Navratri 2017: Here is how to worship Goddess Durga's fifth avatar

The festive season in the country has begun and people are busy in the celebrations of Navratri. The Navratri is one of the biggest festivals celebrated by Hindus. During nine auspicious days of Navratri, devotees worship nine avatars of Goddess Shakti. The devotions among the Hindus for nine days bring changes in their daily routine. Each and every day of Navratri has different significance and values for the devotees. Each day is also associated with one colour and one planetary body.

Today is the fifth day of Navratri and on this day Maa Skandamata, an avataar of Maa Durga, is worshipped. Maa Skandmata is four-armed and rides a lion like Goddess Durga. She carries a lotus, a water material and a bell. Her one hand is in blessing posture. She is the mother of Lord Kartikeya who is also known as Skanda. Lord Skanda can be seen in her lap. She is depicted as a fair complexioned goddess seated on a lotus for which she is also called Goddess Padmasana.

Here is how to worship Skandamata:

It is to be believed that Maa Skandmata loves red color flowers, so offering her red flowers and banana fruit could help you to impress the Goddess. The Goddess also gets pleased by lotus flower.Besides this, Puja can be performed in the same way as you are performing for the last four days. Offer prayers to Kalash and then all Gods and Goddesses. Join your hands and knee down before the divinity with pure mind to begin the puja.

This year the festival starts on 21 September and ends on 30 September.