Goddess Kushmanda, the fourth avatar of Goddess Durga, is worshipped on the 4th day of Navratri i.e Chaturthi slated on Friday. The name means ‘the cosmic egg’. She is considered the creator of the universe. The hoary scriptures goes, she begot the universe from nothing at a time when eternal darkness enveloped the infinite space. She is thus rightly called Adiswarup and Adishakti, the Mother and the Mover of the bustling cosmos.
It is said that blessings of goddess Kushmanda help one improve health and wealth. She removes all the hurdles and troubles coming in the way of the evolving souls and finally bestows the supreme Ananda that is obtained when one is freed from the coils of Maya and merges with the Brahma whose character is supreme bliss of Being and Becoming.
As the goddess is considered the creator of the universe she is draped in red attire and the items which are used for Navratri Puja include a clay pot with soil , barley seeds, kalash ( jar), coconut, red cloth, five mango leaves, flowers strung into garlands , 10 coins, chowki (stool), sacred thread (moli), akshat (raw colored rice), chunri , oil lamp, supari (areca nuts), paan (betel leaves), cloves, cardamom and kumkum (vermilion), said Vijay lakshmi a housewife.