On the fifth day of Shardiya Navratri 2025, devotees honor Maa Skandamata with banana-based bhog and fasting-friendly prasad dishes prepared fresh for the Goddess
The fifth day of Shardiya Navratri (September 26, 2025) is devoted to Maa Skandamata, who is a nurturing form of Goddess Durga holding her son Kartikeya in her lap. People are accustomed to donning green on this day and preparing special bhog as offerings. Bananas are considered the most auspicious food item, given their associated attributes of nourishment and purity. In many households, whole bananas are offered and in some a few simple preparations made with bananas.
Why Bananas Are Offered
Bananas are associated with motherhood, care and gentle strength, and therefore they fall in line with Maan Skandamata’s bhog. Some families simple put out a few freshly ripe bananas, and in some cases very light healthy and sattvic preparations such as kheer, porridge or even curd rice is made. In some areas of India, devotees may prepare food in keeping with fasting recipes that incorporate sabudana (sago), kuttu (buckwheat flour), or singhare (water chestnut flour).
10 Prasad Recipes to Offer Maa Skandamata
- Banana Kheer (Payasam)
A sweet milk pudding made with ripe bananas, rice or vermicelli, jaggery or sugar, nuts, and cardamom. Warm and nourishing, this is a favorite prasad.
- Raw Banana Chops
Prepared from boiled and mashed raw bananas mixed with flour and spices, shaped into patties, and shallow-fried. A crisp and tasty vrat snack.
- Banana and Milk Porridge
This is a lighter dish of broken wheat or semolina, cooked in milk, sweetened with mashed banana and jaggery, and topped with nuts.
- Ripe Banana Presentation
This is the simplest, most traditional offering is just cleaned, ripe bananas presented neatly on a plate or leaf, sometimes with a sprinkle of pomegranate or nuts.
Also Read: Why Maa Skandamata Is Worshipped on the Fifth Day of Navratri
- Curd Rice with Banana
In some South Indian cultures, curd rice is offered on this day. Rice mixed with yogurt and banana has a cooling, sweet flavor.
- Sabudana Khichdi
A vrat staple made from soaked sabudana pearls, peanuts, mashed potatoes, and ghee. Easy to digest and very common during fasting days.
- Kuttu Pancakes (Buckwheat Cheela)
Made from buckwheat flour batter mixed with grated raw banana, cooked on a hot pan with ghee. Nutritious and fasting-friendly.
- Banana & Nut Ladoos
Ladoos are prepared from mashed ripe bananas, roasted peanuts or singhare flour, jaggery, and ghee. Sweet, soft, and easy to make.
- Banana Halwa
A rich dessert made by cooking mashed bananas with ghee, jaggery, and cardamom until thick, then garnished with nuts.
- Banana & Fruit Salad
A fresh, sattvic salad of banana, apple, pomegranate, raisins, and almonds, lightly drizzled with honey or jaggery syrup.
Important Things to Remember
Bhog should always be fresh and made with clean ingredients.
Some devotees avoid grains like rice and wheat during strict fasting, so they choose sabudana, kuttu, or singhare dishes.
Rock salt (sendha namak) is preferred in fasting recipes.
It is common to offer a simple whole fruit first, followed by cooked prasad after aarti.
FAQs
Q1. Which goddess is worshipped on Day 5 of Navratri?
Maa Skandamata, the motherly form of Goddess Durga.
Q2. Why are bananas offered on this day?
Bananas symbolize nourishment, purity, and motherly care, which align with Skandamata’s qualities.
Q3. Can curd rice be offered as prasad?
Yes, in some regions curd rice with banana is offered on Day 5.
Q4. Are sabudana and kuttu recipes acceptable?
Yes, these fasting-friendly foods are suitable for bhog and widely prepared.
Q5. Is jaggery necessary in sweets?
Not necessary—sugar may be used, though jaggery is more traditional.
Q6. Should the prasad be offered hot or cold?
Both are fine; follow your family or temple tradition.
Q7. How much bhog should be prepared?
As much as needed for your family and to distribute as prasad after the puja.
Q8. Can children eat the bhog?
Yes, children can safely enjoy prasad made with ghee and fruits in moderation.
On this sacred day of Navratri, Maa Skandamata is believed to bless her devotees with peace, health, and prosperity. Offering bananas or banana-based dishes is a simple but meaningful way to show devotion and receive her grace.
