7th day of Navratri: Maa Kaalratri

Maa Kaalratri is regarded as a divine luminary and an unending wellspring of knowledge. It is believed that she rules the planet Shani. Hence, those who worship Maa Kaalratri on this day are said to have good fortune as well as wisdom.

On the seventh day of the festival, Maa Kaalratri is worshipped by the Hindu devotees. Known as one of the fiercest forms of Goddess Durga, Maa Kaalratri can drive away all kinds of negative energy with her presence.

Maa Kaalratri is considered to be the most ferocious avatar of Navadurga and is known for destroying ignorance and removing darkness from the universe.

she is also hailed as Shubhankari (the one who does good). Kaalratri Maa governs Shani (Saturn), and hence, those suffering from Shani Dosha worship her to negate the adverse effects. Moreover, this avatar of the Mother Goddess destroys evil to restore peace and Dharma.

Puja Vidhi and bhog for Maa Kaalratri:

**Performing Navgraha Puja on this day is deemed particularly auspicious.

The adherents perform the puja with rice, bhog, flowers, incense sticks, ganga jal, dry fruits and panchamrita.

**Jasmine which blooms at night is Maa Kaalratri’s favourite flower, thus, to appease the goddess, jasmine is offered to her during the puja.

Jaggery or anything made of jaggery is offered to Goddess Kaalratri as prasad. On Saptami night, devotees also do the Sringar puja, in which they present items used in day-to-day cosmetics in a set of two. The items are split into two sets, one set is later given in the temples, and the other set is kept by the adherents as a form of prasad.

Enchanting Mantra for worshiping Goddess Kaalratri:

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मां कालरात्रि रूपेण संस्थिता, नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:॥

–Priya Kashyap