Navratri 2020: Today marks the fifth day of the Navratri celebration and it is a day that holds a lot of significance. Each day in the nine-day festival is dedicated to different goddesses and on the fifth day, prayers are offered to Skandamata Devi or Maa Skandamata.

She is an avatar of Goddess Parvati and according to the scriptures, when she became the mother of Kartikeya, also known as Skanda she became Maa Skandamata. The fifth day is also called Maha Panchami and Durga Puja will officially begin from Thursday (Maha Shasthi) when  Goddess Durga will be welcomed.

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Why we worship Skandmata

Worshiping Skandmata brings happiness and peace to life. She is also known as the Goddess who bestows salvation, destroys enemies, and problems in life. It is also believed Lord Kartikeya is also pleased by worshiping Skandamata. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also sought blessings from the goddess today and tweeted about Skandamata.

He wrote in Hindi,"Today is the day of worship of Mother Skandamata in the fifth form of Goddess Durga in Navratri. I wish that the blessings of Goddess Skandamata, who created the new consciousness, remain on the countrymen forever.


Mantra for  Skandmata

To worship Skandamata devotees have to chant Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah a hundred and eight times. The chanting is followed by prayers in Sanskrit.