Shardiya Navratri Calendar 2013
The Shardiya (autumn) Navratri festival calendar - the nine nights of Devi worship in Ashwin, from Ghatasthapana to Vijayadashami, with the tithi for each day.
The Shardiya Navratri Calendar lists 7 dates in 2013, from Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana) on 5 October through Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami) on 13 October. October holds the most with 7 dates. The year runs through Vikram Samvat 2069 – 2070.
October 2013
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Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana)
Tithi 6:04 AM, Oct 5 – 5:16 AM, Oct 6
Nine nights of worship of Goddess Durga begin on Ashwin Shukla Pratipada, opened by the Ghatasthapana (kalash) ritual in Maharashtra and the garba and dandiya-raas nights of Gujarat; in Rajasthan the Karni Mata fair at Deshnok and the Jeen Mata fair draw great crowds.
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Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi
Tithi 10:00 PM, Oct 9 – 7:51 PM, Oct 10
Bodhon and Kalparambha — the formal welcome of Goddess Durga that opens the puja.
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Durga Puja — Maha Saptami
Tithi 7:50 PM, Oct 10 – 5:38 PM, Oct 11
Nabapatrika is bathed and Goddess Durga is worshipped on the seventh day of the puja.
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Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami
Tithi 5:38 PM, Oct 11 – 3:26 PM, Oct 12
The grandest day of Durga Puja, with Kumari Puja and the Sandhi Puja at dusk.
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Durga Puja — Maha Navami
Tithi 3:25 PM, Oct 12 – 1:17 PM, Oct 13
The ninth day of Durga Puja, marked by Navami Homa and the final grand worship.
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Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami)
Tithi 3:25 PM, Oct 12 – 1:17 PM, Oct 13
The victory of good over evil — effigies of Ravana are burnt and Durga is bid farewell.
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Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tithi 3:25 PM, Oct 12 – 1:17 PM, Oct 13
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami.
Tithi start and end times are shown in your local time. Festival dates follow the standard Indian (sunrise) calendar and may vary by a day in other regions, and may differ slightly from regional almanacs (especially around an Adhik Maas).
What happened in the sky in 2013
Beyond the dates the Shardiya Navratri Calendar lists, 2013 brought 5 eclipses - 2 solar and 3 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana) fell on 5 October, 12 days earlier in the year than in 2012 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2013
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Hindu date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Apr 1:37 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Vaishakha Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 10 May 5:55 AM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Vaishakha Amavasya | Not visible |
| 25 May 9:40 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Jyeshtha Purnima | Not visible |
| 19 Oct 5:20 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Kartika Krishna Pratipada | Penumbral only |
| 3 Nov 6:16 PM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Kartika Amavasya | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 1 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 2013
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 7:00 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Vrishabha → Mithuna |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Frequently asked questions about the Shardiya Navratri Calendar 2013
How many festivals and vrats does the Shardiya Navratri Calendar list in 2013?
The Shardiya Navratri Calendar lists 7 dates in 2013. The first is Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana) on Saturday, 5 October 2013, and the last is Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami) on Sunday, 13 October 2013.
What are the main festival dates in the Shardiya Navratri Calendar for 2013?
The first major observances of 2013 are:
- Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana) - Saturday, 5 October 2013
- Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi - Thursday, 10 October 2013
- Durga Puja — Maha Saptami - Friday, 11 October 2013
- Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami - Saturday, 12 October 2013
- Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja - Sunday, 13 October 2013
- Durga Puja — Maha Navami - Sunday, 13 October 2013
Which month of 2013 has the most observances in the Shardiya Navratri Calendar?
October 2013 is the fullest month with 7 dates, including Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana), Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi, Durga Puja — Maha Saptami, Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami, Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja, Durga Puja — Maha Navami, Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami).
Which traditional year does 2013 correspond to in the Shardiya Navratri Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2013 spans Vikram Samvat 2069 – 2070. The traditional year does not begin on 1 January, so one Gregorian year usually covers the end of one era year and the start of the next.
Did 2013 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 2013 had twelve lunar months with no Adhik Maas, so its festival dates fall in their usual Gregorian window rather than being pushed later by an intercalary month.
Were there any eclipses in 2013?
2013 had 5 eclipses:
- 26 April 2013 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 10 May 2013 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 25 May 2013 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 19 October 2013 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 3 November 2013 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
Sutak Kaal is observed only for an eclipse actually visible where you are, so 1 of these was kept in India.
Did Guru or Shani change sign in 2013?
Yes - 1 sign change among the slow grahas in 2013:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Mithuna on 31 May 2013
Jupiter takes about a year to cross one sign and Saturn about two and a half, so these transits colour the whole year rather than a single week.
Are these 2013 dates the same everywhere?
The dates follow the standard Indian sunrise-based calendar. Because a tithi begins and ends at a fixed moment rather than at midnight, an observance can fall a day earlier or later where sunrise differs - most noticeably outside India. Set your city in the box at the top to see the start and end times in your own local time, and check the daily Panchang for the exact window on the day.
About the Shardiya Navratri Calendar
The Shardiya (autumn) Navratri festival calendar - the nine nights of Devi worship in Ashwin, from Ghatasthapana to Vijayadashami, with the tithi for each day.
Each entry lists the festival or vrat with its date, the prevailing tithi, and a short note on the observance. Use the year links to plan ahead into the coming years or to look up a date from the archive.
This list is the festival dates, not the daily five limbs. For sunrise, Rahu Kalam and the day's yoga, open the Panchang. Other calendars are on the Calendars index. The story of a fast is under Vrat Katha.


