Khattar greets devotees on Maa Chandraghanta day
Synopsis
Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar marked the third day of Sharadiya Navratri with a Sanskrit shloka and devotional message honouring Maa Chandraghanta, praying for courage, prosperity, and joy for all devotees.
Key Takeaways
Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar posted a devotional tribute to Maa Chandraghanta on the third day of Sharadiya Navratri .
He opened with a classical Sanskrit shloka describing the Goddess as fierce, armed, and gracious.
Khattar prayed for happiness, prosperity, and joy to grow steadily in the lives of all devotees.
Maa Chandraghanta , worshipped on Navratri Tritiya, is revered as the bestower of fearlessness and inner strength.
Sharadiya Navratri is one of India's largest Hindu festivals, spanning nine nights in the autumn month of Ashwin.
On the third day of Sharadiya Navratri, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar offered prayers to Maa Chandraghanta — the fierce yet graceful third form of the Goddess — invoking her blessings of courage, patience, and inner strength for devotees across the country.
Khattar opened his post with the classical Sanskrit shloka: 'Pindaja pravara rudha chandakopastrakairyuta, prasadam tanute mahyam chandraghanteti vishrutaa' — 'Mounted on a tiger, armed with fierce weapons, she who is known as Chandraghanta bestows her grace upon me.' He then offered koti-koti naman (countless salutations) at the feet of the Goddess, describing her divine form as the embodiment of fearlessness, valour, and serenity.
'May the blessings of Maiya bring ever-increasing happiness, prosperity, and joy to the lives of all devotees' — that was the minister's wish for the faithful on this day.
Maa Chandraghanta: the third Navratri Shakti
Maa Chandraghanta is worshipped on the third day (Tritiya) of Navratri. Her name derives from the crescent moon (chandra) she wears on her forehead, shaped like a bell (ghanta). Tradition holds that her form radiates both martial power — she rides a tiger and bears ten arms carrying weapons — and a calming, benevolent grace. Devotees seek her blessings specifically for courage in adversity and the removal of fear.
Sharadiya Navratri, observed in the autumn month of Ashwin, is one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals in India, drawing millions of worshippers to temples and pandals from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. The nine nights honour the nine Shaktis of Goddess Durga in sequence.
BJP leaders and the Navratri tradition
Senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, including Union ministers and chief ministers, routinely mark each day of Navratri with devotional posts — a form of cultural engagement that connects political figures to one of the country's largest religious observances. Khattar, a former Chief Minister of Haryana who served in that role before joining the Union Cabinet, has long maintained a visible devotional public profile aligned with this tradition.
As Navratri progresses through its remaining six days, the country's temples and homes will move through each successive form of the Goddess — building toward the grand culmination of Mahanavami and Vijayadashami (Dussehra).
Point of View
Carrying no direct policy content — but it fits a deliberate pattern among senior BJP leaders of maintaining high-frequency devotional engagement on social media during major Hindu festivals. For a Union minister who rose through RSS-aligned politics in Haryana, such posts reinforce cultural identity with a vast base of Hindu devotees. The consistency of this practice across the party's leadership signals it as institutional communication, not merely personal piety. As Navratri proceeds, each successive day's post functions as a soft-power touchpoint sustaining public visibility between policy announcements.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Goddess is worshipped on the third day of Navratri?
Maa Chandraghanta is worshipped on the third day (Tritiya) of Navratri. She is depicted riding a tiger with a crescent moon on her forehead and is believed to bestow courage, fearlessness, and inner strength.
What did Manohar Lal Khattar post on Navratri Day 3?
Khattar shared a Sanskrit shloka in praise of Maa Chandraghanta and prayed for happiness, prosperity, and joy for all devotees on the occasion of the third day of Sharadiya Navratri.
What is the meaning of the Chandraghanta Navratri shloka Khattar posted?
The shloka — 'Pindaja pravara rudha chandakopastrakairyuta, prasadam tanute mahyam chandraghanteti vishrutaa' — describes the Goddess as one who is mounted on a tiger, armed with fierce weapons, and who graciously bestows her blessings on the devotee.
Who is Manohar Lal Khattar?
Manohar Lal Khattar is India's Union Minister of Power and Housing and Urban Affairs, a senior BJP leader, and the former Chief Minister of Haryana.
When is Sharadiya Navratri celebrated?
Sharadiya Navratri is celebrated in the Hindu calendar month of Ashwin, typically falling in September or October, and spans nine nights honouring nine forms of Goddess Durga.
