Shardiya Navratri begins on Sunday, 11 October 2026. The Ghatasthapana muhurat is 6:19 to 10:12 AM, and the Abhijit Muhurat is 11:44 AM to 12:31 PM (New Delhi).
What's different this year
This year the nine days don't map neatly onto the nine forms. Saptami tithi spans two sunrises, 17 and 18 October, and Ashtami and Navami both fall on 19 October. So Durga Ashtami, the Sandhi Puja, Kanya Pujan and Maha Navami all happen on the same day, with Vijayadashami on 20 October.
The morning Ghatasthapana window falls in Chitra nakshatra and Vaidhriti yoga this year. These are not prohibited for Ghatasthapana, but not considered favourable either, so many families will set up the kalash in the Abhijit Muhurat instead.
How the Ghatasthapana time is chosen
Ghatasthapana is best done in Pratipada tithi, in the first third of the day. On 11 October sunrise is at 6:19 AM and Pratipada lasts until 9:31 PM, which gives the morning window of 6:19 to 10:12 AM. If that passes, the midday Abhijit Muhurat is the next choice. Installing the kalash at night is prohibited, so don't wait for the evening.
Navratri 2026, day by day
- Sun, 11 October
- Ghatasthapana, Maa Shailputri
- Mon, 12 October
- Maa Brahmacharini
- Tue, 13 October
- Maa Chandraghanta
- Wed, 14 October
- Maa Kushmanda
- Thu, 15 October
- Maa Skandamata
- Fri, 16 October
- Maa Katyayani
- Sat, 17 October
- Maa Kalaratri (Saptami)
- Sun, 18 October
- Saptami continues
- Mon, 19 October
- Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami, Sandhi Puja 10:27 to 11:15 AM
- Tue, 20 October
- Vijayadashami (Dussehra), Navratri parana after 12:50 PM
Why Navratri is celebrated
On these nine autumn nights the nine forms of Maa Durga are worshipped. In the Durga Saptashati the Goddess destroys Mahishasura, Shumbha and Nishumbha and their armies, and the victory of the tenth day is Vijayadashami. On the first day the Goddess is invoked into a kalash, which is worshipped through all nine days.
Your questions
When should the Navratri fast be broken?
According to Drik Panchang, the Navratri parana is on 20 October after 12:50 PM, when Navami ends and Dashami begins. Many North Indian families instead break the fast after the Kanya Pujan on Ashtami or Navami, both of which fall on 19 October this year.
Who is worshipped on 18 October?
At sunrise on 18 October it is still Saptami tithi, which ends at 8:27 AM when Ashtami begins. North Indian panchangs give no separate form for this day, while in Bengal it is Maha Saptami, with the Navapatrika bath.
Must the fast be kept for all nine days?
No. Some keep all nine days, some the first and last, and some only Ashtami. Take the vow according to your family's custom and your health.
What if the akhand jyoti goes out?
The custom is not to let the lamp lit at Ghatasthapana go out for nine days, so use a large lamp and keep enough ghee. If it still goes out, say a prayer asking forgiveness and light it again.
An article for each day
Each day of Navratri has its own article, published the day before, with that day's panchang, the Goddess's dhyana and stuti, her bhog and the day's Saptashati chapters in the seven-day order.
The full vidhi and readings
For the kalash samagri and steps, the worship of the nine forms and the Saptashati reading, see these pages.
Dates and times checked against Drik Panchang and our own panchang, for New Delhi.
