Shardiya Navratri Calendar

Shardiya Navratri Calendar 2017

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 2017, from Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana) on 21 September through Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami) on 30 September. September holds the most with 7 dates. The year runs through Vikram Samvat 2073 – 2074.

September 2017

  • Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana)

    Thursday, 21 September 2017 Shukla Pratipada

    Tithi 10:49 AM, Sep 20 10:34 AM, Sep 21

    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.

  • Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi

    Tuesday, 26 September 2017 Shukla Shashthi

    Tithi 2:24 PM, Sep 25 4:39 PM, Sep 26

    Bodhon and Kalparambha — the formal welcome of Goddess Durga that opens the puja.

  • Durga Puja — Maha Saptami

    Wednesday, 27 September 2017 Shukla Saptami

    Tithi 4:39 PM, Sep 26 7:08 PM, Sep 27

    Nabapatrika is bathed and Goddess Durga is worshipped on the seventh day of the puja.

  • Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami

    Thursday, 28 September 2017 Shukla Ashtami

    Tithi 7:09 PM, Sep 27 9:38 PM, Sep 28

    The grandest day of Durga Puja, with Kumari Puja and the Sandhi Puja at dusk.

  • Durga Puja — Maha Navami

    Friday, 29 September 2017 Shukla Navami

    Tithi 9:37 PM, Sep 28 11:55 PM, Sep 29

    The ninth day of Durga Puja, marked by Navami Homa and the final grand worship.

  • Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami)

    Saturday, 30 September 2017 Shukla Dashami

    Tithi 11:51 PM, Sep 29 1:45 AM, Oct 1

    The victory of good over evil — effigies of Ravana are burnt and Durga is bid farewell.

  • Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja

    Saturday, 30 September 2017 Shukla Dashami

    Tithi 11:51 PM, Sep 29 1:45 AM, Oct 1

    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 2017

Beyond the dates the Shardiya Navratri Calendar lists, 2017 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana) fell on 21 September, 11 days earlier in the year than in 2016 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.

Eclipses of 2017

Date (IST) Eclipse Hindu date Seen from India
11 Feb 6:13 AM Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) Magha Krishna Pratipada Penumbral only
26 Feb 8:23 PM Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) Phalguna Amavasya Not visible
7 Aug 11:50 PM Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) Shravana Purnima Yes - Sutak observed
21 Aug 11:55 PM Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) Bhadrapada 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 2017

Date Graha Sign change
26 Jan 7:40 PM Shani (Saturn) Vrishchika → Dhanu
21 Jun 4:40 AM Shani (Saturn) Dhanu → Vrishchika re-entry while retrograde
12 Sep 7:00 AM Guru (Jupiter) Kanya → Tula
26 Oct 3:30 PM Shani (Saturn) Vrishchika → Dhanu

Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Karka on 18 August 2017, carrying the eclipse axis with it.

Frequently asked questions about the Shardiya Navratri Calendar 2017

How many festivals and vrats does the Shardiya Navratri Calendar list in 2017?

The Shardiya Navratri Calendar lists 7 dates in 2017. The first is Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana) on Thursday, 21 September 2017, and the last is Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami) on Saturday, 30 September 2017.

What are the main festival dates in the Shardiya Navratri Calendar for 2017?

The first major observances of 2017 are:

  • Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana) - Thursday, 21 September 2017
  • Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi - Tuesday, 26 September 2017
  • Durga Puja — Maha Saptami - Wednesday, 27 September 2017
  • Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami - Thursday, 28 September 2017
  • Durga Puja — Maha Navami - Friday, 29 September 2017
  • Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja - Saturday, 30 September 2017
Which month of 2017 has the most observances in the Shardiya Navratri Calendar?

September 2017 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 2017 correspond to in the Shardiya Navratri Calendar?

The Gregorian year 2017 spans Vikram Samvat 2073 – 2074. 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 2017 have an Adhik Maas?

No. 2017 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 2017?

2017 had 4 eclipses:

  • 11 February 2017 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
  • 26 February 2017 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
  • 7 August 2017 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
  • 21 August 2017 - Total 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 2017?

Yes - 4 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2017:

  • Shani (Saturn) entered Dhanu on 26 January 2017
  • Shani (Saturn) entered Vrishchika on 21 June 2017, moving retrograde
  • Guru (Jupiter) entered Tula on 12 September 2017
  • Shani (Saturn) entered Dhanu on 26 October 2017

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 2017 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.

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