CM Vishnu Deo Sai Marks Navratri Day 5 With Skanda Mata Prayers
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
On the fifth day of Sharadiya Navratri 2026, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai offered his reverence to Maa Skandamata — the fifth form of Adi Shakti Maa Durga — with a devotional post on Thursday, October 15, invoking the goddess's blessings for every resident of the state.
Sharing a Sanskrit shloka — 'Sinhasanagata nityam padmashritakaradwaya, Shubhdaastu sada devi Skandamata yashasvini' (May the ever-glorious Skandamata, forever enthroned and lotus-holding, always bestow auspiciousness) — CM Sai offered his 'sadar pranam' at the feet of the goddess whom Hindu tradition reveres as the deity of wisdom and discernment.
A Prayer for Chhattisgarh's Prosperity
In his message, CM Sai prayed that Maa Skandamata, as the presiding deity of knowledge and wisdom, 'illuminate the path of happiness, prosperity, and progress for all the people of the state.' The post closed with a resounding 'Jai Maa Skandamata!' — a salutation widely echoed across the state during the festival.
The post was tagged under #CGNavratri2026, as well as the hashtags #महतारी_का_सम्मान and #महतारी_के_मान — both rooted in the Chhattisgarhi word 'mahtari' (mother), reflecting the state's cultural idiom for honouring maternal and feminine power.
Skandamata's Place in the Navratri Cycle
Navratri devotees worship a distinct form of the goddess on each of the nine nights. Skandamata, the fifth form, is traditionally associated with motherhood, nurturing energy, and the light of wisdom — she is depicted seated on a lion, cradling the infant Skanda (the war god Kartikeya) in her arms. The fifth day is regarded by many devotees as a particularly spiritually charged moment in the festival arc.
Indian state leaders routinely mark each day of Navratri with devotional messages — a practice that blends public piety with an acknowledgement of the festival's deep cultural resonance for constituents. For a state like Chhattisgarh, where tribal and folk traditions weave into mainstream Hindu observance, such gestures carry genuine community significance.