The fourth night honours Maa Kushmanda. Her name is often read as ku (a little), ushma (warmth) and anda (the cosmic egg): when there was only darkness, she smiled, and the universe was born from that warmth. She is believed to live at the heart of the sun, giving it its light.
How she is shown
She has eight arms — which is why she is called Ashtabhuja — holding a kamandalu, bow, arrow, lotus, a pot of nectar, a discus, a mace and a japa mala. She rides a lion.
What the fourth night means
Kushmanda stands for creation, energy and health. Devotees pray to her for vitality and to brighten whatever feels dull or stuck in their lives.
Offering and prayers
Malpua, the sweet fried pancake, is traditionally offered to her. Her mantra is “Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah”.
What to wear on the fourth night
Many families follow a colour for each day of Navratri — the order changes each year with the weekday on which the festival begins, so check the list for this year. Whatever the colour, choose something you can sit, pray and dance in: light cotton or chanderi kurta sets, a dupatta for the puja, and a little mirror work or gota for the evening garba.
Explore the Navratri edit, and read about all nine nights in our Navratri guide.
Jai Mata Di.
