Goddess is adorned with turmeric stalks. Devotees worship Kushmanda for health, wealth and strength
KARIMNAGAR, OCTOBER 14, 2026: As part of the fourth day of the ongoing Navarathri celebrations at the famous Sri Maha Shakthi temple in Chaitanyapuri locality in Karimnagar town on Wednesday, the presiding deity, Goddess Durga, is worshipped as Goddess Kushmanda (Sri Mahachandi Devi) and is adorned with turmeric stalks (pasupu or Haldi kadi) during the temple alankarams (ritual decorations).
The fourth day of Navarathri begins with the puja of Goddess Kushmanda, the fourth avataar of Goddess Durga. Sri Maha Shakthi temple priests and artisans chain or paste raw turmeric roots (stalks), which serve as the primary palette for the day’s visual representation. Goddess Kushmanda signifies the ‘cosmic egg’ – the creator of the Universe, and for that she is often referred to as the ‘Adishakthi’ or ‘Adiswarup’. Kushmanda Devi is known to be so powerful that she has the glow of the Sun, and devotees worship Goddess Kushmanda for health, wealth and strength.
Similarly, the Goddess Maha Lakshmi and Goddess Maha Saraswathi were also decorated with turmeric stalks. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar participated in the special puja rituals and maha harathi at the temple.
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