Look at a Durga Puja pandal and you’ll often see Maa Durga standing with her ten arms, weapons in her hands, her lion beside her and Mahishasura beneath her.

Now look at Navratri.

You might see Maa Shailputri on one day, Maa Brahmacharini on another, Maa Katyayani later, and Maa Mahagauri on Ashtami.

They can look completely different.

So naturally, one question comes up:

Are these different forms of Maa Durga? Or are they different goddesses altogether?

The answer is more beautiful than you might expect.

Same Devi. Different traditions. One Shakti.

First, why are there so many forms of Maa Durga?

Navratri isn't simply nine days of worshipping the exact same representation of Durga.

Each day is traditionally associated with one of the Navadurga, Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.

Think of it this way: we use different words to describe the same person depending on the quality we want to talk about.

Maa Durga's many forms allow devotees to reflect on different qualities of Shakti, courage, devotion, strength, compassion, wisdom and more.

Navratri shows us Durga through her many forms.

• Shailputri — strength and grounding

• Brahmacharini — devotion and determination

• Chandraghanta — courage

• Kushmanda — creative energy

• Skandamata — motherhood

• Katyayani — fierce strength

• Kalaratri — protection and the destruction of darkness

• Mahagauri — purity and grace

• Siddhidatri — spiritual fulfilment

Then why does Maa Durga look so different during Durga Puja?

Durga Puja places particular emphasis on Maa Durga as the goddess who defeats Mahishasura. The familiar Durga Puja image, Maa Durga with multiple arms, weapons, her lion and Mahishasura is tied to that story.

During Navratri, you may meet Maa Durga in one form after another.

During Durga Puja, the story often comes alive in one powerful scene:

Maa Durga facing Mahishasura.

Her lion represents her power.

Her weapons represent the strength given to her by the gods.

And Mahishasura represents the force she defeats.

So… which one is the “real” Maa Durga?

The nine forms of Navratri?

The ten-armed Mahishasuramardini of Durga Puja?

The Durga worshipped in a temple?

The form your grandmother has prayed to for years?

There isn't a need to choose just one.

Hindu traditions have long allowed the divine to be understood through many forms, names and stories.

The form may change depending on the tradition, region or story being remembered.

The Shakti remains.

One Maa. So many ways to welcome her.

In West Bengal:
Durga Puja transforms neighbourhoods with large idols, pandals, rituals, art and community celebrations.

In Gujarat:
Navratri is strongly associated with Garba and Dandiya.

In North India:
Navratri often centres around fasting, puja and the worship of the nine forms.

In South India:
Navratri traditions can include Golu/Kolu displays of dolls and figurines.

Isn't that what makes Indian festivals so fascinating?

We don't always preserve a tradition by doing it exactly the same way everywhere.

Sometimes, we preserve it by making it our own.

But how do we introduce all these forms to children?

For adults, the difference between Navratri and Durga Puja may feel familiar.

For a child, it can be confusing.

“Mumma, why does Maa Durga look different here?”

“Is this the same Durga?”

“Why does she have so many hands?”

“Why is there a lion?”

“Who is the person under her?”

And honestly, these are wonderful questions.

Because sometimes, the easiest way to keep a tradition alive is simply to let a child ask about it.

This is also why we believe that introducing children to Indian traditions doesn't always have to begin with a long explanation.

Sometimes, it can begin with something they can see, hold, listen to and interact with.

Our Mantra Chanting Devi Durga was created with exactly this idea in mind.

It brings Devi Durga into a child's everyday world through a soft, child-friendly form, with built-in mantra chanting that children can activate themselves. The plush is designed for children aged 3+ and combines devotional listening with play and sensory interaction.