Shardiya Navratri 2026: Date, Kalash Sthapana Muhurat

This Shardiya Navratri 2026, the great festival of Shakti Sadhana, begins on Sunday, 11 October 2026 and continues till Tuesday, 20 October 2026. This year the festival runs for 10 days instead of the usual nine, because one tithi increases (tithi vriddhi) during the Navratri period. The Ashtami tithi spreads over two days, which gives devotees an extra opportunity to worship Maa Bhagavati, the presiding goddess of Shakti.

In Kashi, Navratri is not just a festival. It is a living tradition. From the Navdurga temples spread across the city to the Durga Saptashati path that echoes on every ghat, these ten days carry a special spiritual charge. In this article we have covered everything a devotee needs: the correct date, the shastra-sammat Kalash Sthapana muhurat, the day-wise calendar, the vahan of Maa Durga, Sandhi Puja timing, puja vidhi and vrat niyam.

When is Shardiya Navratri 2026?

Shardiya Navratri begins on Ashwin Shukla Pratipada. In 2026, Pratipada tithi starts on the night of 10 October and remains present at sunrise on 11 October. Since Hindu festivals follow udaya tithi (the tithi present at sunrise), Navratri 2026 starts on Sunday, 11 October 2026.

Event	Date	Day
Navratri begins, Kalash Sthapana	11 October 2026	Sunday
Maha Saptami	17 October 2026	Saturday
Ashtami tithi (spread over two days)	18 and 19 October 2026	Sunday, Monday
Sandhi Puja and Mahanavami	19 October 2026	Monday
Vijayadashami (Dussehra)	20 October 2026	Tuesday
Navratri vrat Parana	21 October 2026	Wednesday

There was some confusion on social media about whether Navratri starts on 11 or 12 October. The answer is 11 October, as Pratipada is the udaya tithi on that day. The day before, 10 October, is Mahalaya, that is Sarva Pitru Amavasya, which closes Pitru Paksha. The fortnight of the ancestors ends and the fortnight of the Devi begins the very next morning.

Navratri 2026 Calendar: Day-wise Worship of Navdurga

The nine forms of Maa Durga are named in the Devi Kavach, which is recited as part of the Durga Saptashati: “Prathamam Shailaputri cha, dvitiyam Brahmacharini…”. Each day of Navratri is dedicated to one of these forms. Because the Ashtami tithi extends over two days this year, the festival stretches to ten days.

Date	Day	Navratri Day	Form of Maa Durga	What She Blesses
11 Oct 2026	Sunday	Day 1, Pratipada	Maa Shailputri, Kalash Sthapana	Stability and a strong foundation in life
12 Oct 2026	Monday	Day 2	Maa Brahmacharini	Tapas, discipline and self-control
13 Oct 2026	Tuesday	Day 3	Maa Chandraghanta	Courage and freedom from fear
14 Oct 2026	Wednesday	Day 4	Maa Kushmanda	Health, energy and vitality
15 Oct 2026	Thursday	Day 5	Maa Skandmata	Wellbeing of children and family
16 Oct 2026	Friday	Day 6	Maa Katyayani, Bilva Nimantran	Removal of obstacles in marriage
17 Oct 2026	Saturday	Day 7, Maha Saptami	Maa Kaalratri	Protection from negative forces
18 Oct 2026	Sunday	Day 8, Ashtami begins	Maa Mahagauri	Purity and removal of past sins
19 Oct 2026	Monday	Ashtami continues, Sandhi Puja, Mahanavami	Maa Siddhidatri	Siddhi and fulfilment of sankalp
20 Oct 2026	Tuesday	Vijayadashami	Aparajita Puja, Durga Visarjan	Victory of dharma over adharma

The exact start and end time of each tithi differs slightly from city to city, because it depends on local sunrise. The timings in this article follow the Kashi (Varanasi) panchang. Devotees in other cities, and NRIs abroad, should confirm with their local panchang.

Kalash Sthapana Muhurat 2026 (Ghatasthapana Muhurat)

The best time for Kalash Sthapana on 11 October 2026 is the Abhijit Muhurat, from 11:20 AM to 12:07 PM (Kashi panchang).

Ghatasthapana on the first day is the most important act of Navratri. The kalash is the seat of the Devi for all nine days, so the time of its installation matters a great deal. This year there is a special condition that every devotee should understand.

Why Abhijit Muhurat this year?

On 11 October 2026, Chitra nakshatra and Vaidhriti yoga remain present for the entire day. The dharmashastra nibandha texts, such as Nirnaya Sindhu, treat Chitra nakshatra and Vaidhriti yoga as prohibited for Kalash Sthapana. Normally, devotees wait for these to pass. But when they cover the whole day of Pratipada, the shastras give a clear solution: install the kalash in Abhijit Muhurat.

Abhijit is the eighth muhurat of the day, around midday, when the sun is at its highest point. It is considered powerful enough to remove the dosha of an unfavourable yoga or nakshatra. That is why Abhijit Muhurat is the shastra-sammat and best choice for Kalash Sthapana in 2026.

Note: Different panchangs print slightly different Abhijit timings because each one is calculated for its own city. For Delhi, the window falls roughly 15 to 25 minutes later than in Varanasi. If you live outside Kashi, take the Abhijit time from your local panchang. Devotees in the USA, UK, Canada or Australia should use the local time of their own city, not Indian time.

Maa Durga Vahan 2026: Arrival on Elephant, Departure on Rooster

In 2026 Maa Durga arrives on an elephant (Gaj) and departs on a rooster (Kukkut). The vahan of the Devi is decided by the weekday on which Navratri begins and ends.

The traditional verse for the arrival, cited from the Devi Bhagavata, says:

Shashi-surye gajarudha, shani-bhaume turangame, gurau shukre cha dolayam, budhe nauka prakirtita.

It means: when Navratri begins on Monday or Sunday, the Devi comes on an elephant; on Saturday or Tuesday, on a horse; on Thursday or Friday, in a palanquin (doli); and on Wednesday, in a boat.

Arrival on Elephant: what it indicates

Since Navratri 2026 begins on a Sunday, the Devi arrives on an elephant. In the tradition, “Gaje cha jalada Devi” is the result of this vahan: the Devi on an elephant brings rain. An elephant arrival is considered among the most auspicious. It signals good rainfall, a rich harvest, prosperity and stability in society.

Departure on Rooster: what it indicates

Navratri 2026 ends on a Tuesday. The traditional verse for the departure says that when Vijayadashami falls on Saturday or Tuesday, the Devi leaves on a “charanayudha”, that is, a rooster. This vahan is associated with restlessness and unsettled conditions. Devotees should not see this with fear. The tradition offers it as a reminder to continue sadhana, daan and Devi upasana even after Navratri ends.

These results come from traditional jyotish and panchang reckoning. They are to be read as signs for society at large, not as personal predictions.

Durga Ashtami, Sandhi Puja and Mahanavami 2026

Sandhi Puja 2026 falls on Monday, 19 October, from 10:27 AM to 11:15 AM (Kashi panchang). Durga Ashtami tithi spreads over 18 and 19 October, and Mahanavami begins on 19 October right after the Sandhi kaal.

What is Sandhi Puja?

The meeting point where Maha Ashtami ends and Mahanavami begins is called Sandhi kaal. Sandhi Puja is performed in the last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami, a total window of 48 minutes. It is regarded as the most powerful moment of the entire Navratri. In many traditions, 108 lamps are lit and 108 lotus flowers are offered to the Devi during this time.

The story behind Sandhi Puja: how the Devi became Chamunda

The belief is that in this very Sandhi kaal, Maa Durga took the form of Chamunda and killed the asuras Chanda and Munda. The full story is told in the seventh chapter of the Durga Saptashati, which is part of the Markandeya Purana.

After the Devi destroyed the asura Dhumralochan, the asura king Shumbha was enraged. He sent his two mighty generals, Chanda and Munda, with a huge army to the Himalaya. They found the Devi seated on her lion on a golden peak, smiling gently. The asuras raised their bows and swords and rushed towards her to capture her.

Seeing this, the face of Ambika turned dark with anger. From her forehead, where her brows were knit in fury, there emerged a fearsome goddess: Kali. She held a sword and a noose, wore a garland of skulls and a tiger skin, and had a gaping mouth with a lolling tongue and deep red eyes. With a terrible roar she fell upon the asura army. She seized elephants along with their riders and threw them into her mouth, crushed chariots and horses, and destroyed the soldiers in large numbers.

Chanda ran at her with his weapons. Kali caught him by the hair and cut off his head with her sword. When Munda saw this, he rushed at her in rage, and he too was struck down. Kali then carried both heads to the Devi and said that she had brought the heads of Chanda and Munda as offerings in this sacrifice of battle, and that Shumbha and Nishumbha the Devi would destroy herself.

Pleased, the Devi gave Kali a new name: because you have brought Chanda and Munda, you will be known in the world as Chamunda. That is why the name Chamunda is so central to Devi upasana, and why the moment of her victory, the Sandhi kaal, is worshipped with such devotion.

Kanya Pujan on Ashtami and Navami

On Ashtami or Navami, according to family tradition, devotees perform Kanya Pujan. Nine young girls are seen as the nine forms of the Devi. Their feet are washed, they are given tilak, chunari, halwa-puri-chana and dakshina, and their blessings are taken.

Vijayadashami 2026 and Navratri Parana

Vijayadashami (Dussehra) will be celebrated on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. On this day Aparajita Puja and Shami Puja are performed, and the idols of the Devi are immersed. Vijayadashami also marks the victory of Bhagwan Shri Ram over Ravan, and so it stands for the victory of dharma over adharma.

The Navratri vrat Parana will be done on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. Those who kept the full ten-day vrat should break the fast after puja and offering bhog to the Devi.

Navratri Puja Vidhi 2026: Kalash Sthapana Step by Step

Follow these steps on 11 October within the Abhijit Muhurat.

1. Wake up in Brahma Muhurat, bathe, wear clean clothes and clean the puja place. Sprinkle Gangajal to purify it.
2. Place a wooden chowki and spread a red cloth on it. Install the image or murti of Maa Durga facing east or north.
3. Take clean soil in a wide earthen pot, sow barley (jau) in it and sprinkle a little water. This is the Jawara, which will sprout during the nine days.
4. Fill a copper or earthen kalash with water and Gangajal. Add a supari, a coin, akshat, durva and a little turmeric. Tie mauli around its neck.
5. Place five mango leaves on the mouth of the kalash. Wrap a coconut with its husk (jata nariyal) in a red chunari and place it on top.
6. Set the kalash on the barley pot. Take sankalp with water, akshat and flowers in your right hand, stating your name, gotra and the purpose of the vrat.
7. Worship Shri Ganesh first, then invoke the Devi into the kalash. Offer roli, akshat, flowers, shringar items, dhoop, deep and naivedya.
8. Light an akhand jyoti if you can maintain it for all nine days. Read the Durga Saptashati or at least the Devi Kavach, Argala and Keelak, and end with aarti.

Navratri Puja Samagri List

• Kalash (copper, brass or clay), Gangajal, mango leaves, jata nariyal, supari, coins, mauli
• Clay pot, clean soil and barley for Jawara
• Red chunari, red cloth, shringar items (sindoor, bindi, bangles, mehendi, comb, mirror)
• Roli, akshat, durva, flowers and garlands, paan leaves
• Brass diya, cotton wicks, desi ghee or til oil, camphor, dhoop and agarbatti
• Fruits, sweets, batashe and panchmeva for bhog

Navratri Vrat Niyam: Rules to Follow

• Keep the home and puja place clean throughout the nine days.
• Avoid onion, garlic, meat, alcohol and tamasic food. Eat satvik food made with sendha namak.
• Phalahar such as fruits, milk, kuttu, singhara, sabudana and makhana can be taken during the vrat.
• Practise brahmacharya, avoid anger, harsh words and quarrels.
• If the akhand jyoti is lit, do not leave the house empty, and do not let the flame go out.
• Do not cut hair or nails during Navratri, as per tradition.
• Offer daan to the needy and respect girls and women, who are seen as forms of the Devi.

Those who cannot fast for all nine days due to health, age or work may keep the first and last vrat, or the Ashtami vrat. The shastras value bhakti and sankalp above physical strain.

Why Shardiya Navratri Is So Important: The Shastriya Aadhar

The Devi herself declares the importance of the autumn worship in the Durga Saptashati. In the twelfth chapter she says:

Sharatkale mahapuja kriyate ya cha varshiki, tasyam mamaitanmahatmyam shrutva bhaktisamanvitah. Sarvabadha-vinirmukto dhana-dhanya-sutanvitah, manushyo matprasadena bhavishyati na samshayah.

It means: in the great annual worship performed in Sharad ritu (autumn), whoever listens to this glory of mine with devotion will, by my grace, be freed from all obstacles and blessed with wealth, grain and children. There is no doubt about this.

This is why Shardiya Navratri is called the “Maha Navratri” and why reading or listening to the Durga Saptashati is the heart of its sadhana.

Read more: Mangala Gauri Puja for Marriage Blessings

The three stories of the Durga Saptashati

The Durga Saptashati, also called Devi Mahatmya, has 700 shlokas in 13 chapters and forms part of the Markandeya Purana. It begins with King Suratha, who has lost his kingdom, and a merchant named Samadhi, who has been thrown out by his own family. Both come to the ashram of Rishi Medha and ask why their minds still cling to those who betrayed them. The rishi explains that this is the power of Mahamaya, and then narrates three charitras of the Devi.

Charitra	Chapters	Form of the Devi	Asura destroyed
Pratham (first)	1	Mahakali	Madhu and Kaitabh
Madhyam (middle)	2 to 4	Mahalakshmi	Mahishasur
Uttam (final)	5 to 13	Mahasaraswati	Dhumralochan, Chanda-Munda, Raktabeej, Shumbha-Nishumbha

In the middle charitra, when Mahishasur defeats the devatas and takes over heaven, the anger of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and all the devatas comes out as a great light. That light takes the form of the Devi. Each devata gives her his weapon, and she destroys Mahishasur and his army. This victory is why she is called Mahishasurmardini.

At the end of the Saptashati, after three years of worship on the bank of a river, King Suratha receives his kingdom back and is blessed to become the next Manu, Savarni. Samadhi asks only for knowledge, and receives the wisdom that frees him from attachment. The message is clear: the Devi gives both bhoga (worldly fulfilment) and moksha (liberation), according to the seeker’s sankalp.

Book Navratri Puja 2026 in Kashi with Vedaangam

If you cannot perform the full Navratri anushthan at home, or you live abroad, you can have it performed in your name in Kashi through Vedaangam. Our experienced Kashi pandits take sankalp in your name and gotra and perform the puja with full Vedic vidhi.

Navratri anushthans available for 2026:

• Kalash Sthapana and nine-day Navratri puja in your name
• Durga Saptashati path (single path, nine-day path or Shat Chandi)
• Sandhi Puja on 19 October in the exact Sandhi kaal
• Mahanavami havan and Kanya Pujan
• Siddha Kunjika Stotra and Navarna mantra jaap

For NRIs in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and the Gulf, we share the sankalp video and puja photos, and the prasad can be sent to your address. Since Navratri starts on 11 October, please book before 10 October so that your sankalp can be included from the first day.

Watch Now: Durga Suktam दुर्गा सूक्तम् With Lyrics and Meaning – Vedic Chanting

Frequently Asked Questions on Navratri 2026

When will Navratri start in 2026? Shardiya Navratri 2026 starts on Sunday, 11 October 2026 and ends with Vijayadashami on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.

Why is Navratri 10 days in 2026? One tithi increases (tithi vriddhi) this year, and the Ashtami tithi spreads over two days. So the festival runs for ten days.

What is the Kalash Sthapana muhurat on 11 October 2026? The Abhijit Muhurat, 11:20 AM to 12:07 PM as per the Kashi panchang. Chitra nakshatra and Vaidhriti yoga are present all day, so Abhijit is the shastra-sammat time.

On which vahan is Maa Durga arriving in 2026? The Devi arrives on an elephant because Navratri begins on Sunday, and departs on a rooster because it ends on Tuesday.

When is Sandhi Puja 2026? On Monday, 19 October 2026, from 10:27 AM to 11:15 AM as per the Kashi panchang.

When is Durga Ashtami 2026? Ashtami tithi spreads over 18 and 19 October 2026. Mahanavami begins on 19 October after the Sandhi kaal.

When is Dussehra 2026? Vijayadashami (Dussehra) is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. The Navratri vrat Parana is on Wednesday, 21 October 2026.

Can I book Navratri puja online from abroad? Yes. Through Vedaangam, the puja is performed in Kashi with sankalp in your name and gotra, and you receive the video of the sankalp and puja.

Timings in this article are as per the Kashi (Varanasi) panchang. Please confirm local timings with your own city’s panchang.