Navratri 2022: Devotees worship Goddess Kaalratri for Maha Saptami today

As today marks the seventh day of Navratri 2022, devotees are worshipping Goddess Kaalratri, the seventh incarnation of Maa Durga.

As per Hindu mythology, Goddess Kaalratri is considered as the fiercest form of Goddess Durga. She is described as the destroyer of evil and negative energies. 

A Sanskrit word, Kaalratri means the one who destroys darkness. Goddess Kaalratri is known to ride a donkey and wear a garland made of skulls around her neck.

Devotees attended the morning aarti at Chhatarpur Temple, Delhi and also flocked in large numbers to Delhi's Jhandewalan Temple. They worshipped the goddess and attended the aarti on the seventh day of Navratri, celebrated as Maha Saptami.

Devotees worship the nine incarnations of Maa Durga during the nine-day long Navratri festival to seek her blessings. Each day of Navratri has a goddess manifestation linked to it. Throughout these nine days, people maintain ritualistic fasts, wear new clothing, recite shlokas dedicated to each incarnation, offer food to the needy and clean their homes.

The ask for the goddess' fervour in their prayers to live joyous, prosperous and fulfilled lives. Devotees observe fasts and offer their prayers to Goddess Durga in these nine days.

The Navratri festival signifies the triumph of good over evil, as it honours the defeat of demon Mahishasura. The tenth day of Navratri is celebrated with full fervour as Vijaya Dashmi, popularly called Dussehra.

This year, Navratri began on 26th September and will end on 5th October. North India extensively conducts Ramlila during Navratri, which exhibits the tale of triumph of Lord Ram over Ravana. Dances like Garba and Dandiya Raas are also performed. The idols of King Ravana are burned on the day of Dussehra to mark this significance.