PM Modi seeks Maa Kalratri's blessings on Navratri Day 7
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
On the seventh day of Navratri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked the blessings of Maa Kalratri — one of the fiercest and most revered of the nine forms of Goddess Durga — offering prayers for the prosperity and renewed energy of all.
In a post shared on Saturday, 17 October 2026, the Prime Minister wrote in Hindi: 'नवरात्रि में आज मां कालरात्रि की विशेष उपासना का दिन है' ('Today in Navratri is the special day of worship of Maa Kalratri'). He prayed that her divine grace would fill every life with new energy, new confidence, and lasting prosperity.
Who is Maa Kalratri and why the seventh night matters
Maa Kalratri is the seventh of the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga venerated across the nine nights of Navratri. She is depicted as a fierce, dark-complexioned deity whose very form is said to destroy evil and dispel darkness — her name literally translates as 'the death of darkness.' Devotees believe her worship on this specific night grants courage, protection from fear, and liberation from negative forces.
Navratri itself is one of Hinduism's most widely observed festivals, drawing hundreds of millions of devotees across India into nine nights of fasting, prayer, and celebration in honour of the Goddess in her many forms.
Modi's pattern of public devotion during Hindu festivals
Prime Minister Modi has consistently used social media to mark major Hindu religious observances throughout his tenure — from Diwali and Makar Sankranti to each day of Navratri. These posts, separate from official policy announcements, reflect a deliberate practice of publicly acknowledging the spiritual calendar alongside the business of governance.
The gesture resonates particularly among Hindu devotees for whom a sitting Prime Minister's visible participation in collective religious observance carries both cultural and symbolic weight.