Quick answer
- Sharad Navratri 2026
- Sunday, 11 October 2026
- Tithi
- Ashwin Shukla PratipadaAswayuja Shukla Pratipada (amanta)
- Fast
- Many keep all nine days or the first and last
- Observed for
- Protection, strength and the goddess’s blessings
- Durga Ashtami
- Mon, 19 Oct · Sunrise 06:10 AM
- Maha Navami
- Tue, 20 Oct · Sunrise 06:11 AM
What is it? Nine nights of worship of Goddess Durga in her nine forms (Navadurga), in the bright half of Ashwin.
Why is it observed? It celebrates the goddess’s victory over the demon Mahishasura — the triumph of good over evil — and is the most important festival of Shakti worship.
How is it observed? Ghatasthapana on the first day, daily puja of one form of the goddess, fasting as the family keeps it, kanya pujan on Ashtami or Navami, and visarjan on Vijayadashami.
Sharad Navratri 2026 date & muhurat
| Pratipada tithi begins | Sat, 10 Oct, 09:20 PM |
|---|---|
| Pratipada tithi ends | Sun, 11 Oct, 09:31 PM |
| Sunrise | 06:08 AM |
| Ghatasthapana muhurat | 06:08 AM – 10:05 AMThe first third of the day while Pratipada lasts; Abhijit muhurat is the traditional alternative. |
| Abhijit Muhurat | 11:39 AM – 12:26 PM |
| Rahu Kalam (avoid) | 04:29 PM – 05:57 PM |
Day by day
- Sun, 11 Oct
Ghatasthapana · Sunrise 06:08 AM
The kalash is installed and the goddess invoked; in North India barley (jau) is sown beside it.
- Mon, 19 Oct
Durga Ashtami · Sunrise 06:10 AM
Worship of Mahagauri; kanya pujan in many North Indian homes and the Sandhi puja in Bengal.
- Tue, 20 Oct
Maha Navami · Sunrise 06:11 AM
Worship of Siddhidatri, Navami havan and kanya pujan; Ayudha puja in the South.
- Tue, 20 Oct
Vijayadashami · Aparahna 01:11 PM – 03:31 PM
Visarjan of the kalash and the goddess; Dussehra celebrations.
The nine days of Navratri
| Date | Tithi at sunrise | Goddess worshipped |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, 11 Oct | Pratipada | Shailaputri |
| Mon, 12 Oct | Dwitiya | Brahmacharini |
| Tue, 13 Oct | Tritiya | Chandraghanta |
| Wed, 14 Oct | Chaturthi | Kushmanda |
| Thu, 15 Oct | Panchami | Skandamata |
| Fri, 16 Oct | Shashthi | Katyayani |
| Sat, 17 Oct | Saptami | Kalaratri |
| Sun, 18 Oct | Saptami | Kalaratri |
| Mon, 19 Oct | Ashtami | Mahagauri |
| Tue, 20 Oct | Navami | Siddhidatri |
Why is Sharad Navratri observed?
Religious
The Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati) tells how the goddess, formed from the combined power of the gods, fought Mahishasura for nine days and slew him on the tenth.
Spiritual
The nine days are often read as a journey inward: three days each for Durga (removing impurities), Lakshmi (cultivating virtue) and Saraswati (gaining wisdom).
For the family
Homes install a kalash, keep an akhand jyoti, and honour young girls as the goddess in kanya pujan.
Cultural
Few festivals take so many forms: Durga Puja pandals in Bengal, garba in Gujarat, Golu dolls in Tamil Nadu, Bathukamma in Telangana and the Mysuru Dasara in Karnataka.
Durga and Mahishasura
Sharad Navratri puja vidhi
Before the puja
- 1Clean the house and the puja place.
- 2Gather the kalash, coconut, mango leaves, red cloth and barley or grains to sow.
- 3Take the sankalp on Pratipada for the nine days.
During the puja
- 1Ghatasthapana: fill a clay or copper kalash with water, place mango leaves and a coconut wrapped in red cloth on it, and sow barley in soil beside it.
- 2Begin with Ganesha puja, then invoke the goddess into the kalash or her image.
- 3Each day worship that day’s form of Navadurga with flowers, kumkum, akshat, fruits and naivedya.
- 4Read the Durga Saptashati or chant her names; keep the akhand jyoti burning if your family does.
- 5Sing the aarti morning and evening.
- 6On Ashtami or Navami, honour nine girls (and a boy as Bhairava) in kanya pujan with food and gifts.
After the puja
- 1On Navami or Dashami, perform the havan or concluding puja.
- 2Do the visarjan of the kalash on Vijayadashami; sprinkle its water in the house and give the sprouted barley as prasad.
- 3Break the fast after the concluding puja.
Sharad Navratri puja samagri
Essential
| Item | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Kalash (clay, copper or brass) | 1 | Ghatasthapana |
| Coconut with red cloth and mauli | 1 | Placed on the kalash |
| Mango or ashoka leaves | 5 | Around the mouth of the kalash |
| Barley (jau) and clean soil in a wide pot | A handful | Sown beside the kalash |
| Idol or picture of Durga | 1 | Worship |
| Red chunri, kumkum, sindoor and bangles | 1 set | Offered to the goddess (shringar) |
| Red flowers and garlands | Daily | Offering |
| Ghee lamp and cotton wicks | 1 large lamp | Akhand jyoti and aarti |
Optional
| Item | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Durga Saptashati book | — | Daily reading |
| Havan kund, samidha and havan samagri | — | Navami havan |
| Gifts for kanya pujan | — | Offered to the girls on Ashtami or Navami |
Traditional / regional
| Item | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Bathukamma flowers (tangedu, gunuka) | — | Floral Bathukamma in Telangana |
| Golu dolls and steps | — | Golu display in Tamil Nadu and Andhra |
Sharad Navratri vrat rules
Before the vrat
- Decide with your family whether to fast all nine days or on selected days.
- Stock vrat-friendly foods such as kuttu, singhara, sabudana and fruit.
During the vrat
- Many avoid grains, onion, garlic and non-vegetarian food for the nine days.
- Fasting may be a single meal a day, fruit only, or nirjala on certain days — as your family keeps it.
- Keep the akhand jyoti safe and never leave it unattended near cloth.
Breaking the vrat
- Break the fast after the Navami or Dashami puja, following your family’s custom.
- Start with prasad, then a light meal.
Those who cannot fast can keep the vrat through daily puja and reading, and a sattvic diet.
Do's and don'ts
✅ Do
- Keep the home and puja place clean all nine days.
- Offer the day’s puja at a fixed time.
- Honour girls with respect in kanya pujan.
- Read or listen to the Durga Saptashati.
❌ Avoid
- Leave the akhand jyoti unattended.
- Use harsh words or quarrel at home.
- Cut hair or nails during the nine days, in families that observe this.
- Serve onion, garlic or non-vegetarian food, in families that keep a sattvic Navratri.
Sharad Navratri mantras
Devi stuti (Durga Saptashati 5)
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
తెలుగు లిపిలో
యా దేవీ సర్వభూతేషు శక్తిరూపేణ సంస్థితా।
నమస్తస్యై నమస్తస్యై నమస్తస్యై నమో నమః॥
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu śaktirūpeṇa saṃsthitā| namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ||
Meaning: To the goddess who dwells in all beings as power — salutations to her, again and again.
Sarva mangala mangalye
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके।
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते॥
తెలుగు లిపిలో
సర్వమఙ్గలమాఙ్గల్యే శివే సర్వార్థసాధికే।
శరణ్యే త్ర్యమ్బకే గౌరి నారాయణి నమోఽస్తు తే॥
sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalye śive sarvārthasādhike| śaraṇye tryambake gauri nārāyaṇi namo’stu te||
Meaning: O auspicious one, source of all good, who fulfils every aim — Gauri, three-eyed refuge, Narayani, salutations to you.
Jayanti mangala kali
ॐ जयन्ती मङ्गला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनी।
दुर्गा क्षमा शिवा धात्री स्वाहा स्वधा नमोऽस्तु ते॥
తెలుగు లిపిలో
ఓం జయన్తీ మఙ్గలా కాలీ భద్రకాలీ కపాలినీ।
దుర్గా క్షమా శివా ధాత్రీ స్వాహా స్వధా నమోఽస్తు తే॥
oṃ jayantī maṅgalā kālī bhadrakālī kapālinī| durgā kṣamā śivā dhātrī svāhā svadhā namo’stu te||
Meaning: Salutations to the goddess who is victorious and auspicious — Kali, Bhadrakali, Kapalini, Durga, Kshama, Shiva, Dhatri, Svaha and Svadha.
Jai Ambe Gauri — Aarti of Goddess Durga
जय अम्बे गौरी, मैया जय श्यामा गौरी।
तुमको निशदिन ध्यावत, हरि ब्रह्मा शिवरी॥
मांग सिंदूर विराजत, टीको मृगमद को।
उज्ज्वल से दोउ नैना, चंद्रवदन नीको॥
कनक समान कलेवर, रक्ताम्बर राजै।
रक्तपुष्प गल माला, कंठन पर साजै॥
केहरि वाहन राजत, खड्ग खप्पर धारी।
सुर-नर-मुनिजन सेवत, तिनके दुखहारी॥
कानन कुण्डल शोभित, नासाग्रे मोती।
कोटिक चंद्र दिवाकर, सम राजत ज्योती॥
शुंभ-निशुंभ बिदारे, महिषासुर घाती।
धूम्र विलोचन नैना, निशदिन मदमाती॥
चण्ड-मुण्ड संहारे, शोणित बीज हरे।
मधु-कैटभ दोउ मारे, सुर भयहीन करे॥
ब्रह्माणी, रूद्राणी, तुम कमला रानी।
आगम निगम बखानी, तुम शिव पटरानी॥
चौंसठ योगिनी गावत, नृत्य करत भैंरू।
बाजत ताल मृदंगा, अरु बाजत डमरू॥
तुम ही जग की माता, तुम ही हो भरता।
भक्तन की दुख हरता, सुख संपति करता॥
भुजा चार अति शोभित, वर मुद्रा धारी।
मनवांछित फल पावत, सेवत नर नारी॥
कंचन थाल विराजत, अगर कपूर बाती।
श्रीमालकेतु में राजत, कोटि रतन ज्योती॥
श्री अंबेजी की आरती, जो कोई नर गावै।
कहत शिवानंद स्वामी, सुख-संपति पावै॥
తెలుగు లిపిలో
జయ అమ్బే గౌరీ, మైయా జయ శ్యామా గౌరీ।
తుమకో నిశదిన ధ్యావత, హరి బ్రహ్మా శివరీ॥
మాంగ సిందూర విరాజత, టీకో మృగమద కో।
ఉజ్జ్వల సే దోఉ నైనా, చంద్రవదన నీకో॥
కనక సమాన కలేవర, రక్తామ్బర రాజై।
రక్తపుష్ప గల మాలా, కంఠన పర సాజై॥
కేహరి వాహన రాజత, ఖడ్గ ఖప్పర ధారీ।
సుర-నర-మునిజన సేవత, తినకే దుఖహారీ॥
కానన కుణ్డల శోభిత, నాసాగ్రే మోతీ।
కోటిక చంద్ర దివాకర, సమ రాజత జ్యోతీ॥
శుంభ-నిశుంభ బిదారే, మహిషాసుర ఘాతీ।
ధూమ్ర విలోచన నైనా, నిశదిన మదమాతీ॥
చణ్డ-ముణ్డ సంహారే, శోణిత బీజ హరే।
మధు-కైటభ దోఉ మారే, సుర భయహీన కరే॥
బ్రహ్మాణీ, రూద్రాణీ, తుమ కమలా రానీ।
ఆగమ నిగమ బఖానీ, తుమ శివ పటరానీ॥
చౌంసఠ యోగినీ గావత, నృత్య కరత భైంరూ।
బాజత తాల మృదంగా, అరు బాజత డమరూ॥
తుమ హీ జగ కీ మాతా, తుమ హీ హో భరతా।
భక్తన కీ దుఖ హరతా, సుఖ సంపతి కరతా॥
భుజా చార అతి శోభిత, వర ముద్రా ధారీ।
మనవాంఛిత ఫల పావత, సేవత నర నారీ॥
కంచన థాల విరాజత, అగర కపూర బాతీ।
శ్రీమాలకేతు మేం రాజత, కోటి రతన జ్యోతీ॥
శ్రీ అంబేజీ కీ ఆరతీ, జో కోఈ నర గావై।
కహత శివానంద స్వామీ, సుఖ-సంపతి పావై॥
In English letters
Jai Ambe Gauri, maiya jai Shyama Gauri,
Tumko nishdin dhyavat, Hari Brahma Shivri.
Meaning: Victory to Ambe Gauri, whom Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva meditate on day and night. The aarti describes her beauty and her lion, recalls her victories over Shumbha-Nishumbha, Mahishasura, Chanda-Munda, Raktabija and Madhu-Kaitabha, and praises her as the mother and sustainer of the world who grants the wishes of all who sing it.
Sharad Navratri across India
West Bengal, Odisha and Assam
Durga Puja in pandals from Shashthi to Dashami, with the Sandhi puja at the meeting of Ashtami and Navami, and Sindoor Khela before the visarjan.
Gujarat
Nine nights of garba and dandiya around a lamp (garbo) that represents the goddess.
Telangana
Bathukamma — women stack seasonal flowers into towering cones, sing around them each evening and immerse them in water.
Andhra Pradesh
Dasara Navaratrulu; at Vijayawada’s Kanaka Durga temple the goddess is adorned in a different alankaram each day.
Karnataka
The Mysuru Dasara, with the Jamboo Savari procession on Vijayadashami.
Tamil Nadu
Golu — steps of dolls displayed at home — with sundal offered to visitors.
North India
Kalash sthapana with sown barley, the akhand jyoti, Ramlila performances and kanya pujan.
Perform Sharad Navratri puja with Rutviju
Online pujas are performed at the temple in your name — you receive photos and video from the pandit. Offline pujas are performed at your home by a verified pandit.
Sources & method
- Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati), chapters 2–3 of the Markandeya Purana, for the story of Mahishasura.
- Devi Kavacha (part of the Durga Saptashati recitation) for the nine forms of Navadurga.
- Durga Saptashati, chapters 5 and 11, for the stutis quoted above.
Dates and muhurtams on this page are calculated for Hyderabad from the positions of the Sun and Moon (Lahiri ayanamsa, IST). Printed panchangams can differ by a minute or two, and a few festivals are kept on different days in different traditions — follow your family's panchangam and pandit where they differ.
Frequently asked questions
When is Sharad Navratri 2026?
Sharad Navratri 2026 is on Sunday, 11 October 2026. Ashwin Shukla Pratipada (Aswayuja Shukla Pratipada in the amanta calendar) runs from Sat, 10 Oct, 09:20 PM to Sun, 11 Oct, 09:31 PM, IST, as calculated for Hyderabad.
Is the Sharad Navratri date the same in every city?
Usually, but not always. Sunrise, sunset and moonrise differ from city to city, and the festival is kept on the day its tithi prevails at the right time of day, so the muhurtams — and occasionally the date — can change. Choose your city above to see local timings.
Which form of Durga is worshipped on which day?
Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri, from Pratipada to Navami. The table above shows the date of each for your city — when a tithi is skipped or repeated, Navratri can be eight or ten days.
What is the right time for ghatasthapana?
The first third of the day on Pratipada, while the tithi lasts; Abhijit muhurat is the traditional alternative. The timings above are for your city.
Can I book a Durga puja or Chandi homam?
Yes — at your home with a verified pandit, or online at a temple, from the booking section on this page.