Chaitra Navratri 2026
Chaitra Navratri 2026 falls on Thursday, Thursday, March 19, 2026. Observed on: chaitra shukla 1 (Kshaya).
Exact date, puja muhurat & city-wise timings for Chaitra Navratri 2026
Key Information
Festival Date
Thursday, March 19, 2026
2026 Calendar Context
Weekday
Thursday
Vikram Samvat
2083
Shaka Samvat
1948
This year Chaitra Navratri falls on a Thursday, 11 days earlier than 2025 (2025-03-30) — typical lunar-calendar drift.
Falling on a Thursday brings a Guru (Jupiter) emphasis — guru-related rites, yellow offerings and dharmic decisions carry extra weight.
The 2025 observance fell on Sunday, 2025-03-30 — this year arrives 11 days earlier in the Gregorian calendar, the familiar 11-day shift of the unmodified lunar year.
Looking ahead to 2027, Chaitra Navratri will fall on Wednesday, 2027-04-07 (19 days later than this year). So planning ritual schedules across years means anchoring to the tithi rather than the Gregorian date.
Astronomical context for Chaitra Navratri 2026
On Thursday, March 19, 2026, sunrise in Delhi (the reference city for this page) falls at 06:26 IST and sunset at 18:31 IST — a daylight span of 12h 5m. Across the six pan-Indian cities tabulated below, sunrise on this date varies from 05:41 (Kolkata) at the eastern edge to 06:43 (Mumbai) in the west — a 62-minute difference that drives the city-by-city muhurat shift you see in the table.
For Chaitra Navratri 2026, the central rite of udaya tithi (sunrise) depends on the Chaitra Shukla 1 (Kshaya) being present during that window on 2026-03-19 — confirmed across 6 reference cities in this year's computation pass. Cities further east (Kolkata, Chennai) see the window open ~15-25 minutes before Delhi; cities west of Delhi (Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore) see it start later by a similar margin.
City-Wise Timings for Chaitra Navratri 2026
| City | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 6:26 AM | 6:31 PM |
| Mumbai | 6:43 AM | 6:49 PM |
| Bangalore | 6:24 AM | 6:30 PM |
| Chennai | 6:13 AM | 6:19 PM |
| Kolkata | 5:41 AM | 5:47 PM |
| Pune | 6:39 AM | 6:45 PM |
Why This Date?
Chaitra Navratri follows the Udaya Tithi rule – the festival is observed on the day when the required tithi prevails at sunrise. This is the default Dharmasindhu convention for festivals without a special time-window requirement.
Puja Vidhi
Materials Required
- Kalash (copper/brass pot)
- Mango leaves(5-7)
- Coconut (whole with husk)(1)
- Red cloth (chunri)
- Barley seeds (Jau)
Puja Steps
- 1
Ghatasthapana (Kalash Installation)
Clean the puja area. Place clean soil in a clay pot and sow barley seeds. Fill the kalash with water, place mango leaves...
- 2
Akhand Jyoti (Eternal Lamp)
Light the akhand jyoti (eternal flame) near the kalash. This lamp must remain burning continuously for all 9 days and ni...
- 3
Sankalpa
Hold water and akshat in the right hand. State your name, gotra, the tithi (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada), and resolve to wo...
Vrat Phala (Fasting Benefits)
Chaitra Navratri bestows the combined blessings of all nine forms of Durga – strength, knowledge, courage, prosperity, health, protection from evil, spiritual progress, removal of obstacles, and fulfilment of desires. The sprouted barley signifies growth and abundance in the coming year.
Deity
Goddess Durga (Navadurga)
Legend & History
Chaitra Navratri commemorates the nine nights of worship of Goddess Durga in the month of Chaitra. According to the Devi Mahatmyam, the Goddess manifested in nine forms (Navadurga) to vanquish the dem… Read full legend →Show less ↑
Chaitra Navratri commemorates the nine nights of worship of Goddess Durga in the month of Chaitra. According to the Devi Mahatmyam, the Goddess manifested in nine forms (Navadurga) to vanquish the demon Mahishasura. This Navratri also marks the beginning of the Hindu new year (Vikram Samvat) and is when Lord Rama's birth is celebrated on the ninth day (Ram Navami).
How to Observe
On the first day (Pratipada), perform Ghatasthapana – install a sacred Kalash with mango leaves and a coconut, sow barley seeds in a pot of soil. Worship a different form of Navadurga each day. Recite Durga Saptashati. Many observe a strict nine-day fast. Conclude with Kanya Puja (honouring nine young girls) and Ram Navami celebrations.
Significance
Chaitra Navratri marks the beginning of the Hindu new year and the arrival of spring (Vasanta). It is considered the most auspicious time for new beginnings, spiritual practices, and invoking the Goddess's blessings. The nine nights represent the triumph of Shakti (divine feminine energy) over evil.
Fasting
Nine-day fast on fruits, sabudana, and kuttu atta. Some fast only on first and last days. Break fast after Kanya Puja on Navami.
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