Navratri Day 3: Chandraghanta - Bearer of the Half-Moon Bell

Name: Navratri Day 3: Chandraghanta
Start: 2026-10-13
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra

The ten-armed warrior on the tiger, the crescent bell upon her brow; the third night arms the devotee with serene courage.

Tuesday, 13 October 2026·Ashwin Shukla Tritiya (Navratri Day 3)·Mumbai, Maharashtra

Wear todayRed

Navratri Day 3ChandraghantaBearer of the Half-Moon Bell

ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः

Bhog Milk & kheerVahana Tiger

Main Muhurta★★★★★

Durga Puja - Abhijit Muhurat

12:01 pm – 12:48 pm(47 min)

Time to muhurta…

On the Day

Wear the day's colour
Offer milk and kheer as bhog to Chandraghanta, and give milk or a milk-sweet in charity
Chant the seed mantra 'ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः' in daily japa, ideally 108 times on a rosary
Focus worship on courage and protection; ring the bell during aarti to invoke her fearless grace

Muhurtas

Durga Puja - Abhijit Muhurat★★★★★

12:01 pm – 12:48 pm · 47 min

Main daily worship of Chandraghanta - abhishekam, offering the bhog and mantra japa for protection and courage.

Why this rank: The self-victorious midday window that conquers all obstacles - the most auspicious general muhurat of the day for worshipping the Goddess when no named festival muhurat is prescribed.

Deity: Durga as ChandraghantaDo: Durga Puja and aarti with the ringing of the bell, Offering milk and kheer as bhog, Seed-mantra japaAvoid: Interruptions once the puja begins

Auspicious Choghadiya★★★☆☆

Labh 10:56 am – 12:24 pm
Amrit 12:24 pm – 1:52 pm
Shubh 3:20 pm – 4:49 pm

Daily worship, mantra japa and other auspicious Navratri observances.

Why this rank: The day's benefic Choghadiya blocks - good general windows for puja, japa and vrat observances when the Abhijit Muhurat has passed.

This day's panchang

TithiShukla Tritiya

NakshatraVishakha

YogaPriti

KaranaTaitila

MasaAshwin

SamvatVikram 2082

Significance

Importance

The third day of Sharad Navratri is dedicated to Chandraghanta, the fierce yet serene warrior form of the Goddess who wears a crescent moon shaped like a bell (ghanta) upon her brow. She is worshipped for courage, protection and the dispelling of fear. Her presence marks the sadhana's turn toward valour, granting the devotee the strength to face every adversity with a calm, undaunted heart.

Religious significance

Chandraghanta embodies courage tempered by serenity - the strength to confront fear without losing inner peace. Her worship dispels obstacles, negativity and fear, and fills the devotee with valour and calm confidence. She teaches that true courage is not agitation but a steady, protected heart.

Why it is celebrated

To seek the Goddess's protection from fear, danger and evil, and to receive her blessing of serene courage for the trials of life.

The story

Chandraghanta takes her name from the ardha-chandra, the half-moon shaped like a bell that she wears on her forehead; when Parvati married Shiva she adorned herself with this crescent and took this radiant form. She is depicted with ten arms, golden-hued and mounted on a tiger, bearing a trident, mace, bow, arrow, sword, lotus, bell and other weapons, with hands raised in blessing and protection. The chime of her crescent bell is said to drive demons and evil spirits away and to grant peace to her devotees. Though a warrior form, her countenance is serene, uniting fierce protective power with maternal grace.

Who celebratesHindu households and Durga devotees keeping the Navratri vrat, who invoke her especially for protection and the removal of fear.

Where observedPan-India wherever Sharad Navratri is observed, honoured as the third of the nine Navadurga in home and temple worship.

Associated deities

Durga as Chandraghanta

What to do

Wear the day's colour
Offer milk and kheer as bhog to Chandraghanta, and give milk or a milk-sweet in charity
Chant the seed mantra 'ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः' in daily japa, ideally 108 times on a rosary
Focus worship on courage and protection; ring the bell during aarti to invoke her fearless grace
Continue the vrat, tend the Kalash barley and keep the Akhand Jyoti burning
Read the third chapter of the Durga Saptashati and pray for the removal of fear and obstacles

Avoid

Harbouring fear, cowardice or negativity on a day of protective courage
Quarrels and harsh speech that disturb the serenity she personifies
Onion, garlic, meat and alcohol while fasting
Neglecting the daily worship or breaking the vrat carelessly

Regional variations

In many homes milk is offered to the Goddess and then given away in charity, as offering milk to Chandraghanta is believed to relieve sorrow.
In the east the day continues the Durga Puja calendar, with Chandraghanta honoured on the third tithi.
North Indian households emphasise the ringing of bells during her aarti to drive away negativity.

Special notes

Her worship is held to grant a divine, bell-like radiance to the devotee's face and a fearless bearing.
Though armed and mounted for battle, she is invoked as much for inner peace as for protection - the two are inseparable in her form.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Chandraghanta?

The third of the nine Navadurga - the ten-armed warrior form mounted on a tiger, wearing a crescent moon shaped like a bell on her brow. She dispels fear and grants serene courage and protection.

What bhog is offered to Chandraghanta?

Milk and kheer are offered as her bhog; offering milk to her and giving it in charity is believed to relieve sorrow and bring peace.

What is the seed mantra for Day 3?

'ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः'. Chant it in daily japa, ideally 108 times on a rosary, focusing on her blessing of courage and protection.

What is the best time for worship on Day 3?

The Durga Puja Abhijit Muhurat - the self-victorious midday window - shown above for your location. The day's auspicious Choghadiya blocks serve for japa and worship at other times.

All timings are computed for Mumbai, Maharashtra and follow Drik-style rules (sunrise/sunset, Pradosh-vyapini placement, sthir-lagna muhurtas). Times shift with your location - change your city on the calendar to recompute.