What if the akhaṇḍa jyoti goes out during Navarātri?

calmly relight it from another lamp or a matchstick with a short prayer for forgiveness; it is not a bad omen.

The akhaṇḍa jyoti is a lamp kept burning without a break through the nine nights of Navarātri, as a sign of the Devī’s continuous presence and of the family’s steady devotion. It is a beautiful practice, but a flame can go out because of wind, a short wick or running out of ghee — that is physics, not a judgement.

If it goes out, simply relight it, ideally from a small lamp kept burning nearby or with a fresh flame, and say “Mā, kṣamā karo” or a short prayer. Then continue as before.

To avoid trouble: use a large brass lamp or glass-covered lamp, a long thick wick, and enough ghee or oil; check it before sleeping and on waking. Keep it away from curtains and out of children’s and pets’ reach. If you cannot watch a lamp overnight safely, lighting it morning and evening instead is perfectly acceptable.

Safety first: covered lamp, away from curtains · Source: common family practice

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