If you have the Babu Lal Chaturvedi Panchang on your wall, you probably flipped to Navaratri first this month. Navaratri (also spelled Navratri) is the nine-night festival of Goddess Durga, and Sharad Navaratri is the biggest of the year. This guide to the Babu Lal Chaturvedi Calendar Navaratri 2026 pulls together the verified dates, the day-wise schedule, the fasting rules and the next Navaratri dates in one place. One timely point: as you read this, on 13 October, the festival is already underway and today is the third day.
Navaratri 2026 at a Glance
| Observance | Dates (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chaitra (Vasant) Navaratri | 19 to 27 March | Began with Ghatasthapana on Hindu New Year; ended with Ram Navami on 27 March |
| Sharad (Shardiya) Navaratri | 11 to 19 October | Ghatasthapana on 11 October |
| Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami | 19 October (see note below) | Ashtami and Navami fall very close together this year |
| Vijayadashami (Dussehra) and Navaratri parana | 20 October | Day after Maha Navami |
Sharad Navaratri 2026: Day-by-Day Schedule
| Day | Date | Goddess Worshipped | Theme of the Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Sun, 11 Oct | Maa Shailputri | Ghatasthapana; strength and foundation |
| Day 2 | Mon, 12 Oct | Maa Brahmacharini | Devotion, austerity and discipline |
| Day 3 | Tue, 13 Oct | Maa Chandraghanta | Courage and calm, the crescent moon bell |
| Day 4 | Wed, 14 Oct | Maa Kushmanda | Creative energy and well-being |
| Day 5 | Thu, 15 Oct | Maa Skandamata | Motherhood and protection |
| Day 6 | Fri, 16 Oct | Maa Katyayani | The warrior form of the Goddess |
| Day 7 | Sat, 17 Oct | Maa Kalaratri | Removing fear and ignorance |
| Day 8 | 18 to 19 Oct | Maa Mahagauri | Purity and peace; Durga Ashtami |
| Day 9 | Mon, 19 Oct | Maa Siddhidatri | Fulfilment; Maha Navami |
| Day 10 | Tue, 20 Oct | Vijayadashami (Dussehra); fast is broken |
A note on Ashtami and Navami this year. Tithis do not line up neatly with civil days, and in 2026 Ashtami and Navami fall almost back to back. In the New Delhi calendar, Ashtami ends in the late morning of 19 October and Navami begins at about the same time, so Durga Ashtami, Sandhi Puja and Maha Navami are all observed on 19 October. Some calendars list Ashtami on 18 October, and a few regional calendars shift things slightly. If your family holds a havan or Kanya Puja on Ashtami, ask your priest which day and time to follow in your city.
Ghatasthapana: Day One Recap
Ghatasthapana, also called Kalash Sthapana, opens Navaratri on Pratipada, the first lunar day. For New Delhi in 2026, the main window ran from about 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM, with Abhijit Muhurat from about 11:44 AM to 12:31 PM as a backup. Regional calendars published slightly different windows, for example a morning window tied to the Vrishchik lagna in Rajasthan, which is a good reminder that local timings differ. If your family installed the kalash on 11 October, the main thing now is to keep the lamp lit through the nine days and maintain the daily puja.
The Nine Forms of Durga, Day by Day
Each day of Navaratri honours one of the Navadurga, the nine forms of the Goddess:
- Shailputri is the daughter of the Himalayas and the first form, associated with strength and a firm foundation.
- Brahmacharini represents devotion and austerity.
- Chandraghanta wears a crescent moon shaped like a bell on her forehead and is associated with courage and peace.
- Kushmanda is the form associated with creation and vitality.
- Skandamata is the mother of Kartikeya and symbolises motherly protection.
- Katyayani is the warrior form who defeated Mahishasura in tradition, and is widely prayed to for success and for harmony in relationships.
- Kalaratri is the fierce form who removes fear and darkness.
- Mahagauri is the serene, radiant form associated with purity.
- Siddhidatri is the giver of spiritual accomplishments, worshipped on the ninth day.
Navaratri Fasting Rules
Many families fast during Navaratri, and the customs vary widely. A fast can mean nine days, only the first and last days, or only Ashtami and Navami. The general principles most households follow are:
- Eat satvik food. Avoid onion, garlic, alcohol and non-vegetarian food for the entire nine days, even if you are not fasting strictly.
- Skip regular grains. Wheat, rice and most pulses are avoided in many families, with fasting-friendly flours used instead.
- Use sendha namak. Rock salt replaces regular table salt in most fasting kitchens.
- Keep the household clean and calm. Many families also avoid cutting hair or nails and refrain from harsh speech.
- Do the daily puja. Light the lamp morning and evening and recite the day’s mantra or the Durga Saptashati according to your family custom.
| Commonly Eaten During the Fast | Commonly Avoided |
|---|---|
| Fruit, nuts, makhana, milk, curd | Wheat, rice, most pulses |
| Kuttu (buckwheat), singhara (water chestnut), rajgira, sabudana, sama millet | Onion and garlic |
| Potato, sweet potato, peanuts | Non-vegetarian food and alcohol |
| Sendha namak | Regular table salt |
Customs differ by region and family, so follow your own tradition where it differs from the list above.
Kanya Puja on Ashtami or Navami
Kanya Puja, the worship of young girls as forms of the Goddess, is the best-known ritual of the final days. Families invite girls, traditionally nine, wash their feet, offer a meal (commonly halwa, chana and puri), and give small gifts. Some households also invite one boy to represent Batuk Bhairav. It is performed on Ashtami or Navami depending on family tradition, and in 2026 both fall on 19 October in the New Delhi calendar, so you will usually only need to choose between the morning and the later part of that day.
Health and Safe Fasting
Fasting is a spiritual practice, but your health comes first. People with diabetes, low blood pressure, kidney conditions, anyone on regular medication, pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and older adults should speak with a doctor before a strict fast. A lighter version, such as a fruit-and-milk diet or fasting with water allowed, is accepted in many traditions and is a valid way to observe Navaratri. Avoid deep-fried fasting snacks in large quantities, drink water through the day if your rules permit it, and break the fast gently. Stop if you feel unwell.
What Comes After Navaratri 2026
| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| 20 October (Tue) | Vijayadashami (Dussehra) and Navaratri parana |
| 22 October (Thu) | Papankusha Ekadashi |
| 29 October (Thu) | Karva Chauth |
| 6 November (Fri) | Dhanteras |
| 8 November (Sun) | Diwali |
Diwali falls late this year because 2026 contains an extra lunar month, Adhik Maas (17 May to 15 June), which pushed the autumn festival season later than usual.
Navaratri in 2027: Dates to Note
Since a Panchang year runs across two English years, here are the next Navaratri dates for New Delhi.
| Navaratri | Dates (2027) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Magha Gupt Navaratri | 7 to 16 February | Observed quietly, mainly by tantric and devotional traditions |
| Chaitra Navaratri | 7 to 15 April | Begins on Hindu New Year; Ram Navami on 15 April; Ashtami on 14 April |
| Ashadha Gupt Navaratri | 4 to 12 July | Gupt (hidden) Navaratri |
| Sharad Navaratri | 30 September to 9 October | Ashtami around 7 October, Navami around 8 October, Dussehra on 9 October |
The two Navaratris celebrated publicly are Chaitra in spring and Sharad in autumn. The other two are the Gupt Navaratris, observed more privately.
rly, it can be skipped or repeated, and the festival may span eight or ten calendar dates. This is why the 2026 schedule above shows Ashtami and Navami close together, and why the 2027 Sharad list stretches over ten calendar days.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Sharad Navaratri 2026? Sharad Navaratri 2026 began on Sunday, 11 October and runs through Monday, 19 October. Vijayadashami (Dussehra) is on Tuesday, 20 October.
Which goddess is worshipped today, 13 October? Today is the third day of Sharad Navaratri, dedicated to Maa Chandraghanta.
When is Durga Ashtami in 2026? In the New Delhi calendar, Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami both fall on 19 October. Some calendars list Ashtami on 18 October, so confirm the timing in your city.
When is Kanya Puja in 2026? It is performed on Ashtami or Navami according to family tradition. In 2026 both fall on 19 October in the New Delhi calendar.
When is Dussehra in 2026? Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
When was Chaitra Navaratri in 2026? 19 to 27 March 2026, with Ram Navami on 27 March.
When is the next Navaratri after this one? Chaitra Navaratri 2027 begins on 7 April and ends on 15 April. The next Sharad Navaratri runs from 30 September to 9 October 2027.
Can pregnant women or people with medical conditions keep the nine-day fast? They should consult a doctor first. A modified fast that includes fruit, milk or water is widely accepted and is a valid way to observe Navaratri.
Why do the dates of Navaratri change every year? Navaratri follows the lunar calendar, so the same tithi falls on a different English date each year, and leap months such as 2026’s Adhik Maas shift the autumn festival season further.