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Navratri Day 5: Maa Skandamata, Puja, Rituals, Colour, SIgnificance, And Rituals
On the fifth morning of Navratri, a bunch of bananas often sits on the puja thali beside a diya and a handful of yellow flowers. It is a small, unfussy offering, and that is rather the point. Navratri Day 5 falls on Thursday, 15 October 2026, on the Panchami tithi, and it belongs to Maa Skandamata, the most maternal of Durga's nine forms.
The date also marks Lalita Panchami, or Upang Lalita Vrat, which many households observe alongside their Navratri fast. This year's Navratri runs from 11 to 19 October, with Dussehra on 20 October.
Who Is Maa Skandamata?
Her name means 'mother of Skanda', another name for Kartikeya, also known as Murugan, the commander of the gods' army who defeated the demon Tarakasura. She is shown with four arms, seated on a lotus, which is why she is also called Padmasana Devi, and she rides a lion. In most images, the infant Skanda sits in her lap.
It is a striking picture: a fierce lion beneath her, a calm child in her arms.
A Mother's Strength, Not Just Her Softness
Devotees turn to Skandamata for courage, wisdom and protection from adversity. Worshipping her is believed to bring the blessings of Lord Kartikeya too, which is why the day is often called a dual blessing.
The Colour Of The Day: Yellow
This year's weekday-based colour calendar assigns yellow to Day 5. Yellow is often linked with warmth, learning and cheer, and many devotees pair it with yellow flowers on the altar.
Some lists, including those for Chaitra Navratri earlier this year, name white for this day instead. The nine colours are a modern, regional custom rather than a scriptural rule, so either shade is acceptable.
A Simple Puja Vidhi For Day 5
The ritual is short and suits a home altar:
- Wake early, bathe and wear clean clothes.
- Set up an image or idol of Skandamata with Kartikeya on a clean cloth.
- Take a sankalp, stating that the puja is for Maa Skandamata on the fifth day.
- Light a lamp and offer yellow flowers.
- Offer bananas as bhog, the traditional prasad of the day.
- Chant her mantra: Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Skandamata Rupena Samsthita, Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah.
- Close with the Skandamata aarti and the Durga Mata aarti.
The whole puja takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes. Muhurat timings vary by city, so confirm them with a local panchang or priest.
Things To Do On Navratri Day 5
- Wear yellow, or white if that is your family's custom.
- Share the banana bhog as prasad once the puja ends.
- Keep the fast satvik if you are observing one.
- Chant a mala of the mantra, as many families do each day of Navratri.
- Honour teachers and elders. Thursday is Guru's day, which gives the date an extra reason for it.
- Call or visit your mother, or the person who played that role in your life. It suits the day.
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