The ninth day of Navratri, Maha Navami, belongs to Siddhidatri. The name means “the giver of siddhis” (siddhi, accomplishment or perfection, and datri, giver). She is the last of the nine forms, and the day is the one on which the long worship of the nine nights is brought to a close, with a havan, the worship of girls, and in many places the worship of tools and books.
This page is part of the Navadurga guide. The order is the widely followed one, and some regions differ.
The day of Navratri
Siddhidatri is worshipped on Navami, the ninth tithi of the bright half. In 2026 Navami is in force at sunrise on Tuesday 20 October 2026 in New Delhi and Pune, and it ends at 12:50 pm that day. Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is placed on the same day in those two cities, in the afternoon, because the tenth tithi begins around midday; see the Dussehra page. Durga Puja in Bengal places Vijayadashami on the next day, Wednesday 21 October 2026; see the Durga Puja page. In Chaitra Navratri 2027 the ninth day is Thursday 15 April 2027, which is also Ram Navami; see the Ram Navami page and the Chaitra Navratri page. Dates for other cities are on the Sharad Navratri page, and the Navratri day by day page lists all the days. The form before her is Mahagauri.
Form and iconography
Siddhidatri sits on a lotus (and is sometimes shown on a lion). She has four arms and in them she holds a discus, a mace, a conch and a lotus, the four signs that are usually seen with Vishnu. Her face is gentle and she is dressed in red or in pale cloth. Of all the forms she is the most like a figure in a temple’s inner sanctum, unmoving and complete.
The signs she carries are those of the preserver, and the tradition notes that the Goddess’s powers belong to all of the gods.
The eight siddhis
In the tradition of yoga and Tantra, the classical list of the eight siddhis is: anima, becoming very small; mahima, becoming very large; garima, becoming heavy; laghima, becoming light; prapti, reaching anything; prakamya, having one’s wishes fulfilled; ishitva, mastery; and vashitva, control. The lists differ a little between texts, and in the Bhagavata Purana there is a longer list. The tradition says that Siddhidatri grants them. In the devotional understanding, they are less like magic powers and more like names for a mind and body that are fully trained.
The page makes no claim that anyone can gain them. Many teachers say that the siddhis are a distraction on the path and that real accomplishment lies in steadiness and kindness.
The story as tradition tells it
The tradition, in a story attributed to the Devi Purana, says that Shiva himself received all the siddhis by worshipping this Goddess. With her grace half of his body became that of a woman, and so he became Ardhanarishvara, the god who is half Shiva and half Parvati. The story is a short one and is told in many forms. Its message is that the Goddess is both the giver and the fulfilment: even the lord of yoga is shown to have received his perfection from her.
The story also fits the shape of the festival. After the long path of the first eight days, which began with birth and ended with radiance, the ninth day shows the goal: completion. The nine days can be read as a short life of a devotee, from beginning to fulfilment.
The dhyana shloka
Short meditation verses for Siddhidatri are printed in modern booklets. We have not been able to match them to an old printed edition that we can check, so we do not quote any. If your family recites a verse, use it as it stands. It will describe the picture above: the lotus seat, the four attributes and the gentle face.
Offerings and customs
The offering commonly given to Siddhidatri is sesame (til), in the form of the seeds or sweets made with them, and the tradition links it to protection from accident. Many families end the nine days with a havan in which sesame, ghee and grain are offered into the fire, and the havan is not compulsory.
Kanya pujan is done on this day in many households, as in the eighth: the usual order is a meal of puri, black chickpeas and halwa for nine girls. See Mahagauri for the custom, and the daily puja guide for a short order.
Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Puja. In Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala the ninth day is when tools, vehicles and books are worshipped, and children’s books are set before the goddess of learning. These are regional customs that are in many places linked to Navami.
In Maharashtra the popular colour for the ninth day depends on the weekday; see the day by day page, where it is labelled a regional custom. After the ninth day comes the tenth, Dussehra, when the Mahishasura Mardini hymn is often recited: see the Mahishasura Mardini Stotram. For singing the close of the festival, the Jai Ambe Gauri aarti is the usual choice.
Frequently asked questions
↳ Which day of Navratri is Siddhidatri worshipped?
Siddhidatri is worshipped on the ninth day, Navami, called Maha Navami. In 2026 that is Tuesday 20 October 2026 in New Delhi and Pune.
↳ What are the eight siddhis?
The classical list is anima, mahima, garima, laghima, prapti, prakamya, ishitva and vashitva. Texts differ a little on the list, and in the tradition they are understood as marks of a fully trained mind.
↳ What is offered to Siddhidatri?
Sesame is the commonly given offering, and many families close the nine days with a havan. These are customs, not rules.
↳ Is Maha Navami the same day as Dussehra?
Not always. In 2026 New Delhi and Pune place both on the same day because the tenth tithi begins around midday, while in Bengal Vijayadashami is the next day. Check the Dussehra page for your city.
↳ What is the story of Siddhidatri and Shiva?
The tradition says that Shiva received all the siddhis by worshipping her, and that by her grace half of his body became that of a woman. That is why he is shown as Ardhanarishvara.