Navratri 2025 Day 3: As Mumbaikars dress-up in Royal Blue, here’s the cultural significance

Image for representational purpose only. Photo Courtesy: File pic

Navratri 2025 takes place from September 22 to October 2. It is a significant Hindu festival celebrated across India with great fervour. Goddess Durga is honored during these nine auspicious days and nights. Each day is dedicated to nine incarnations of the goddess, also called Navdurga, and symbolises the triump of good over evil. Each day of Navratri also has a specific auspicious color associated with it. Today is the third day of Navratri when Maa Chandraghanta is worshipped.

Maa Chandraghanta symbolizes courage, serenity, strength, and grace. In her honor the colour Royal Blue is worn by devotees. Those who feel insecure are suggested to worship Maa Chandraghanta. With her blessings, devotees find the courage to overcome challenges, and find peace to lead with harmony.

Maa Chandraghanta is the wedded form of Goddess Parvati. The name ‘Chandra', which means moon and ‘ghanta' meaning bell, is derived as she is said to adorn herself with a half-moon shaped bell on her forehead, and divine strength after her marriage to Lord Shiva. The ardha-chandra (half-moon) is not just decorative, but rather highly symbolic. Alongside her awake third-eye, the half-moon also symbolises the goddess' heightened awareness, constant vigilance, and readiness to confront evil without any hesitation.

Maa Chandraghanta is said to have three eyes and ten hands. She holds a lotus flower, Kamandala, Japa mala, trishul, sword, gada, arrow and bow. She is incharge of Lord Surya and governs the Manipura Chakra.

While the first day of Navratri was devoted to Maa Shailaputri, with devotees donning white to symbolize purity and new beginnings, the second day honored Maa Brahmacharini in red, representing energy, determination, and devotion. As the festival continues, devotees eagerly await the fourth day, which is dedicated to Maa Kushmanda, the goddess believed to be the creator of the universe. Yellow will mark the day, radiating light, positivity, and divine prosperity.