Navratri (Sharad)
Shardiya Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October 2026, with the Ghatasthapana muhurat from 06:19 to 10:12 AM IST (Abhijit muhurat: 11:44 AM – 12:31 PM). Nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped over the nine nights, and the festival concludes with Navami Homa, Navratri Parana, and Vijayadashami (Dussehra) on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
Navratri (Sharad) Dates 2025, 2026 & 2027
Navratri (Sharad) ends: 2025: 2 October · 2026: 20 October · 2027: 9 October
Significance of Navratri (Sharad)
Navratri (Sanskrit: nine nights) is held four times a year; Shardiya (autumn) Navratri is the most celebrated. Each of the 9 nights is dedicated to one form of Goddess Durga: Shailputri (Day 1), Brahmacharini (Day 2), Chandraghanta (Day 3), Kushmanda (Day 4), Skandamata (Day 5), Katyayani (Day 6), Kalaratri (Day 7), Mahagauri (Day 8), and Siddhidatri (Day 9). The Devi Mahatmyam (Durga Saptashati) narrates how Durga killed Mahishasura, the buffalo demon, over 9 nights — a cosmic victory of righteousness over ego. The 10th day, Vijayadashami, marks the final triumph and Rama's departure to rescue Sita by defeating Ravana.
The Story Behind Navratri (Sharad)
The demon Mahishasura had obtained a boon that no man or god could kill him. He conquered the heavens and expelled the gods. The gods pooled their collective energy (shakti) to create Devi Durga — a warrior goddess radiating with blinding power. For 9 nights she fought Mahishasura's army, slaying each commander. On the 9th night, Mahishasura transformed into a buffalo, then a lion, then a man. Durga pierced him with her trident, ending his reign. This battle is re-enacted through 9 nights of prayer, fasting, dandiya (stick dance), and Garba in Gujarat and Maharashtra. In Bengal, the festival centers on welcoming Durga as a daughter returning home — immense clay idols are installed and immersed in rivers on Vijayadashami.
How to Celebrate Navratri (Sharad)
- 1Perform Ghatasthapana (kalash installation) on Day 1 during the auspicious muhurat
- 2Fast for all 9 days or on Day 1 and Day 8 — eat only fruit, milk, and sendha namak (rock salt)
- 3Worship a different form of Durga each day using the specific color associated with that day
- 4Read or listen to Durga Saptashati (700 verses from Markandeya Purana)
- 5Perform aarti twice daily — morning and evening
- 6On Day 8 (Ashtami) or Day 9 (Navami), perform Kanya Puja: invite 9 young girls, wash their feet, and offer food
- 7On Day 10 (Vijayadashami), immerse the kalash and receive 'Vijay Tilak'
Traditional Foods
Astrological Significance of Navratri (Sharad)
Navratri begins when the Sun enters Libra (Tula), its sign of debilitation. Worshipping Durga during these 9 nights is said to counterbalance the weakened solar energy and draw on the Moon's waxing strength (Shukla Paksha). Each of the 9 forms of Durga corresponds to one of the 9 planets (navagrahas): Shailputri = Moon, Brahmacharini = Mars, Chandraghanta = Venus, Kushmanda = Sun, Skandamata = Mercury, Katyayani = Jupiter, Kalaratri = Saturn, Mahagauri = Rahu, Siddhidatri = Ketu. Worshipping each form on the correct day strengthens the corresponding planet in the nativity. A janampatri (birth chart) shows which of these nine grahas are weak or afflicted in your own chart — and therefore which Navratri day's puja carries the most weight for you personally.
“In my experience, the most spiritually productive way to observe Navratri (Sharad) is to align your personal puja timing with the muhurat window for your city — not just the general date. The Vishnu Dharmottara Purana specifies that offerings made during the peak muhurat carry ten times the merit of those made outside it. I have seen this shift outcomes meaningfully for clients who take the time to calculate it properly.”
— Dr. Meenakshi Sharma, PhD Vedic Astrology · 20+ Years Practice · 10,000+ Consultations
Dr. Meenakshi Sharma
PhD in Vedic Astrology • 20+ Years Experience
Distinguished Vedic astrologer specializing in natal chart analysis, predictive astrology, and Vedic remedial measures. Trusted by thousands for accurate Navratri (Sharad) interpretations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shardiya Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October with Ghatasthapana and concludes with Navami Homa, Navratri Parana, and Vijayadashami (Dussehra) on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. This is the autumn (Sharadiya) Navratri — Chaitra Navratri 2026 was observed earlier, on 19–27 March.
On Sunday, 11 October 2026 the Ghatasthapana (Kalash Sthapana) muhurat is 06:19 to 10:12 AM IST for Delhi, while Pratipada tithi prevails. If that window is missed, the Abhijit muhurat from 11:44 AM to 12:31 PM is the accepted alternative — Ghatasthapana is not performed after midday. Exact minutes vary slightly by city.
Ten days of observance instead of the usual nine. Saptami tithi extends across two days — 17 and 18 October — so the 2026 calendar runs from Ghatasthapana on 11 October through Parana and Vijayadashami on 20 October.
Maa Shailputri, the daughter of the mountain king Himavat, is worshipped on Day 1 — Sunday, 11 October 2026 — after Ghatasthapana. The colour of the day is orange.
Maha Navami rituals conclude on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 with Navami Homa, Ayudha Puja, and Navratri Parana; Vijayadashami (Dussehra) and Durga Visarjan fall on the same day. Panchangs that count nine clean days treat Monday, 19 October as Navami — check your local panchang.
Panchangs differ. Ashtami tithi runs from 8:27 AM on 18 October to 10:51 AM on 19 October, so DrikPanchang observes Durga Ashtami together with Maha Navami on 19 October (Sandhi Puja 10:27 – 11:15 AM), while other panchangs, including Prokerala, observe Ashtami with Maa Mahagauri on 18 October and Navami with Maa Siddhidatri separately on 19 October. Follow your family or community panchang for Kanya Puja.
Ghatasthapana is the ritual of installing a clay pot (kalash) filled with water, mango leaves, and a coconut on the first day of Navratri. It represents the goddess's arrival and is performed during the specific auspicious muhurat on Day 1.
Fruit, milk, curd, sendha namak (rock salt), sabudana (tapioca), sama rice, kuttu (buckwheat) flour, rajgira (amaranth) flour, and most vegetables (except onion, garlic, non-fasting grains).
Related Calculators
Related Festivals
Kundli & Muhurat Report
Know the exact muhurat window for Navratri (Sharad) in your city, based on your personal birth chart. Prepared by Dr. Meenakshi Sharma.