Key Highlights

• Day 3 devotion: Temples across India echoed with “Jai Mata Di” as devotees worshipped Maa Chandraghanta on Tuesday.
• Delhi: Devotees began arriving at the Kalkaji Temple from the night before.
• Varanasi: Long queues formed at the Maa Chandraghanta Temple, part of Kashi’s Nav Durga temples.
• Faith over the years: One devotee has travelled 25 km daily every Navratri for 22 years.
• The offering: Red flowers and the ringing of bells mark the day’s worship.

Devotees across the country marked the third day of Navratri on Tuesday with prayers to Maa Chandraghanta, the third form of Goddess Durga, associated with courage, strength and protection. Temples rang with bells and chants of “Jai Mata Di” from the early hours.

Kalkaji Temple, Delhi: Devotees From the Night Before

At Delhi’s Kalkaji Temple, devotees began arriving as early as the night before. Mahant Surendranath Avadhut, Peethadhishwar of the temple, described the Goddess as seated on a tiger with ten arms, holding a lotus, bow, arrow and garland, along with a sword, mace, trident and water pot. “In these ten arms, she always remains ready to wield various weapons for the protection of devotees,” he said.

He advised devotees to offer red flowers and explained the significance of the bell. “When a bell is rung, the sound of the ringing of the bell (ghanta) removes all the negative energies from the atmosphere, and the devotees are blessed,” he said, adding that devotees should also worship their family deities after meditating on the Goddess.

Varanasi: Queues at the Chandraghanta Temple

In Varanasi, devotees lined up with flowers at the Maa Chandraghanta Temple, one of Kashi’s Nav Durga temples dedicated to the nine forms of the Goddess. Many photographed the adorned idol as chants filled the air.

“Baba (Lord Shiva) and Maa reside in Kashi... Maa is as important as Lord Shiva,” a devotee said.

Sandhya Singh said she visits for all nine days. “We come here for all nine days, waking up as early as 3 a.m. with a lot of love and faith to seek blessings of Maa Durga,” she said.

For Vinay Kumar Singh, the visit is a long-standing ritual. “I come here every Navratri. This has been my ritual for the last 22 years. It gives me a lot of peace,” he said, adding that he travels 25 km each day.

Why It Matters: Faith as Routine

What stands out in these scenes is the discipline of devotion: waking at 3 am, travelling long distances, returning every day for nine days, year after year. For many families, Navratri is not a single visit but a daily commitment that carries across generations, which is why temples see crowds not just on Day 1 but throughout the festival.

Who Is Maa Chandraghanta?

Her name comes from the bell-shaped half-moon on her forehead. She is worshipped as a fierce protector of her devotees, while also bringing peace and fearlessness.

The Bottom Line

From Delhi’s Kalkaji to Kashi’s Chandraghanta temple, the third day of Navratri showed devotion at its most steadfast, with bells, flowers and faith marking the worship of the goddess of courage.

With inputs from IANS.

Key Highlights

• Day 3 devotion: Temples across India echoed with “Jai Mata Di” as devotees worshipped Maa Chandraghanta on Tuesday.
• Delhi: Devotees began arriving at the Kalkaji Temple from the night before.
• Varanasi: Long queues formed at the Maa Chandraghanta Temple, part of Kashi’s Nav Durga temples.
• Faith over the years: One devotee has travelled 25 km daily every Navratri for 22 years.
• The offering: Red flowers and the ringing of bells mark the day’s worship.

Devotees across the country marked the third day of Navratri on Tuesday with prayers to Maa Chandraghanta, the third form of Goddess Durga, associated with courage, strength and protection. Temples rang with bells and chants of “Jai Mata Di” from the early hours.

Kalkaji Temple, Delhi: Devotees From the Night Before

At Delhi’s Kalkaji Temple, devotees began arriving as early as the night before. Mahant Surendranath Avadhut, Peethadhishwar of the temple, described the Goddess as seated on a tiger with ten arms, holding a lotus, bow, arrow and garland, along with a sword, mace, trident and water pot. “In these ten arms, she always remains ready to wield various weapons for the protection of devotees,” he said.

He advised devotees to offer red flowers and explained the significance of the bell. “When a bell is rung, the sound of the ringing of the bell (ghanta) removes all the negative energies from the atmosphere, and the devotees are blessed,” he said, adding that devotees should also worship their family deities after meditating on the Goddess.

Varanasi: Queues at the Chandraghanta Temple

In Varanasi, devotees lined up with flowers at the Maa Chandraghanta Temple, one of Kashi’s Nav Durga temples dedicated to the nine forms of the Goddess. Many photographed the adorned idol as chants filled the air.

“Baba (Lord Shiva) and Maa reside in Kashi... Maa is as important as Lord Shiva,” a devotee said.

Sandhya Singh said she visits for all nine days. “We come here for all nine days, waking up as early as 3 a.m. with a lot of love and faith to seek blessings of Maa Durga,” she said.

For Vinay Kumar Singh, the visit is a long-standing ritual. “I come here every Navratri. This has been my ritual for the last 22 years. It gives me a lot of peace,” he said, adding that he travels 25 km each day.

Why It Matters: Faith as Routine

What stands out in these scenes is the discipline of devotion: waking at 3 am, travelling long distances, returning every day for nine days, year after year. For many families, Navratri is not a single visit but a daily commitment that carries across generations, which is why temples see crowds not just on Day 1 but throughout the festival.

Who Is Maa Chandraghanta?

Her name comes from the bell-shaped half-moon on her forehead. She is worshipped as a fierce protector of her devotees, while also bringing peace and fearlessness.

The Bottom Line

From Delhi’s Kalkaji to Kashi’s Chandraghanta temple, the third day of Navratri showed devotion at its most steadfast, with bells, flowers and faith marking the worship of the goddess of courage.

With inputs from IANS.