people.
This year’s Navaratri began on October 3 (Ashwin 17), with Ghatasthapana being observed through Vedic rituals, during which barley seeds (Jamara) were planted. On the first day, devotees invoked Shailaputri, the first form of Durga, followed by the invocation of Brahmacharini on the second day (October 4). On the third day, Saturday, devotees worshiped Chandraghanta, and on the fourth and fifth days, they offered prayers to Kushmanda. Today, being the sixth day, devotees perform rituals to honor Skandamata.
The Dashain festival also referred to as Durga Paksha, involves the worship of nine forms of Durga over nine days: Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri. This year, due to the addition of a lunar day, two days were dedicated to Kushmanda, as per the Nepal Panchanga Decision Committee.
Navaratri witnesses large gatherings at temples and Shakti Peeths across the country. Devotees throng these sacred sites, especially in Kathmandu and other regions, seeking the goddess’s blessings for family prosperity, peace, and happiness.
Source: RSS
