Weekly horoscope, October 12 to 18: Navratri forecast for job, business, love and health

Navratri is under way, and worship of Goddess Durga is considered auspicious. A nine-day fast is believed to bring success, standing, merit and success in jobs and business. Take fruit-based food during the fast and look after your health. Visit a temple in the morning and worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga. Purity of mind, devotion and surrender to the Goddess matter most.

Worship Shiva. It is believed that Shiva is fond of the name of Ram and the Ramkatha. Always speak the truth and do not side with falsehood. Silently chant the name of your chosen deity. Reciting the Durga Saptashati is considered auspicious for improving fortune. Donating food carries special significance. In the evening, all members of the household should sit together and sing devotional songs to the Goddess and perform namsankirtan. Young children, the elderly and the sick should not fast; observe the fast only as your health permits. While chanting the 108 names of Goddess Durga, meditate on her form and recite the fourth chapter of the Durga Saptashati.

Aries: After October 17, the time is favourable for changing jobs or getting a promotion. At the start of the week, the Moon and Venus will be in the seventh house and Saturn in the twelfth. Jupiter and Mars are in the fourth house, so some hurdles may be felt, while Venus and Mercury are favourable. Tuesday may be a struggle for students. After Wednesday, there are signs of career progress. Try to remove obstacles in business. The love life of young people will be pleasant, and Friday is auspicious for travel. Remedy: worship Goddess Durga, and donate moong and jaggery. Lucky colours: red and yellow. Lucky numbers: 1 and 9. Luck will favour you 65 per cent.

Taurus: The time after October 17 will be auspicious. A career advance is likely after Tuesday, and the time is favourable for taking part in religious programmes. After Wednesday, you can move ahead in business and hopes of a promotion will rise. On Friday the Moon and the Sun will be in a favourable position; Saturn is in the eleventh house. On Tuesday, avoid needless disputes and take recourse to meditation and yoga for concentration. On Thursday there may be differences with senior officers, so keep a check on your speech. Tension may arise in love relationships and there may be some worry about health. Remedy: donate fruits and recite the Shrisukta. Lucky colours: blue and green. Lucky numbers: 2 and 3. Luck will favour you 75 per cent.

Gemini: A career advance is likely after Tuesday. With the transit of Mercury, the ruling planet of the sign, and Venus, people in IT and banking may benefit. The time is favourable for students of management and law. Jupiter and Mars are in the second house. Because of Venus, the love life will be happy. Friday will be important for business, and business may see good progress. A pending government task of the family is likely to be completed after Tuesday. Health will be good. On Wednesday, avoid being too emotional in matters of love. A trip with friends is possible on Saturday. Remedy: donate seven kinds of grain and recite the Siddhikunjika Stotra. Lucky colours: green and blue. Lucky numbers: 4 and 7. Luck will favour you 65 per cent.

Cancer: On the first day of the week, the Moon and Venus will be in the third house. After October 17, the Sun will move into the fourth house, where Jupiter also is. The Moon's transit on Thursday may benefit students. Despite consistently good performance at work, you may feel you have not got the success you expected. With Jupiter and the Sun favourable, there will be progress in religious work. If you are trying to change jobs, good results may come after Wednesday. Love life and health will be good. Remedy: visit a Shiva temple and offer water on the Shivling, and donate rice and sesame. Lucky colours: yellow and saffron. Lucky numbers: 4 and 8. Luck will favour you 65 per cent.

Leo: Financial gain is likely after Tuesday. The Sun, the ruling planet of the sign, is in the second house, while Jupiter and Mars are in the house of expenses and Venus is in the third house. Business may bring profit. After Tuesday, help from senior officers is likely, and after Wednesday the love life will improve. If you plan your time well, tasks will be completed easily. After October 16, the Moon's transit may be auspicious for business. A religious trip may be planned this week. Remedy: recite the Durga Saptashati, donate seven kinds of grain, and take your parents' blessings before leaving home. Lucky colours: red and yellow. Lucky numbers: 1 and 3. Luck will favour you 75 per cent.

Virgo: After Tuesday, financial progress will keep you happy. The transits of Mercury and Venus are favourable, and the Moon and Mars too may give good results. With the houses of work and fortune strong, efforts are likely to meet with success. Jupiter in the eleventh house is giving good results. At work, your way of working will be effective and there will be a happy atmosphere at home. Hard work in the right direction will bring success. Financial gain is possible after Thursday. People in IT, media and banking may find success. On Friday the time is favourable for starting a new project in business. Remedy: recite the Siddhikunjika Stotra, donate fruit and feed spinach to a cow. Lucky colours: green and purple. Lucky numbers: 5 and 8. Luck will favour you 70 per cent.

Libra: After October 17, people thinking of changing jobs may get opportunities. The house of fortune will be strong this week. Jupiter will give good results in the tenth house, and Venus, the ruling planet of the sign, is also in this house. On Thursday there is a likelihood of gain from business and obstacles in work may go away. On Friday, travel will lift your mood and ease tension. Mars's transit is not very favourable, so people with blood pressure or liver problems should take care over what they eat. Success in politics is likely, but do not be careless about health. Remedy: worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga, and feed jaggery to a cow. Lucky colours: green and white. Lucky numbers: 4 and 6. Luck will favour you 65 per cent.

Scorpio: Friday may be beneficial for people in banking, IT and financial services. Mars, the ruling planet of the sign, and Jupiter will help progress in the job. On Monday the Moon will be in the house of expenses. The time may be favourable for those thinking of investing in real estate, but check carefully before taking any financial decision. Spending on religious work will bring contentment, and spiritual progress will raise enthusiasm. On Thursday, worries about a new business deal are likely to go away. After Thursday the love life will be pleasant. Remedy: worship Goddess Durga and donate seven kinds of grain. Lucky colours: red and orange. Lucky numbers: 6 and 8. Luck will favour you 80 per cent.

Sagittarius: After Thursday, the favourable effect of Jupiter and the Moon may bring good results in business. Jupiter, the ruling planet of the sign, is in the eighth house with Mars. After October 17, the Sun will move into the house of gains. A promotion is likely at work, and an attempt to change jobs may also prove beneficial. Focus on expanding the business more effectively. Health is expected to be good and you may get relief from a major difficulty. There will be happiness in love life. Avoid too much travel on Tuesday. Remedy: recite the Shrisukta. Lucky colours: yellow and red. Lucky numbers: 1 and 9. Luck will favour you 65 per cent.

Capricorn: On the first day of the week, the transit of the Moon and Jupiter will be favourable. Efforts made to change jobs may succeed. Saturn, the ruling planet of the sign, is in the third house, while Jupiter and Mars are in the seventh house in Cancer. After Thursday, the Moon may bring benefit in business. After October 17, the Sun will enter the house of career. Spiritual guidance may give life the right direction and the advice of saints will prove useful. A pleasant journey is likely in love relationships, and a distant religious trip may be planned. On Wednesday, show restraint while speaking. Remedy: recite the Shri Kanakdhara Stotra. Lucky colours: blue and green. Lucky numbers: 5 and 7. Luck will favour you 60 per cent.

Aquarius: A career advance is likely after Tuesday. The favourable effect of the Moon and Jupiter will give momentum to matters related to studies. Venus is in the ninth house in Libra, so it may help in completing big business deals properly. On Friday, old projects are likely to be completed. You may plan to change jobs this week. Jupiter and Mars are in the sixth house, while Saturn will remain in the second house. The blessing of a saint will keep you happy, and Mercury and Venus may bring financial gain. Remedy: recite the Durga Saptashati. Lucky colours: blue and green. Lucky numbers: 3 and 9. Luck will favour you 70 per cent.

Pisces: Under the influence of the Moon and Jupiter, there will be a happy atmosphere at home. People in IT and management are likely to find success. Jupiter, the ruling planet of the sign, is in the fifth house with Mars, so studies and career may benefit. There may be some worries about business. Because of the Moon and Venus, health complaints may surface, so take care. Mercury and Saturn may give the right direction to business affairs. Love life will be good. On Tuesday, pay attention to diet to avoid stomach trouble. Remedy: recite the fourth chapter of the Durga Saptashati. Lucky colours: red and yellow. Lucky numbers: 1 and 3. Luck will favour you 70 per cent.