Shardiya Navratri Calendar 2016
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 2016, from Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana) on 1 October through Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami) on 11 October. October holds the most with 7 dates. The year runs through Vikram Samvat 2072 – 2073.
October 2016
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Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana)
Tithi 5:41 AM, Oct 1 – 7:37 AM, Oct 2
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 5:34 PM, Oct 6 – 7:44 PM, Oct 7
Bodhon and Kalparambha — the formal welcome of Goddess Durga that opens the puja.
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Durga Puja — Maha Saptami
Tithi 7:44 PM, Oct 7 – 9:30 PM, Oct 8
Nabapatrika is bathed and Goddess Durga is worshipped on the seventh day of the puja.
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Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami
Tithi 9:27 PM, Oct 8 – 10:39 PM, Oct 9
The grandest day of Durga Puja, with Kumari Puja and the Sandhi Puja at dusk.
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Durga Puja — Maha Navami
Tithi 10:33 PM, Oct 9 – 11:04 PM, Oct 10
The ninth day of Durga Puja, marked by Navami Homa and the final grand worship.
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Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami)
Tithi 10:56 PM, Oct 10 – 10:39 PM, Oct 11
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 10:56 PM, Oct 10 – 10:39 PM, Oct 11
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 2016
Beyond the dates the Shardiya Navratri Calendar lists, 2016 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 3 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana) fell on 1 October, 11 days earlier in the year than in 2015 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2016
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Hindu date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Mar 7:27 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Phalguna Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 23 Mar 5:17 PM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Chaitra Purnima | Penumbral only |
| 1 Sep 2:36 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Bhadrapada Amavasya | Not visible |
| 17 Sep 12:24 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Ashwina Krishna Pratipada | Penumbral only |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 1 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 2016
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Aug 9:30 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Simha → Kanya |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Simha on 30 January 2016, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Shardiya Navratri Calendar 2016
How many festivals and vrats does the Shardiya Navratri Calendar list in 2016?
The Shardiya Navratri Calendar lists 7 dates in 2016. The first is Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana) on Saturday, 1 October 2016, and the last is Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami) on Tuesday, 11 October 2016.
What are the main festival dates in the Shardiya Navratri Calendar for 2016?
The first major observances of 2016 are:
- Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana) - Saturday, 1 October 2016
- Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi - Friday, 7 October 2016
- Durga Puja — Maha Saptami - Saturday, 8 October 2016
- Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami - Sunday, 9 October 2016
- Durga Puja — Maha Navami - Monday, 10 October 2016
- Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja - Tuesday, 11 October 2016
Which month of 2016 has the most observances in the Shardiya Navratri Calendar?
October 2016 is the fullest month with 7 dates, including Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana), Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi, Durga Puja — Maha Saptami, Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami, Durga Puja — Maha Navami, Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja, Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami).
Which traditional year does 2016 correspond to in the Shardiya Navratri Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2016 spans Vikram Samvat 2072 – 2073. 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 2016 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 2016 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 2016?
2016 had 4 eclipses:
- 9 March 2016 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 23 March 2016 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 1 September 2016 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 17 September 2016 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
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 2016?
Yes - 1 sign change among the slow grahas in 2016:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Kanya on 11 August 2016
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 2016 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.
