Mangaluru: On the seventh day of Shardiya Navratri, devotees honor Maa Kalaratri, one of Durga’s fiercest manifestations. Legend has it that she emerged from Chandi’s forehead to vanquish the demon Raktabeej. This powerful deity, with a complexion darkened as she shed her golden skin to annihilate demons, rides a donkey and wears a macabre garland of skulls. In her four hands, she wields a sword and an iron hook, while her other hands gesture the Abhaya and Varada mudras, signifying fearlessness and blessings.
During the worship, devotees offer gud, a prasad made of jaggery, symbolizing sweetness and devotion. Additionally, it is customary to present night blooming jasmine, an offering that symbolizes purity and divine fragrance, to appease Maa Kalaratri. This ritual underscores the reverence and awe for the goddess, acknowledging her formidable power and courage.
