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.
October 2026
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Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana)
Tithi 9:18 PM, Oct 10 – 9:25 PM, Oct 11
Nine nights of worship of Goddess Durga in her nine forms 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 3:25 AM, Oct 16 – 5:49 AM, Oct 17
Bodhon and Kalparambha — the formal welcome of Goddess Durga that opens the puja.
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Durga Puja — Maha Saptami
Tithi 5:54 AM, Oct 17 – 8:28 AM, Oct 18
Nabapatrika is bathed and Goddess Durga is worshipped on the seventh day of the puja.
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Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami
Tithi 5:56 AM, Oct 17 – 8:28 AM, Oct 18
The grandest day of Durga Puja, with Kumari Puja and the Sandhi Puja at dusk.
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Durga Puja — Maha Navami
Tithi 8:35 AM, Oct 18 – 10:52 AM, Oct 19
The ninth day of Durga Puja, marked by Navami Homa and the final grand worship.
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Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami)
Tithi 11:01 AM, Oct 19 – 12:52 PM, Oct 20
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 11:01 AM, Oct 19 – 12:52 PM, Oct 20
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).
Frequently asked questions about Shardiya Navratri Calendar
When is Shardiya Navratri?
The nine nights of Ashwin Shukla Paksha, from Pratipada to Navami, ending in Vijayadashami - usually late September or October. Ghatasthapana on the first morning opens it.
What is Ghatasthapana?
The installing of the kalash with the akhand jyot and the sowing of barley seed, done in a prescribed morning window on Pratipada. The calendar gives that muhurat, since it is avoided during Chitra nakshatra and the Vaidhriti yoga.
Why do the nine days sometimes number eight?
Because two tithis can fall on one sunrise, so a tithi is skipped and the nine devis are worshipped across eight days. Where a tithi is repeated instead, the festival runs to ten. Both are normal, and the calendar shows which is happening.
How is the fast kept?
Phalahar - fruit, milk, and the non-grain fasting foods - for one, two or all nine days. The Navratri vrat vidhi page sets out the procedure and the permitted foods.
How does it differ from Chaitra Navratri?
Same nine tithis, opposite half of the year. Autumn Navratri is the larger public festival and ends in Dussehra; the Chaitra Navratri in spring ends in Rama Navami and is kept more quietly.
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.
