3rd day of Navratri - Goddess, Color, Mantra And Puja Rituals

Navratri Day 3 Overview

The day 3 Navratri rituals and practices revolve around the worship of Maa Chandraghanta.

Aspect	Details
Sharad Navratri 3rd Day 2026 Date	13 October 2026 (Tuesday)
Tithi	Tritiya (third lunar day as per Hindu Panchang)
Navratri Day	Navratri Day 3
Goddess Worshipped	Maa Chandraghanta
Navratri Third Day Color	Red
Key Ritual	Worship of Maa Chandraghanta
Planet Associated	Mars (Mangal)

What’s the Significance of the 3rd Day of Navratri?

The third day of Navratri holds deep spiritual meaning as it honors a goddess who embodies both fierce power and serene compassion. Worship on Navaratri day 3 is believed to dispel fears, grant inner strength, and shield devotees from negativity, making it ideal for those seeking courage in challenges.

Key spiritual meanings associated with Navratri day 3 include:

• Awakening bravery and spiritual courage

• Balancing aggression with peace

• Protection from negativity and overcoming fears

• Enhancing devotion and marital harmony

Navratri Day 3 Goddess: Maa Chandraghanta

The Navratri day 3 goddess is Maa Chandraghanta, the third form of Navadurga, named for the half-moon (Chandra) shaped like a bell (Ghanta) on her forehead. She represents the married form of Parvati alongside Lord Shiva, blending strength and kindness to grant peace and victory over fears.

Puja Essentials (Samagri) for Navratri 3rd Day

Gather these items for a complete Navratri Day 3 puja to honor the goddess properly.

• Idol or picture of Maa Chandraghanta

• Pooja thali (ritual tray) with roli, kumkum, haldi (turmeric), chandan, and sindoor (red powder)

• Flowers and garlands, including red flowers such as roses and hibiscus or other fresh flowers.

• Ghee diya, incense sticks, dhoop, camphor

• Fruits, sweets, panchamrit (a sacred mixture of milk, yogurt (curd), honey, sugar (or jaggery), and ghee), and special bhog like kheer (milk-based rice pudding)

• Ghanti (bell), shankh (conch), rudraksha mala for japa (chants)

• Red or other suitable-colored cloth for the altar, vermilion for the tilak (a sacred mark applied to the forehead during rituals)

Puja Rituals for Navratri Day 3

On the third day of Navratri, rituals emphasize invoking Maa Chandraghanta's protective energy through structured worship.

Morning Rituals:

• Get up early, bathe, and Wear clean or new clothes, preferably red, according to the Navratri 3rd day color.

• Clean the puja area, decorate with rangoli, and light a ghee diya before the Kalash from Ghatasthapana (established on Day 1 of Navratri).

• Offer kumkum (sacred vermillion powder), chandan (sandalwood paste), and fresh flowers to the established Kalash before focusing on Maa Chandraghanta's idol or image.

Worship of Maa Chandraghanta:

• Perform abhishek, if part of your family or temple tradition, using traditional offerings such as milk, curd, honey, or Gangajal

• Adorn with a red or suitable-colored chunari, ornaments, and garlands

• Light incense, dhoop, and camphor while ringing a bell to create sacred vibrations

• Offer bhog and perform aarti with devotion

Aarti, Bhajans, and Katha:

Devotees recite Durga aarti, Navdurga stuti, and simple bhajans praising Maa Chandraghanta's protective power and serene devotion.

• Reading or listening to Chandraghanta's Katha (story) helps devotees understand the deeper meaning of this third day of Navratri.

• Families often gather in the evening for group aarti, which strengthens collective faith and devotion.

• Evening practices include bhajans, Durga Saptashati recitation (third chapter), and distributing prasad to the family.

Navratri Day 3 Mantra

Mantra chanting is a key ritual connecting with the Navratri 3rd day Devi. Devotees often chant this main Beej Mantra of Maa Chandraghanta for her blessings.

|| Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah ||

Color of the 3rd Day of Navratri: Red

The Navratri 3rd day color is red, which symbolizes energy, courage, strength, and devotion. Red is associated with the powerful and dynamic nature of Maa Chandraghanta, the third form of Goddess Durga.

On the 3rd day of Navratri, devotees often wear red clothes and may use red-colored cloth, flowers, or decorations during the puja. These traditional practices add a vibrant and devotional atmosphere to the worship of Maa Chandraghanta.

Auspicious Offerings, Flowers, and Bhog on Day 3 of Navratri

Offerings on the third day of Navratri are made to Maa Chandraghanta as part of the worship and devotional observance.

• Flowers: Red flowers such as roses and hibiscus, along with other fresh flowers, may be offered according to local and family traditions.

• Bhog: Fruits, sweets, milk-based preparations, and other simple sattvik offerings may be prepared for the puja.

• Special Offerings: Devotees may offer sweets and other traditional bhog items to Maa Chandraghanta as part of the Day 3 worship.

Fasting Rules for the 3rd Day of Navratri

Navratri vrat on day 3 continues the purification from previous days, focusing on discipline for Maa Chandraghanta's grace. Many devotees continue the vrat they started on the first day, while some begin fasting specifically on the 3rd day of Navratri. Devotees avoid wheat, rice, lentils, onions, and other general foods and prefer eating fruits, dairy items, Sabudana (sago pearls) dishes, and more. You can read all rules for Navratri fasting here.

Do’s and Don’ts for Navratri Day 3

Follow these instructions for auspicious observance of the third Navratri.

Do’s:

• Begin the day with prayers and positive thoughts

• Chant Maa Chandraghanta mantras and perform aarti with full devotion

• Wear clothes based on the day 3 Navratri color (Red)

• Maintain a sattvic diet

• Share prasad and involve family in evening bhajans

• Focus on courage-building activities like meditation

Don’ts:

• Avoid anger, arguments, negative thoughts, or speech

• Avoid disturbing or moving the Kalash after it has been established, unless required as part of the prescribed ritual

• No tamasic foods, alcohol, or non-veg during vrat

• Refrain from laziness; stay active in worship

• Do not consume alcohol, tobacco, or non-vegetarian food

• Avoid breaking fasting rules without reason

The 3rd day of Navratri is dedicated to the powerful form of Goddess Chandraghanta, who symbolizes courage, protection, and spiritual transformation. By observing vrat, chanting the Navratri 3rd day mantra, wearing the Navratri 3rd day color, and performing traditional rituals, devotees invite strength, positivity, and divine blessings into their lives.

Understanding the significance of the Navratri third day, its rituals, offerings, and spiritual meaning allows devotees to celebrate this sacred day with deeper devotion and awareness.

Want to perform the 3rd day of Navratri rituals the right way? Talk to an expert astrologer on Astroyogi now and get personalized guidance for puja, mantra, and vrat.