Celebrate Navratri 2025 Day 5 with Goddess Skandamata. Learn rituals, the significance of green, prasad recipe of banana halwa, and her nurturing symbolism.
Why is Goddess Skandamata worshipped on the fifth day of Navratri 2025?
On September 26, 2025 (Friday), the fifth day of Navratri honours Goddess Skandamata, the compassionate and protective form of Durga. Her name means “Mother of Skanda,” another name for Kartikeya, the commander of the divine armies. She is depicted riding a lion, holding lotus flowers in two of her four hands, carrying her son Skanda in one arm, while her fourth hand is in Abhaya Mudra, offering protection and reassurance.
Devotees believe that Skandamata blesses worshippers with peace, prosperity, and maternal care. Her worship is said to bring balance to family life, remove hardships, and bestow fulfilment of heartfelt desires. For those observing fasts, she represents both nurturing energy and inner strength.
What lessons does Goddess Skandamata symbolize for modern life?
Skandamata’s image of holding her child while maintaining divine strength is a reminder that tenderness and power are not opposites but companions. In today’s world of stress and self-reliance, she symbolizes the balance of caregiving and resilience. She teaches that to nurture is not to be weak, but to find courage in compassion and strength in responsibility. For devotees, she becomes a guiding presence to care for others without losing one’s inner stability.
What is the colour of the day and how does green shape Day 5 rituals?
The colour associated with Navratri Day 5 is green, symbolizing renewal, fertility, harmony, and growth. Wearing green is seen as aligning with Skandamata’s motherly nature and her association with prosperity.
Devotees wear green sarees, kurtas, or dupattas, often paired with silver or gold accents. Altars are decorated with fresh green leaves, banana stems, and lotuses, while rangolis are drawn in green shades. The glow of ghee lamps against green drapes enhances the devotional atmosphere, representing growth and vibrancy.
How do devotees worship Goddess Skandamata on Navratri Day 5?
The rituals begin with a purifying bath, followed by offering prayers in clean green attire. The altar is prepared with flowers, diyas, incense, and an idol or image of Skandamata. Lotus flowers are especially significant in her worship.
Devotees chant the mantra “Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah” with devotion. Offerings include fruits, milk-based sweets, and foods that resonate with the nurturing essence of motherhood. Many households also sing devotional songs or read passages from the Durga Saptashati to invoke her blessings.
What is the healthy prasad recipe for Navratri Day 5?
The chosen prasad for Day 5 is Banana Halwa, a sweet dish that is both nourishing and symbolic of Skandamata’s maternal grace.
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas
- 2 tablespoons ghee
- ½ cup grated jaggery
- 8–10 cashews
- 6–8 raisins
- 3–4 cardamom pods (crushed)
Method
Mash ripe bananas into a smooth paste. Heat ghee in a pan and cook the banana mash on medium flame, stirring continuously. Add grated jaggery and cook until the mixture thickens and takes on a glossy finish. In another pan, fry cashews and raisins in ghee, then add them to the halwa. Finish with crushed cardamom. Offer warm as prasad.
Calories and health benefits
A 100 g serving of banana halwa contains about 180–200 calories. Bananas are rich in potassium, fiber, and natural sugars, providing quick energy for fasting devotees. Jaggery adds iron and trace minerals, while ghee ensures healthy fats and satiety. Cashews and raisins provide antioxidants and protein. This prasad is both symbolic of nourishment and genuinely beneficial during fasting.
What attire and decor are recommended for Day 5 of Navratri 2025?
Wearing green attire is the core tradition of Day 5. Women often wear sarees, salwar suits, or lehengas in shades of green, while men may wear kurtas or stoles in the same hue. Jewellery in silver or floral patterns complements the colour code.
For decor, green leaves, banana stems, and lotus flowers are ideal. Altar spaces can be dressed with green cloth, surrounded by ghee lamps. Many households prepare offerings on banana leaves, enhancing the symbolic resonance of the day.
Final takeaways on Navratri 2025 Day 5 and Goddess Skandamata
Day 5 of Navratri celebrates Goddess Skandamata, whose symbolism blends motherly compassion with divine strength. She teaches that to nurture is to empower, and to protect is to love. By wearing green, preparing banana halwa prasad, and worshipping with devotion, devotees align themselves with her qualities of growth, harmony, and maternal grace.
Her blessings are sought for family well-being, personal balance, and the ability to face challenges with both strength and compassion.