Ashadha Purnima 2026: Date, Time, Puja Vidhi & Importance
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Navratri is a festival of nine days dedicated to Goddess Durga. The article will highlight the important details and complete puja vidhi to perform during the Navratri puja 2026. The upcoming Chaitra Navratri 2026 holds special importance among devotees.
Chaitra Navratri 2026 is a Hindu festival that falls in the month of March or April. It is celebrated in India, mostly in two Navratri festivals, Chaitra Navratri and Shardiya Navratri.
Chaitra Navratri falls in the spring season and starts from the first day of the ritual around March or April. According to the Vikram Samvat calendar, it is the beginning of the Hindu new year.
The rest of the details regarding Navratri celebrations will be discussed in the sections.
Chaitra Navratri 2026 will begin on March 19 and end on March 27, marking nine days of spiritual devotion and vibrant festivities.
Celebrate this sacred period with prayers, rituals, and cultural traditions observed across India.
Chaitra Navratri 2026 is believed to be an auspicious ritual for Hindus and the best time to seek blessings from the deity. This is the right way to promote spiritual and material well-being.
The festival is celebrated by keeping fast for 9 days and reciting hymns, lighting diyas, and honouring the Goddess.
The first day starts with the Ghatsthapana (Kalash Sthapana). The Ghatsthapana ritual is the same for both Shardiya Navratri and Chaitra Navratri.
| Day | Date | Navratri Day | Puja Conducted |
| Chaitra Navratri Day 1 | 19 March 2026 | Amavasya/ Pratipada | Maa Shailputri Puja, Ghatasthapana 2026 |
| Chaitra Navratri Day 2 | 20 March 2026 | Dvitiya |
Maa Brahmacharini Puja |
| Chaitra Navratri Day 3 | 21 March 2026 | Tritiya | Maa Chandraghanta Puja |
| Chaitra Navratri Day 4 | 22 March 2026 | Chaturthi | Maa Kushmanda Puja |
| Chaitra Navratri Day 5 | 23 March 2026 | Panchami | Maa Skandamata Puja |
| Chaitra Navratri Day 6 | 24 March 2026 | Shashti | Maa Katyayani Puja |
| Chaitra Navratri Day 7 | 25 March 2026 | Saptami | Maa Kalaratri Puja |
| Chaitra Navratri Day 8 | 26 March 2026 | Ashtami | Maa Mahagauri Puja, Ram Navami |
| Chaitra Navratri Day 9 | 27 March 2026 | Navami | Navratri Parana |
The festival is observed to honour the divine energy and nine forms of the Goddess. People find happiness in their true selves by performing meditation. The Ghatsthapana vidhi is performed to set up the holy pot.
Auspicious muhurta will perform the Ghatsthapana on the third day of the current Pratipada.
Customs should be performed at the time of Abhijit Muhurat and also when the deadline is skipped for whatever reason.
During Chaitra Navratri 2026, there is a 48-minute period known as Abhijit Muhurat, which is considered especially auspicious.
It is the 8th of 15 muhurats and occurs between dawn and dusk. Many people consider this time fortunate for starting new investment opportunities and removing various karma doshas.
Since the Choghadiya Muhurat should be avoided during Ghatasthapana, it is crucial for the devotees to look for the Choghadiya while conducting the Ghatasthapana.
If the Dwi-Swabhav Lagna Kanya is in power at dawn on Shardiya Navratri, it is fortunate to do Ghatasthapana.
After 16, Ghatis pass after sunrise, at night, or at noon, and Ghathastapnan is prohibited.
Ghatstahanapa, referred to as Kalash sthapana, is a great medium to adhere to good health, money, and luck.
As Chaitra Navratri comes in March or April, many of the people perform Ghatsthapana at home or in their offices. The ritual is one of the prominent customs observed during Navratri.
On the starting day of the custom, Kalash sthapana is performed to show its commencement. Barely seeds are used to keep in Kalash during Kalash stahapana with holy water.
Followers perform the tradition only with the instruction of an experienced pandit. 99Pandit offers a knowledgeable or well-versed pandit to help you with Ghatsthapana.
However, the following rituals are required for Ghatsthapana:
Chaitra Navratri, the start of the Hindu New Year, is connected with a story. The story behind the festival is the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, indicating the triumph of good over evil.
The 9-day festival concludes with the Ram Navami celebration marking Lord Ram’s birth.
Lord Ram is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu and gives an extra layer of devotion to the festival.
The celebration is linked with the spring season, a time of starting new things, both spiritual and in nature.
Chaitra Navratri is a festival of 9 days devoted to Goddess Durga and her nine forms every day. Every day is commemorated with unique customs, devotion, and colours.
It’s a time of spiritual beginnings, fasting, and vibrant observation around numerous parts of India.
People believed that worshipping Goddess Durga’s nine forms represented many aspects of divine feminine strengths.
The nine forms are Shaila Putri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri.
It is the right time to start a new venture, especially in northern or Western India. People think it’s an ideal time to make investments, personal growth, and start new businesses.
Multiple people begin their businesses or homes during such a period, which is thought to be an auspicious time.
The story associated with the Navratri celebration is about Goddess Durga killing the demon Mahishasura.
The legend known for the Navratri celebration tells of the great war between Mahishasura and Goddess Durga.
The demon received a boon from Lord Brahma with immortality under one condition: he would be defeated only by a woman.
Blessed with immortality and confidence, demons attacked the trilok -earth, heaven, and hell. As only a woman can kill him, even the Gods did not take a chance against him.
The feared gods prayed to lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva to seek help to defeat the Mahishasura.
Seeing the helpless gods, Lord Vishnu decided to incarnate as a woman, including all of God’s and Goddesses’ power to defeat the demon.
As per Lord Brahma’s boon, only a woman can kill him. Now, Lord Shiva (god of destruction), the gods came to Lord Shiva to seek help.
Later, lord Shiva and Brahma merged all their powers in the form of a woman lord Vishnu incarnated to kill Mahishasura. It is considered that Goddess Durga is the rebirth of Goddess Parvati (consent of Lord Shiva).
The three powerful gods -Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh created the Goddess Durga; she fought with the demon Mahishura for 15 long days.
The war surprised Trilok. During the war, the demon kept changing his form to mislead the Devi Durga.
Basically, when the demon took the form of a buffalo, Goddess Durga immediately attacked his chest with her weapon, ‘Trishul,’ to kill him.
Hence, to celebrate the victory of the Goddess over demon power, the Navratri festival started to be observed around the world. Every day, nine forms of Devi are worshipped in different parts of India.
The first day is dedicated to Goddess Shailputri; the second is to Goddess Brahmacharini; the third day to Goddess Chandraghanta; the fourth day is to Goddess Kushmanda; the fifth day to Goddess Skandamata; sixth day to Goddess Katyayni; the seventh day is Goddess Kaalratri; the eighth day to Goddess Mahagauri and on the last day, people pay homage to Goddess Siddhidatri.
In a few parts of the world, people keep fast during the nine days of Navratri to please the Goddess. And on the last day, the puja is completed with the Kanya puja and havan.
Devotees perform the ritual following a few practices every day:
Many people observe strict fasting during the nine days of Navratri, either avoiding certain foods or only consuming fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. Fasting is the way to cleanse your soul and body.
People perform special offerings and prayers in temples and houses every day. A special scripture, read ‘Durga Saptashati or Chandi path’, was chanted to seek blessings from the divine.
Numerous Hindus perform kanya puja on the 8th day, where young girls are considered the form of the Goddess and called to the home for offerings. People present the girls with sweets, money, and new clothes.
The final day of the Navratri celebration is completed with Ram Navami celebrations, special prayer offerings, homam, and processions.
People consider the day as the birth of Lord Ram and observe it with joy through bhajans and religious songs.
At many places, people perform Garba and Dandiya to make the festival joyful. People more commonly perform Garba and Dandiya during Shardiya Navratri in regions such as Gujarat and Maharashtra.
But during Chaitra, Navratri also experienced these vibrant customs. People come together in large groups or dance to traditional music.
Invoking the powerful goddess Durga requires following the steps appropriately during Navratri Puja:
Generally, 2 Navratri pujas are celebrated in a year – one is Chaitra Navratri, which comes in March-April, and the second is Shardiya Navratri, which comes in September-October.
Chaitra Navratri customs are the same as Shardiya Navratri. Even the Ghatsthapana or puja vidhi for both Navratri are similar.
Instead of the months that Navratri comes, the difference between Chaitra and Shardiya Navratri is that the former falls in the Chaitra month, indicating the beginning of the new year to start new ventures or something else.
While fasting, devotees adore the Goddess Durga in all nine of her manifestations. Some followers of Nirjala even refrain from drinking water during the fast.
Devotees only eat fresh fruits, milk, and water during the falahar. People refrain from eating garlic and onions for these nine days.
Chaitra Navratri observance, people please the many forms of Goddess Durga. Generally, devotees please the nine forms of Goddess Durga, known as Navdurga, during Chaitra and Sharad Navratri.
On Chaitra Navratri, people worship 09 forms of the Goddess, and each shows a unique part of the divine feminine energy.
DAY 1:
Pratipada, Maa Shailputri (the daughter of the mountains, indicating strength).
Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ॐ शैलपुत्री देव्यै नमः।
Date: 19 March 2026, Thursday
DAY 2:
Dwitiya, Maa Brahmacharini (the ascetic showing devotion)
Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ॐ ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नमः।
Date: 20 March 2026, Friday
DAY 3:
Tritiya, Maa Chandraghanta (the fearless goddess with a curved moon)
Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ॐ चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः।
Date: 21 March 2026, Saturday
DAY 4:
Chaturthi, Maa Kushmanda (creator of the universe, driving positivity)
Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ॐ कूष्माण्डायै नमः।
Date: 22 March 2026, Sunday
DAY 5:
Panchami, Maa Skandamata (the foster mother of Kartikeya)
Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ॐ स्कन्दमातायै नमः।
Date: 23 March 2026, Monday
DAY 6:
Shashti, Maa Katyayani (fierce form created to defeat evil)
Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ॐ कात्यायन्यै नमः।
Date: 24 March 2026, Tuesday
DAY 7:
Saptami, Maa Kalaratri (eradicator of negativity)
Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ॐ कालरात्र्यै नमः।
Date: 25 March 2026, Wednesday
DAY 8:
Ashtami, Maa Mahagauri (shining goddess indicating peace and purity)
Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ॐ महागौर्यै नमः।
Date: 26 March 2026, Thursday
DAY 9:
Navami, Maa Siddhidatri (giver of supernatural energies)
Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ॐ सिद्धिदात्र्यै नमः।
Date: 27 March 2026, Friday
Here are some tips to consider while fasting during Navratri to stay healthy and energized.
1. Plan your meals – pre-plan your meals to ensure that you have the right diet to keep your energy level consistent. Consume fruits, water, nuts, and healthy ingredients such as kuttu flour, singhara flour, and sabudana, hence arranging quick and healthy meals during your day.
2. Stay hydrated – it is important to drink enough water to keep yourself hydrated. You can have fluids like coconut water, lemon water, and buttermilk to detoxify your body and enhance digestion.
3. Opt for light and nutrient-dense food – Consume light and nutritious foods to maintain energy levels during fasting, apart from heavy, oily and fried foods.
4. Eat small meals at regular intervals – rather than eating all at once, eat frequent meals to make your metabolism strong every 3-4 hours for a stable blood sugar level.
The following are recipes you can prepare to make your fasting healthy and tasty.
Observing fasting during Chaitra Navratri gives spiritual benefits to devotees so they can live a happy and healthy life. Check them below:
Chaitra Navratri 2026 will start on March 19 and end on March 27. It’s a special time to celebrate and honour the power of women.
During these days, people focus on growing spiritually and connecting with the divine through the goddess forms.
Whether you are keeping fast, praying, or participating in cultural activities, Chaitra Navratri provides a perfect chance to improve your spiritual and religious life.
Colours play an important role in seeking particular energies, as always, making the festival not only a time for pleasure but also a celebration of energy and life itself.
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