Chaitra Navratri 2026: Date, Vahan, Rituals, and Celebrations
Published by the Vedic Tithi Team — a group dedicated to accurate Vedic date and festival information.
Chaitra Navratri is celebrated in March or April every year. It is the Navratri that falls in the first month of the Hindu calendar — Chaitra. Over nine days, people worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga, fast, and visit temples. This year it starts on March 19, 2026 and also marks the Hindu New Year.
Each year, Maa Durga arrives and leaves on a different vehicle (vahan). The vahan changes based on which day of the week Navratri starts and ends. Many people look at the vahan as a sign for how the year might unfold.
When is Chaitra Navratri 2026?
Chaitra Navratri 2026 starts on Thursday, March 19, 2026 and ends on Friday, March 27, 2026.
It runs through the Shukla Paksha (the bright half) of Chaitra month — from Pratipada (Day 1) to Navami (Day 9). March 19 is also the first day of Vikram Samvat 2083, the Hindu New Year.
Ghatasthapana Muhurat on March 19, 2026
Ghatasthapana is the first ritual of Navratri. It must be done within a specific time window.
| Muhurat | Time (New Delhi IST) |
|---|---|
| Primary Muhurat | 6:50 AM – 7:52 AM |
| Abhijit Muhurat (backup) | 12:05 PM – 12:53 PM |
Times from DrikPanchang for New Delhi. Check your city's panchang for local timings.
What is the Scriptural Basis of Navratri?
The main text read during Navratri is the Devi Mahatmya — also called Durga Saptashati or Chandi Path. It is part of the Markandeya Purana (chapters 81–93) and has 700 shlokas spread across 13 chapters. These chapters are grouped into three sections:
- Prathama Charita — describes Goddess Mahakali
- Madhyama Charita — describes Goddess Mahalakshmi
- Uttama Charita — describes Goddess Mahasaraswati
Each section tells the story of Durga defeating a different demon — Mahishasura, then Shumbha-Nishumbha, then Chanda-Munda. These stories are read aloud during the nine days of Navratri.
The Brahma Purana says Chaitra Shukla Pratipada is the day Brahma began creation. This is why Chaitra is the first month of the Hindu year, and why Navratri in Chaitra has extra significance.
Chaitra Navratri in the Hindu Calendar
Amanta Calendar (South India, Maharashtra, Gujarat)
- Month: Chaitra (1st month)
- Paksha: Shukla Paksha
- Tithi: Pratipada to Navami
- Samvat: Vikram Samvat 2083
Purnimanta Calendar (North India — UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Punjab)
- Month: Chaitra
- Paksha: Shukla Paksha
- Tithi: Pratipada to Navami
Both Amanta and Purnimanta followers observe Chaitra Navratri on the same dates.
Chaitra vs Sharad Navratri: Chaitra Navratri is also called Vasant Navratri. It is quieter than Sharad Navratri (October) — no Garba or Dandiya, mostly home puja, fasting, and temple visits. It ends on Ram Navami, the birthday of Lord Rama.
Maa Durga's Vahan in 2026
Arrival Vahan: Palanquin (Doli)
Navratri starts on a Thursday in 2026, so Maa Durga arrives on a Doli (palanquin). Traditional Panchang texts associate this vahan with a period of caution — possible health concerns or disruptions. It is seen as a sign to be careful and watchful during the year.
Departure Vahan: Elephant (Gaja)
Navratri ends on a Friday, March 27, so Maa Durga departs on an Elephant. This is considered a good sign. The elephant vahan is associated with good rains, good harvests, and general wellbeing.
These meanings come from traditional Panchang texts and folk traditions. They are symbolic, not predictive.
Chaitra Navratri 2026 — 9-Day Puja Schedule
| Day | Date | Tithi | Goddess | Observances | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 19 Mar (Thu) | Pratipada | Shailputri | Ghatasthapana, Hindu New Year | 🟡 Yellow |
| Day 2 | 20 Mar (Fri) | Dwitiya | Brahmacharini | Chandra Darshana, Sindhara Dooj | 🟢 Green |
| Day 3 | 21 Mar (Sat) | Tritiya | Chandraghanta | Gauri Puja, Saubhagya Teej | ⚫ Grey |
| Day 4 | 22 Mar (Sun) | Chaturthi | Kushmanda | Vasudeva Chaturthi | 🟠 Orange |
| Day 5 | 23 Mar (Mon) | Panchami | Skandamata | Naag Puja, Lakshmi Panchami | ⚪ White |
| Day 6 | 24 Mar (Tue) | Shashthi | Katyayani | Yamuna Chhath, Katyayani Puja | 🔴 Red |
| Day 7 | 25 Mar (Wed) | Saptami | Kalaratri | Maha Saptami | 🔵 Royal Blue |
| Day 8 | 26 Mar (Thu) | Ashtami | Mahagauri | Durga Ashtami, Sandhi Puja, Ram Navami | 🩷 Pink |
| Day 9 | 27 Mar (Fri) | Navami | Siddhidatri | Navami Havan, Navratri Parana | 🟣 Purple |
Source: DrikPanchang — Chaitra Navratri 2026
Note for 2026: Durga Ashtami, Sandhi Puja, Annapurna Ashtami, and Ram Navami all fall on the same day — March 26, 2026. This is unusual and does not happen every year.
How to Do Chaitra Navratri Puja
Day 1: Ghatasthapana
On the first day, set up a clay kalash (pot) filled with water, mango leaves, and a coconut. Place it on a bed of soil where barley seeds (jau) have been sown. This is Ghatasthapana. It marks the start of the nine-day puja. Do it within the muhurat window — see the table above.
Check the panchang for March 19 before starting. Download the full Panchang Calendar
Akhand Jyot
Many families keep a ghee lamp burning through all nine days. This is called Akhand Jyot. It is optional, but common.
Daily Puja
- Offer red flowers and a red chunri (cloth) to the goddess.
- Light a ghee diya — 5 or 7 diyas at a time is traditional.
- Offer panchamrit (milk, curd, honey, ghee, sugar) and fruits.
- Read one section of the Devi Mahatmya per day, or as much as you can.
- Chant: Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Viche
Fasting
Many people fast for all nine days. Some fast only on the first and last day, or just on Ashtami. Foods allowed during the fast:
- Fruits, milk, curd, dry fruits
- Sendha namak (rock salt) dishes
- Sabudana (tapioca) khichdi, kuttu (buckwheat) rotis, singhare ki puri
Break the fast after the Navami havan on March 27.
Kanya Puja (Kanjak)
On Ashtami (March 26) or Navami (March 27), invite young girls to your home. Wash their feet, apply tilak, serve halwa, poori, and kala chana, and give them a small gift. This is Kanya Puja.
Navami Havan and Parana
On Day 9 (March 27), perform a havan (fire ritual) to close the nine days. After the havan, break your fast. Distribute the barley seedlings that have been growing since Day 1 as prasad.
Evening Aarti
Sing Jai Ambe Gauri and Durga Chalisa each evening. Temple visits in the evening are a common part of Navratri.
Chaitra Navratri vs Sharad Navratri — Key Differences
| Feature | Chaitra Navratri | Sharad Navratri |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Spring — March/April | Autumn — Sep/Oct |
| Hindu Month | Chaitra (Month 1) | Ashwin |
| Ends with | Ram Navami | Vijayadashami (Dussehra) |
| Style | Home puja, fasting, scripture reading | Garba, Dandiya, public events |
| Also called | Vasant Navratri | Maha Navratri |
Chaitra Navratri 2026 Events by City
Surrey / Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, Surrey — temple puja and Navratri programs. Contact: 604-596-4777 / info@hindumandirsurrey.com. Website: hindumandirsurrey.com
- Navratri Festival Society — has been organizing Navratri in the Surrey/Vancouver area for 18+ years. Venue: Riverside Signature Banquet Hall, 13030 76 Ave, Surrey, BC. Website: navratri.ca
- Gujarati Society of British Columbia (GSBC) — organizes Navratri with puja, Garba, and Dandiya. Website: gsbc.ca
- Shree Durga Mandir, Surrey — dedicated Durga temple. Facebook page
Call or check temple websites for 2026 Chaitra Navratri timings and programs.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Devi Mandir Canada, Pickering, ON — confirmed program: March 19–26, 2026, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily (also celebrating Samvat 2083 New Year). Location: 2590 Brock Road, Pickering, ON L1V 2P8. Website: devimandir.com
- Shiv Sewa Sangh Mandir, Scarborough — Navratri puja March 19–26. Website: shivsewasanghmandir.com
- Vaishno Devi Mandir, Oakville — active Navratri temple in the GTA. Website: vaishnodevi.ca
- Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre (SMCC) — follows the Panchang calendar for all Hindu festivals. Website: sanatanmandir.com
- Toronto Kalibari, Mississauga. Website: kalibaritoronto.com
New York, USA
- Ganesh Temple (Hindu Temple Society of North America), Flushing, Queens — built in 1977, this is the first Hindu temple in North America. Location: 45-57 Bowne St, Flushing, NY 11355. Phone: (718) 460-8484. Website: nyganeshtemple.org
- BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Flushing, Queens — devotional programs on major Hindu occasions. Location: 43-38 Bowne St, Flushing, NY 11355. Website: baps.org
- Hindu Center NYC — puja and community programs. Website: hinducenternyc.org
Check temple websites for confirmed 2026 Navratri schedules.
Dallas, Texas, USA
- Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas — confirmed 2026 programs include Ugadi & Gudi Padwa (March 19–21), Durga Ashtami puja (March 26), and Ram Navami celebration with kirtans and cultural performances. Website: radhakrishnatemple.net
- Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple, Frisco, TX — full Hindu festival calendar. Website: dallashanuman.org
- BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Irving. Website: baps.org
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
- Sunnyvale Hindu Temple & Community Center — confirmed Navaratrulu (Navratri) program with Lalita Sahasranama Kumkuma Archana, daily puja and aarti, and Ram Navami celebration. Location: 450 Persian Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94089. Phone: (408) 734-4554. Website: sunnyvale-hindutemple.org
- Shiva-Vishnu Temple (HCCC), Livermore — Ram Navami program with Ramayana recitation, Sita Rama Kalyanam, and Pattabhishekam. Website: livermoretemple.org
- Gujarati Cultural Association (GCA) Bay Area — Navratri cultural events. Website: gcabayarea.org
New Delhi, India
- Kalkaji Mandir, South Delhi — large Durga temple. During Navratri, the courtyard is lit with thousands of diyas and a nine-day mela runs on the grounds. Gets very crowded. Go early — by 5:30–6:00 AM for a quieter visit. Website: skmpsc.org
- Shree Adya Katyayani Shaktipeeth Mandir, Chhatarpur — this temple's main sanctum opens fully only during Navratri. Free langar (meals) served to over 1 lakh people across the nine days. Website: chhattarpurmandir.org
- Jhandewalan Mandir, Karol Bagh — old Delhi temple dedicated to Maa Aadi Shakti, active during Navratri. Website: jhandewalamandir.org
- Shri Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place — 400-year-old temple in central Delhi, special prayers during all nine days.
Major Navratri Temples Across India
1. Vaishno Devi Mandir, Katra (J&K)
This is the most-visited pilgrimage site in India by number of annual visitors. During Chaitra Navratri, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims trek to the cave shrine. The Shrine Board uses timed entry slots — book in advance at maavaishnodevi.org.
2. Kamakhya Devi Temple, Guwahati (Assam)
One of 51 Shakti Peethas. During Navratri, the temple holds yantra puja, fire rituals, and full Devi Mahatmya recitation over nine days.
3. Naina Devi Temple, Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh)
A Shakti Peetha on a hilltop. Draws large crowds during Navratri.
4. Shri Durga Mata Mandir (Durga Kund), Varanasi (UP)
The temple runs continuous Devi Mahatmya recitations and daily abhishek rituals throughout Navratri.
5. Tulja Bhavani Temple, Tuljapur (Maharashtra)
Kuldevi of the Marathas and of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Many Maratha families visit specifically during Navratri for kuldevi darshan.
6. Durga Puja Committees, Kolkata (West Bengal)
Kolkata's Chaitra Navratri observances include Kumari Puja (worship of young girls as the goddess) and Devi Mahatmya recitation, mainly at Bengali community temples.
Why People Observe Chaitra Navratri
Chaitra Navratri falls at the start of the Hindu year. Many people treat it as a time to reset — fasting, praying, and visiting temples for nine days straight.
The nine forms of Durga (Navadurga) worshipped over these days each have a specific meaning. Shailputri on Day 1 represents steadiness. Kalaratri on Day 7 is fierce and associated with removing obstacles. Siddhidatri on Day 9 is the giver of skills and blessings.
In 2026, the festival starts on the Hindu New Year and ends with Ram Navami. Both days are significant on their own. Having them bracket Navratri makes the nine days feel more connected to the larger Hindu calendar.
Common Questions
Q: When does Chaitra Navratri 2026 start and end?
It starts on Thursday, March 19, 2026 and ends on Friday, March 27, 2026. Ghatasthapana muhurat on Day 1 is 6:50–7:52 AM (New Delhi time).
Q: What is Ghatasthapana and when should it be done?
Ghatasthapana is the ritual where a kalash (clay pot with water, mango leaves, coconut) is placed on soil sown with barley. It is the first act of Navratri puja and must be done within the muhurat window. On March 19, 2026, the window is 6:50–7:52 AM (or 12:05–12:53 PM as a backup). Check your local panchang for timings in your city.
Q: What vahan (vehicle) does Maa Durga have in 2026?
Maa arrives on a Doli (palanquin) — Navratri starts on Thursday. She departs on an Elephant (Gaja) — Navratri ends on Friday. The Doli is traditionally a sign of caution, the Elephant a sign of good rains and prosperity.
Q: Why do Durga Ashtami and Ram Navami fall on the same day in 2026?
In 2026, the Ashtami tithi falls on March 26, which is also Ram Navami. This happens because of how the lunar calendar aligns that year. Both observances — Durga Ashtami puja and Ram Navami — can be done on the same day.
Q: Is Chaitra Navratri a public holiday in India?
Navratri itself is not a gazetted central holiday, but Ram Navami (March 26–27, 2026) is a public holiday in several states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.
Q: What is the difference between Chaitra and Sharad Navratri?
Chaitra Navratri is in spring (March/April) and is a quieter, home-based festival. Sharad Navratri is in autumn (September/October) and includes Garba, Dandiya, and large public events, especially in Gujarat. Both last nine days and involve puja, fasting, and worship of the same nine goddesses.
Q: What prasad is given during Navratri?
On Ashtami and Navami, the common prasad is halwa, poori, and kala chana (black chickpeas). During the nine days, offerings include panchamrit, fruits, coconut, red flowers, and sweets.
Q: Which texts are read during Navratri?
The main text is the Durga Saptashati / Devi Mahatmya. Other texts commonly recited:
- Argala Stotram — recited before each chapter
- Keelaka Stotram
- Durga Chalisa
- Devi Kavacham
Chaitra Navratri 2026 runs from March 19 to March 27, 2026. Maa Durga arrives on a Doli and departs on an Elephant. This year Navratri starts on the Hindu New Year (Vikram Samvat 2083) and ends with Ram Navami on March 26–27.
Jai Mata Di!
References
- DrikPanchang — Chaitra Navratri 2026 — tithi and panchang data
- DrikPanchang — Ghatasthapana Muhurat 2026 — muhurat timings
- Devi Mandir Canada — Chaitra Navratri 2026 event — Toronto confirmed event
- Radha Krishna Temple Dallas — Chaitra Navratri — Dallas confirmed event
- Sunnyvale Hindu Temple — Devi Navaratrulu — Bay Area confirmed program
- Shree Adya Katyayani Shaktipeeth Mandir, Chhatarpur — New Delhi temple
- Kalkaji Mandir, New Delhi — New Delhi temple
- Rudraksha Ratna — Chaitra Navratri — ritual and scriptural background
- Art of Living — Chaitra vs Sharad Navratri — comparison
- Hindupad — Vahan of Goddess Durga — vahan traditions