Shardiya Navratri 2026: Ghatasthapana Muhurat, Dates, Vidhi & Dussehra
Shardiya Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October 2026 with Ghatasthapana, and ends with Maha Navami on Tuesday, 20 October. Vijayadashami (Dussehra) is Wednesday, 21 October 2026.
Two things about 2026 are unusual, and both change what you should do. Every timing below is computed from our own Vedic panchang — check any of it on the free daily Panchang.
Ghatasthapana muhurat 2026 — use Abhijit this year
Pratipada runs from 10 October 21:20 to 11 October 21:32, so the kalash is installed on Sunday the 11th. But the classical rule for Ghatasthapana is to avoid Chitra nakshatra and Vaidhriti yoga — and in 2026 both are present for the whole day: Chitra runs until 22:33 and Vaidhriti is the yoga of the day.
When both fall together, the shastras give one answer: install the kalash in Abhijit Muhurat, the short window around midday that overrides ordinary defects.
| Ghatasthapana (Abhijit Muhurat), Delhi | 11:44 AM – 12:32 PM |
|---|---|
| Pratipada begins | Saturday, 10 October 2026 at 09:20 PM |
| Pratipada ends | Sunday, 11 October 2026 at 09:32 PM |
| Nakshatra / Yoga | Chitra (until 10:33 PM) / Vaidhriti |
Abhijit shifts with your longitude — it is the middle of your own day, not a clock time. Get it for your city on the free Muhurat finder.
Navratri 2026 dates — ten days, not nine
⚠️ Saptami is repeated in 2026. It holds sunrise on both 17 and 18 October (tithi vriddhi), so the nine tithis of Navratri spread across ten calendar days. Any list that prints "11–19 October" has missed it.
| Day | Date | Tithi |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Shailputri | Sun 11 Oct | Pratipada — Ghatasthapana |
| 2 · Brahmacharini | Mon 12 Oct | Dwitiya |
| 3 · Chandraghanta | Tue 13 Oct | Tritiya |
| 4 · Kushmanda | Wed 14 Oct | Chaturthi |
| 5 · Skandamata | Thu 15 Oct | Panchami |
| 6 · Katyayani | Fri 16 Oct | Shashthi |
| 7 · Kalaratri | Sat 17 & Sun 18 Oct | Saptami (repeated) |
| 8 · Mahagauri | Mon 19 Oct | Durga Ashtami |
| 9 · Siddhidatri | Tue 20 Oct | Maha Navami |
| — | Wed 21 Oct | Vijayadashami (Dussehra) |
Navratri puja vidhi
- Clean the puja space and take a sankalpa naming the nine days you will keep.
- Spread clean soil in an earthen pot, sow barley (jau) in it, and place the kalash on or beside it.
- Fill the kalash with water, add a coin, supari, akshat and durva, place mango leaves and a coconut wrapped in red cloth on top.
- Install the Devi’s picture or murti, light an akhand jyoti if you intend to keep one, and worship with red flowers, sindoor and dhoop.
- Recite the Durga Saptashati or the Devi Kavach daily, and do the aarti morning and evening.
- Keep the fast as your health allows — phalahar with fruit, milk and kuttu is the common form.
- On Ashtami or Navami perform Kanya Pujan, then conclude with hawan and visarjan of the kalash.
Mantras for Navratri
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे॥
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके।
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते॥
Book a Navratri puja for 2026
If you would rather have the anushthan performed by pandits in your name — with sankalp, a recorded video, photographs and prasad couriered to you:
- Durga Saptashati Anushthan Puja — from ₹5,000
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The full list is in the online puja store.
Navratri 2026: FAQs
When does Navratri 2026 start?
Shardiya Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October with Ghatasthapana. Pratipada runs from 09:20 PM on 10 October to 09:32 PM on 11 October.
What is the Ghatasthapana muhurat for 2026?
Use Abhijit Muhurat, 11:44 AM to 12:32 PM in Delhi. Chitra nakshatra and Vaidhriti yoga both run all day on 11 October, and Abhijit is the classical remedy when they cannot be avoided.
Why is Navratri 2026 ten days long?
Saptami is repeated — it holds sunrise on both 17 and 18 October. The nine tithis therefore spread over ten calendar days, which is a normal tithi vriddhi and not an error.
When are Durga Ashtami and Dussehra in 2026?
Durga Ashtami is Monday 19 October, Maha Navami is Tuesday 20 October, and Vijayadashami (Dussehra) is Wednesday 21 October 2026.
What these nine days do for you also depends on your own chart. Start with a free Kundli, see where the planets are on Planetary Positions, or talk to an astrologer.
More: Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 · Chaurchan Puja 2026.
Note: dates and timings are computed from our own Vedic panchang for Delhi and follow the Purnimanta lunar month used in North India. Confirm with your local panchang or a learned pandit before observing.
