Sharad Navratri — the supreme festival of 9-day worship of Maa Durga. In Sanskrit "Nav" = nine, "Ratri" = nights. From Ashwina Shukla Pratipada to Ashwina Shukla Navami — worship of devi's 9 incarnations (Navadurga) in 9 days. In 2026 Sharad Navratri from 11 October (Sunday) to 19 October (Monday). Dussehra/Vijayadashami 20 October.
Sharad Navratri is the most famous and special among the 4 navratris of the year. According to scriptures, Maa Durga fought with Mahishasura for these 9 days and killed him on 10th day (Vijayadashami). In 9 nights, 9 forms of devi — Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, Siddhidatri. In this article, exact details of 9 days, ghatasthapana muhurat, puja procedure, and visarjan in detail.
✦ Sharad Navratri 2026 — 9-Day Calendar
Day 1 — 11 October 2026 (Sun): Pratipada / Ghatasthapana. Maa Shailaputri (daughter of mountain-king) worship. Devi's first form. Ghatasthapana Muhurat: morning 6:25-10:30 AM (Amrit+Shubh kaal). Abhijit Muhurat 11:50 AM-12:35 PM. Akhand Deep lit.
Day 2 — 12 October 2026 (Mon): Dvitiya. Maa Brahmacharini (ascetic) worship. Offer milk and curd. Symbol of penance for Shiva-attainment.
Day 3 — 13 October 2026 (Tue): Tritiya. Maa Chandraghanta (half-moon on forehead) worship. Offer milk-sweets. Courage and self-confidence.
Day 4 — 14 October 2026 (Wed): Chaturthi. Maa Kushmanda (creator of universe) worship. Offer malpua. Wisdom-decision.
Day 5 — 15 October 2026 (Thu): Panchami / Lalita Panchami. Maa Skandamata (mother of Kartikeya) worship. Offer banana. Children-welfare.
Day 6 — 16 October 2026 (Fri): Shashthi. Maa Katyayani (daughter of Sage Katyayan) worship. Offer honey. Marriage-yoga, good groom/bride.
Day 7 — 17 October 2026 (Sat): Saptami. Maa Kalaratri (destroyer of time) worship. Offer jaggery. Enemy-destruction, fear-removal. Mahanisha pujan.
Day 8 — 18 October 2026 (Sun): Ashtami / Durgashtami. Maa Mahagauri (pure-fair complexion) worship. Offer coconut. Destruction of sins, wealth-prosperity. Havan-puja.
Day 9 — 19 October 2026 (Mon): Navami / Ramanavami (in some regions). Maa Siddhidatri (giver of 8 siddhis) worship. Offer sesame. Siddhi-attainment. Kanya Pujan (Kanjak) — feeding 9 girls.
Day 10 — 20 October 2026 (Tue): Vijayadashami / Dussehra. Idol immersion (Bengal/Odisha). Ravan-dahan (North India). Weapon-worship. Conclusion of Navratri.
✦ Ghatasthapana — Exact Muhurat and Procedure
Ghatasthapana 2026 (for Delhi): First muhurat — morning 6:25 AM to 10:30 AM (Shubh + Amrit Choghadiya + Shubh kaal). Second muhurat — Abhijit Muhurat 11:50 AM to 12:35 PM (best of the day). If first muhurat not possible — do in Abhijit.
Materials: Clay kalash/pot, clean sand, barley seeds, panchamrita, Ganga water, 5 mango leaves, coconut (with jata), silver/copper coin, red cloth, sindoor, akshat, flower garland, panchratna (5 gems), pancha dhatu, cow dung, idol/picture of Maa Durga.
Procedure: 1) Puja place east or north facing. Purify. 2) Spread clay and sand on big plate/parat. Sow barley seeds on top. 3) Fill clay kalash with water. Mix panchamrita-Gangajal. 4) 5 mango leaves on mouth of kalash. Coconut on top of leaves (jata-mouth up). 5) Drop coin, panchratna in kalash. 6) Roli-akshat on kalash. Flower garland. 7) Establish idol/picture of Maa Durga. Sankalpa.
Akhand Deep: Ghee or oil lamp must keep burning continuously for 9 days — "Akhand Jyoti". Extinguishing in between is inauspicious. Special care for the lamp.
Daily puja: Morning-evening aarti. Worship of one devi-form each day for 9 days. Flower-naivedya offering. Recitation of Durga Saptashati (700 verses) — complete if possible, otherwise some chapters. Complete in 9 days.
✦ Vrat Rules and Types
Complete vrat (nirahar): Only water for 9 days. Only special practitioners and strict devotees. Rare in modern times.
Phalahar vrat: Only fruits, milk, sago, water chestnut flour, rajgira, kuttu, nuts for 9 days. Grain (rice, wheat, dal) completely prohibited. Salt also avoided — rock salt acceptable.
Ekabhukt vrat: One-time phalahari or sattvic meal in the day. Most popular. Meat-alcohol-onion-garlic-tamasic food prohibited for 9 days.
Special rules: Brahmacharya observance. Bare feet. Speaking truth. Anger-control. Sleeping in day prohibited. Not cutting hair-beard. Buying new clothes (especially red/yellow).
For women: Vrat not stopped on menstruation arrival — but stay away from puja-room. Can do mental puja. Children and elderly — simple vrat according to health.
✦ Ashtami and Navami — Special Worship
Durgashtami (18 October 2026, Ashtami tithi): Most important day of 9-day vrat. Mahagauri worship. Havan-puja. In Bengal "Mahaashtami" — Kumari Puja (kumari girl as devi form). Honor of nari-shakti.
Ashtami havan: 108 ahutis (minimum). Mantras of Durga Saptashati before fire. Samidha (mango/peepal wood), ghee, sesame, barley, rice, havan-samagri. Smoke from havan purifies house atmosphere.
Navami (19 October 2026): Maa Siddhidatri worship. Conclusion of 9-day vrat.
Kanya Pujan (Kanjak): Calling 9 girls (age 2-10 years) home. Like 9 forms of Maa Durga. Wash feet, sandal-tilak, clothes, gifts. Food: halwa, puri, chana, kheer. This is the most important act of Navratri — worship of devi in kanya-form.
Mahanavami (Bengal): Preparation for idol immersion. Evening-puja. Final pushpanjali. Farewell to Maa.
✦ Vijayadashami / Dussehra — Conclusion
Dussehra (20 October 2026, Tuesday): Dashami tithi — "Vijay" (victory) day. Maa Durga killed Mahishasura. Lord Rama killed Ravana (Ramayana period). This is symbol of "victory of good over evil".
North India: Ravan-dahan. Effigies of Ravana, Meghnad, Kumbhakarna in big grounds. 50-100 feet tall, crackers inside. Burning in evening. Ram-Lila ran for 9 days — concludes on Dashami.
Bengal/Odisha: Idol immersion. Clay idols of Maa Durga — millions in Bengal — immersed in Ganga, Hooghly, other rivers. Women "sindoor khela" — applying sindoor to each other.
South India: Ayudh Puja (weapon worship). Worship of books, equipment, vehicles. Tamil Nadu — Saraswati Puja primary. Mysuru Dasara — world-famous (royal procession).
Maharashtra/Gujarat: Sima-ullanghan (Simollanghan). Day of new beginning. Weapon worship. Traditional dance (Garba-Dandiya) for 9 days of Navratri.
Special auspiciousness: Vijayadashami "Abujh Muhurat" — no need to check muhurat for any work. New work, travel, business inception — all auspicious. Worship of weapons-vehicles-books.
📚Sources & References
Content in this article is verified against the following classical and modern authoritative sources. Readers may independently verify against the original sources.
- ▪Surya Siddhanta — classical Sanskrit astronomical text (~5th century CE)
- ▪Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra — foundational text on Vedic astrology by Maharishi Parashara
- ▪Muhurta Chintamani by Ram Daivajna (16th century) — standard reference for muhurat selection
- ▪Astronomical Algorithms by Jean Meeus (Willmann-Bell, 1998) — basis for all astronomical computations on this site
- ▪Lahiri Ayanamsa — standard sidereal reference adopted by the Indian Calendar Reform Committee (1955)
✦ Frequently Asked Questions
What can be eaten in Navratri vrat?▼
Phalahari food: fruits, milk, curd, sago, water chestnut flour, rajgira, kuttu flour, nuts (almond, cashew, walnut), potato, sweet-potato, kheer. Rock salt acceptable. Prohibited: grain (rice, wheat, dal), regular salt, onion, garlic, meat-alcohol, tamasic food.
Is fasting for 9 days mandatory?▼
Not mandatory — depends on personal devotion and health. Complete 9-day vrat is best, but if difficult — vrat of first and Ashtami, Navami also sufficient. Some people only keep 2 days vrat (Ashtami-Navami). This is called "Joda Vrat".
What to do if Akhand Deep extinguishes in between?▼
Traditionally considered inauspicious — but don't worry. Light again immediately. Apologize to Maa. Complete sankalpa. Modern reasons: oil/ghee finished, blown by wind. Natural — not divine signal. Keep faith.
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Note: This content is published for educational and cultural reference. For personal religious or astrological decisions, please consult a qualified pandit or jyotishi.