Shardiya Navratri Calendar 2019
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 2019, from Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana) on 29 September through Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami) on 7 October. October holds the most with 6 dates. The year runs through Vikram Samvat 2075 – 2076.
September 2019
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Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana)
Tithi 11:55 PM, Sep 28 – 8:10 PM, Sep 29
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.
October 2019
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Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi
Tithi 11:22 AM, Oct 2 – 10:11 AM, Oct 3
Bodhon and Kalparambha — the formal welcome of Goddess Durga that opens the puja.
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Durga Puja — Maha Saptami
Tithi 9:16 AM, Oct 4 – 9:50 AM, Oct 5
Nabapatrika is bathed and Goddess Durga is worshipped on the seventh day of the puja.
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Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami
Tithi 9:16 AM, Oct 4 – 9:50 AM, Oct 5
The grandest day of Durga Puja, with Kumari Puja and the Sandhi Puja at dusk.
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Durga Puja — Maha Navami
Tithi 9:36 AM, Oct 5 – 10:53 AM, Oct 6
The ninth day of Durga Puja, marked by Navami Homa and the final grand worship.
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Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami)
Tithi 10:44 AM, Oct 6 – 12:37 PM, Oct 7
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 10:44 AM, Oct 6 – 12:37 PM, Oct 7
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 2019
Beyond the dates the Shardiya Navratri Calendar lists, 2019 brought 5 eclipses - 3 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana) fell on 29 September, 11 days earlier in the year than in 2018 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2019
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Hindu date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jan 7:11 AM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Pausha Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
| 21 Jan 10:42 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Magha Purnima | Not visible |
| 3 Jul 12:52 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Ashadha Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
| 17 Jul 3:00 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Shravana Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 26 Dec 10:47 AM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Pausha Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.
Guru and Shani in 2019
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Mar 8:10 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Vrishchika → Dhanu |
| 23 Apr 1:20 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Dhanu → Vrishchika re-entry while retrograde |
| 5 Nov 5:20 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Vrishchika → Dhanu |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Mithuna on 7 March 2019, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Frequently asked questions about the Shardiya Navratri Calendar 2019
How many festivals and vrats does the Shardiya Navratri Calendar list in 2019?
The Shardiya Navratri Calendar lists 7 dates in 2019. The first is Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana) on Sunday, 29 September 2019, and the last is Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami) on Monday, 7 October 2019.
What are the main festival dates in the Shardiya Navratri Calendar for 2019?
The first major observances of 2019 are:
- Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana) - Sunday, 29 September 2019
- Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi - Thursday, 3 October 2019
- Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami - Saturday, 5 October 2019
- Durga Puja — Maha Saptami - Saturday, 5 October 2019
- Durga Puja — Maha Navami - Sunday, 6 October 2019
- Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja - Monday, 7 October 2019
Which month of 2019 has the most observances in the Shardiya Navratri Calendar?
October 2019 is the fullest month with 6 dates, including Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi, Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami, Durga Puja — Maha Saptami, Durga Puja — Maha Navami, Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja, Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami).
Which traditional year does 2019 correspond to in the Shardiya Navratri Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2019 spans Vikram Samvat 2075 – 2076. 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 2019 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 2019 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 2019?
2019 had 5 eclipses:
- 6 January 2019 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 21 January 2019 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 3 July 2019 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 17 July 2019 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 26 December 2019 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
Sutak Kaal is observed only for an eclipse actually visible where you are, so 2 of these were kept in India.
Did Guru or Shani change sign in 2019?
Yes - 3 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2019:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Dhanu on 29 March 2019
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Vrishchika on 23 April 2019, moving retrograde
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Dhanu on 5 November 2019
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 2019 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.


