Navratri comes nine times in the Hindu calendar — but the Sharad Navratri, falling in the month of Ashwin (September–October), is the grandest of them all.
For nine nights and ten days, the divine feminine takes center stage. Maa Durga descends in nine forms — each fierce, each luminous, each a specific aspect of the cosmic power that sustains creation. In 2026, Sharad Navratri begins on 22 September and concludes on 1 October, with Vijayadashami (Dussehra) on 2 October.
This guide is your complete companion: the significance of each day, the puja vidhi, the samagri you need, fasting rules, and how to observe Navratri meaningfully — whether you are in Kashi, Chennai, Toronto, or Dubai.
What is Navratri? Understanding the Festival
Nava means nine; Ratri means night. Navratri is literally the Festival of Nine Nights — a nine-day observance of intense worship of Adi Shakti, the primordial feminine energy that underlies all existence.
The nine forms of Durga worshipped across these nine days are collectively called the Navadurga:
| Day | Form of Durga | Colour | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Shailaputri | Yellow | Daughter of the Himalayas; beginning |
| Day 2 | Brahmacharini | Green | Austerity; spiritual discipline |
| Day 3 | Chandraghanta | Grey | Courage; eliminating suffering |
| Day 4 | Kushmanda | Orange | Creative power; cosmic energy |
| Day 5 | Skandamata | White | Motherhood; protection |
| Day 6 | Katyayani | Red | Warrior energy; destroying ego |
| Day 7 | Kalaratri | Royal Blue | Fearlessness; dark energy dispelled |
| Day 8 | Mahagauri | Pink | Purity; forgiveness; peace |
| Day 9 | Siddhidatri | Purple | Perfection; completion of all siddhis |
Navratri 2026 Dates
Sharad Navratri 2026:
- Ghatasthapana (Day 1): 22 September 2026 (Tuesday)
- Dwitiya (Day 2): 23 September 2026
- Tritiya (Day 3): 24 September 2026
- Chaturthi (Day 4): 25 September 2026
- Panchami (Day 5): 26 September 2026
- Shashthi (Day 6): 27 September 2026
- Saptami (Day 7): 28 September 2026
- Ashtami (Day 8): 29 September 2026
- Navami (Day 9): 30 September 2026
- Vijayadashami / Dussehra: 1 October 2026
The auspicious Ghatasthapana muhurat on Day 1 should be observed during the first one-third of the day (roughly 6:15 AM to 7:45 AM local time). Perform Ghatasthapana during this window for maximum auspiciousness.
Day-by-Day Navratri Puja Guide
Day 1 — Ghatasthapana: Invoking Maa Shailaputri
The first day sets the foundation for all nine. Ghatasthapana — the installation of the sacred kalash (pot) — is the ritual that formally invites Maa Durga into your home.
What you need for Ghatasthapana:
- A clay or copper kalash filled with Gangajal or clean water
- Mango leaves arranged around the mouth of the kalash
- Coconut placed on top of the leaves
- Akhand Jyoti (oil or ghee lamp that will burn continuously for all nine days)
- Barley seeds (jau) sown in a small container of soil — these sprout over nine days as a sign of abundance
How to do Ghatasthapana:
- Clean and purify the puja space
- Spread a clean cloth on the puja table; place soil with barley seeds at the center
- Place the filled kalash on the soil
- Arrange mango leaves around the kalash mouth; place a coconut on top
- Light the Akhand Jyoti — this lamp must not go out for nine days
- Invoke Maa Shailaputri with the mantra: "Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah"
- Offer yellow flowers and yellow sweets (she is associated with the colour yellow)
Day 2 — Maa Brahmacharini: The Ascetic Mother
Maa Brahmacharini holds a rosary (mala) and a kamandalu (water pot), dressed in white. She represents the power of austerity and unwavering spiritual practice.
Offering: Panchamrit (milk, curd, honey, ghee, sugar), white flowers, mishri
Mantra: "Om Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah"
Blessings: Academic success, spiritual progress, the strength to complete difficult undertakings
Day 3 — Maa Chandraghanta: The Warrior with the Bell
On this day, Maa Durga appears as Chandraghanta — adorned with a half-moon on her forehead, bearing ten arms, and riding a tiger. The sound of her bell destroys evil.
Offering: Milk sweets (kheer), grey or silver flowers
Mantra: "Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah"
Blessings: Courage, elimination of fears and negative energy, victory in adversity
Day 4 — Maa Kushmanda: The Cosmic Creator
Maa Kushmanda created the universe with her divine smile. She is worshipped in orange, resides in the solar sphere, and gives energy and vitality.
Offering: Malpua (sweet pancake), orange flowers
Mantra: "Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah"
Blessings: Health, vitality, resolution of chronic illness
Day 5 — Maa Skandamata: Mother of Kartikeya
Maa Skandamata holds her son Skanda (Kartikeya) in her lap — the embodiment of pure maternal love, fierce in protection and gentle in grace.
Offering: Banana, white lotus or white flowers
Mantra: "Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah"
Blessings: Children, family harmony, protection of the home
Day 6 — Maa Katyayani: The Warrior Goddess
Born from the combined rage of all the gods to slay the demon Mahishasura, Maa Katyayani is the most warrior-like of the Navadurga. Worshipped in red, she destroys the ego and inner demons.
Offering: Honey
Mantra: "Om Devi Katyayanyai Namah"
Blessings: Marriage and relationships, destruction of ego
Day 7 — Maa Kalaratri: The Dark and Fierce
The most formidable form — dark skin, three eyes, dishevelled hair. She destroys darkness and ignorance. Do not let her appearance frighten; she is shubhankari — the one who brings auspiciousness.
Offering: Jaggery (gur), dark flowers or any flower
Mantra: "Om Devi Kalaratriyai Namah"
Blessings: Liberation from fear, destruction of negative energy, strength in crisis
Day 8 — Ashtami: Maa Mahagauri and Kanya Pujan
Ashtami is the most sacred day of Navratri. Maa Mahagauri — the radiant white goddess — represents purity and the power to cleanse all past karma.
Kanya Pujan (Kanjak): On Ashtami, young girls below puberty are invited to the home, their feet washed, and they are worshipped as living embodiments of the goddess. They are offered a meal of puri, chana, and halwa and given gifts. This ritual is considered the most direct way to receive Maa Durga's blessings.
Offering: Nariyal (coconut), white flowers, halwa-puri-chana
Mantra: "Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah"
Day 9 — Navami: Maa Siddhidatri and Havan
The ninth day belongs to Maa Siddhidatri — the bestower of all siddhis. A fire ritual (havan/yajna) is performed on Navami as a final, complete offering to the goddess.
Offering: Coconut, til (sesame seeds), lotus flowers
Mantra: "Om Devi Siddhidatryai Namah"
Blessings: Completion, perfection, all-round fulfilment in life
The Akhand Jyoti: Keeping the Flame Burning
The Akhand Jyoti — the continuously burning lamp — is the living heart of your Navratri puja. Tradition holds that the flame should not go out for the entire nine days.
Practical guidance:
- Use a large clay diya or a purpose-made brass lamp
- Ghee lasts longer and burns cleaner than oil
- Keep the wick trimmed — a long wick causes soot; a too-short wick goes out
- If the lamp goes out accidentally, relight it with a prayer — intention matters more than technical perfection
- Place the lamp away from air currents (open windows, fans)
Navratri Fasting: What to Observe
Navratri fasting follows a sattvic diet — pure, simple foods that keep the body light and the mind clear.
Permitted during Navratri fast: Sabudana (sago), singhara atta (water chestnut flour), kuttu atta (buckwheat flour), samak rice (barnyard millet), all fruits, milk, curd, paneer, rock salt (sendha namak), dry fruits, potatoes, sweet potatoes.
Not permitted: Wheat, rice (most traditions), onion, garlic, non-vegetarian food, table salt.
For a day-by-day guide on what to eat, see: Navratri Fasting: What to Eat Each Day.
Complete Navratri Puja Samagri Checklist
Daily essentials: Kumkum, haldi, akshat, flowers (red hibiscus preferred), dhoop, agarbatti, ghee, naivedya
For Ghatasthapana: Kalash, mango leaves, coconut, Gangajal, soil, barley seeds (jau), Akhand Jyoti lamp
For Kanya Pujan (Ashtami): Ingredients for halwa, puri, chana; small gifts for the kanyas
For Navami Havan: Havan kund, havan samagri, ghee, sesame seeds, rice
Our Navratri Puja Kit from Kashi contains the complete samagri for all nine days — each item curated by Pt. Prashant Chaturvedi from the ghats and markets of Varanasi. Everything you need, in the right quantities, with a day-by-day guide included.
Navratri for NRIs: Celebrating Abroad
If you are celebrating Navratri outside India, a few practical points:
- Finding a temple: Most cities with a significant Hindu population have temples organising Navratri celebrations with daily Durga aarti, garba, and Kanya Pujan.
- The samagri challenge: Sourcing authentic samagri — especially Gangajal, bilva patra, havan samagri, and a proper kalash — can be difficult abroad. Advik Rituals ships internationally; our Navratri Kit is designed for exactly this need.
- The intention: Navratri performed across an ocean, with genuine bhav and authentic samagri, carries the same grace as Navratri in Varanasi. The goddess does not care about geography. She cares about devotion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I do Navratri puja without a pandit?
Yes. The day-by-day puja described above is completely appropriate for home observance. A pandit is recommended for the Navami Havan specifically, but home puja is fully valid.
Q: What if I cannot fast for all nine days?
Fast on Ashtami and Navami — the two most important days. Or simply maintain a sattvic diet throughout. Navratri is about intention and devotion, not physical endurance.
Q: Is Navratri the same everywhere in India?
The core puja is consistent, but regional expressions vary. In Gujarat and Maharashtra, garba and dandiya raas are central. In Bengal, it becomes Durga Puja with elaborate pandals. In South India, Golu (display of dolls) is the tradition. In Kashi, continuous puja at Durga Kund temple marks the festival.
Q: How do I dispose of the Ghatasthapana kalash after Navratri?
On Vijayadashami, the kalash is formally immersed in a river or clean body of water, and the barley sprouts are distributed as prasad.
Conclusion
Navratri is nine days of stepping out of the ordinary and into the sacred. Of waking up earlier than usual, lighting a lamp before the rest of the house stirs, and sitting quietly with the goddess in whatever form she appears to you that day.
The festival does not demand perfection. It demands presence.
Whether you observe all nine days or just Ashtami and Navami, whether you maintain a strict fast or simply cook without onion and garlic — Maa Durga meets you where you are.
Prepare your samagri carefully. Light your Akhand Jyoti. And let the nine nights do what nine nights of devotion always do.
Jai Mata Di.
For the complete samagri checklist by day, see: Navratri Puja Samagri: Day-by-Day Checklist.
For detailed Ghatasthapana vidhi: Navratri Ghatasthapana Vidhi: Step-by-Step Guide.
For the nine forms of Durga in depth: 9 Forms of Durga: Significance of Each Day.