Each year Navratri is celebrated with great joy, enthusiasm, devotion, and dedication. There is an atmosphere of festivity worldwide as people celebrate the Mega Festival honoring the Mother Goddess Durga – The Cosmic Energy that protects and preserves life on this planet Earth. Know the Navratri Date for 2026, which includes Chaitra and Shardiya Dates.
During Navratri, Goddess Durga is worshipped in the form of Kaali, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. Each day of the Navratri is dedicated to honoring divine avatars of Goddess Durga in the form of Mata Shailputri, Mata Brahmacharini, Mata Chandraghanta, Mata Kushmanda, Maa Skanda Mata, Maa Katyayani, Mata Kalratri, Mata Maha Gauri, and Mata Siddhidatri.
It is one of the foremost and most important festivals in India. Navratri is celebrated in different ways in various parts of India. Each region has its unique way of celebrating the festival.
People fast and pray to the Mother Goddess to bless them with success, glory, and riches. Big Idols of Goddess Durga are placed and worshipped. People sing, dance, and celebrate the festival with great joy and enthusiasm. Aarti (Devotional Song dedicated to the Goddess) is sung, mantras are chanted, and prayers are performed in the mornings and evenings throughout the Navratri Festival.
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Navratri Dates in 2026
Navratri is celebrated twice every year for nine days. One at the beginning of summer in March or April, known as “Chaitra Navratri.”
The Other Navratri is celebrated at the beginning of winter in September or October and is known as “Shardiya Navratri.” Of these Navratris, Sharadiya Navratri is the most popular and significant Navratri. That’s why it is also known as “Maha Navratri.” The nine-day festivity culminates on the tenth day with Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami.
Chaitra Navratri Date 2026
- Navratri Starts on 19th March 2026, Thursday
- Last Navratri on 27th March 2026, Friday
Navratri Day 1 – Ghatasthapana, Shailputri Puja: 19th March 2026, Thursday
Navratri Day 2 – Chandra Darshana, Sindhara Dooj, Brahmacharini Puja: 20th March 2026, Friday
Navratri Day 3 – Gauri Puja, Saubhagya Teej, Chandraghanta Puja: 21st March 2026, Saturday
Navratri Day 4 – Kushmanda Puja, Vasudeva Chaturthi: 22nd March 2026, Sunday
Navratri Day 5 – Naag Puja, Lakshmi Panchami, Skandamata Puja: 23rd March 2026, Monday
Navratri Day 6 – Skanda Sashti, Yamuna Chhath, Katyayani Puja: 24th March 2026, Tuesday
Navratri Day 7 – Maha Saptami, Kalaratri Puja: 25th March 2026, Wednesday
Navratri Day 8 – Durga Ashtami, Mahagauri Puja, Rama Navami: 26th March 2026, Thursday
Navratri Day 9 – Navratri Parana: 27th March 2026, Friday
Shardiya Navratri Date 2026
- Shardiya Navratri Starts on 11th October 2026, Sunday
- Last Shardiya Navratri on 20th October 2026, Tuesday
Navratri Day 1 – Ghatasthapana, Shailputri Puja: 11th October 2026, Sunday
Navratri Day 2 – Chandra Darshana, Brahmacharini Puja: 12th October 2026, Monday
Navratri Day 3 – Sindoor Tritiya, Chandraghanta Puja: 13th October 2026, Tuesday
Navratri Day 4 – Kushmanda Puja, Kapardisha Chaturthi: 14th October 2026, Wednesday
Navratri Day 5 – Upang Lalita Vrat, Skandamata Puja: 15th October 2026, Thursday
Navratri Day 6 – Saraswati Avahan, Katyayani Puja: 16th October 2026, Friday
Navratri Day 7 – Saraswati Puja, Kalaratri Puja: 17th October 2026, Saturday
Navratri Day 8 – Saptami: 18th October 2026, Sunday
Navratri Day 9 – Durga Ashtami, Mahagauri Puja, Sandhi Puja, Maha Navami: 19th October 2026, Monday
Navratri Day 10 – Vijayadashami, Ayudha Puja, Navami Homa, Durga Visarjan: 20th October 2026, Tuesday
Wishing all of you a very happy Navratri”.