Festival · Durga

Chaitra Navratri begins

The spring Navratri: nine nights of worship of Durga in her nine forms, from the Hindu new year to Ram Navami. A kalash is set up on the first morning.

Chaitra Navratri begins 2027
Wednesday 7 April 2027
New Delhi

For New Delhi, Wednesday 7 April 2027

Shukla Pratipada tithi

Begins
5:21 am
Ends
4:29 am, 8 Apr
Sunrise
6:05 am
Sunset
6:42 pm
Moonrise
Not this day
Moonset
7:09 pm

Worked out for your city. Panchangs can differ by a minute or so.

Full panchang for this day →

Puja times

For New Delhi, Wednesday 7 April 2027

Ghatasthapana

6:05 am to 10:17 am

Or in Abhijit Muhurat
11:58 am to 12:49 pm
Pratipada begins
5:21 am
Pratipada ends
4:29 am, 8 Apr

Worked out for your city. Panchangs can differ by a minute or so.

How it is kept

Customs vary by region and family

  • Set up the kalash (ghatasthapana)
  • Fast or eat simple food during the nine days
  • Honour young girls on Ashtami or Navami (kanya puja)

What it remembers

Chaitra Navratri, the spring Navratri, begins on the first day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra, the same day as Ugadi and Gudi Padwa and the start of the Hindu new year in much of India. For nine nights Durga is worshipped in her nine forms, one each night, from Shailaputri to Siddhidatri; a kalash is set up on the first morning (Ghatasthapana) and many fast. The ninth day is Ram Navami, the birth of Rama.

The first Durga Puja

The Devi Mahatmya tells of King Suratha, who had lost his kingdom, and the merchant Samadhi, cast out by his family. The sage Medhas told them the Goddess’s deeds, and they worshipped her on a riverbank. Bengal remembers their worship as Basanti Puja, the Durga Puja of spring.

Rama is born

On the ninth day, at midday, Rama was born to Kaushalya and King Dasharatha in Ayodhya. So the nine nights of the Goddess end with the birth of the prince who would defeat Ravana.

The nine forms

As in autumn, each night has its form of the Goddess: Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.

Ghatasthapana and the nine days

The puja is the same as in the autumn Navratri: on the first morning the kalash is set up, in the first third of the day while Pratipada holds, or in Abhijit Muhurat. Follow your own family’s way where it differs.

  1. Clean the home and the place of worship. On the first morning, at the Ghatasthapana time, sow barley (jau) seeds in clean soil in a wide clay dish.
  2. Set a kalash of water on it, with a coin, betel nut and rice inside, mango leaves at its mouth, and a coconut wrapped in red cloth on top.
  3. Place an image of Durga beside it, and light a lamp; some families keep it burning for all nine days.
  4. Worship the day’s form of the Goddess each morning and evening, and read the Durga Saptashati or the Durga Chalisa.
  5. Fast as your family keeps it: fruit and milk, or one meal without grain.
  6. On Ashtami or Navami, honour nine young girls as the Goddess (kanya puja), then celebrate Ram Navami at midday and close the fast.

What you need

  • A clay dish, clean soil and barley seeds
  • A kalash, mango leaves, a coconut and red cloth
  • An image of Durga and a lamp
  • Flowers, kumkum, rice and incense
  • The Durga Saptashati or Durga Chalisa to read from

Across India

North India

Nine days of fasting and Durga puja at home and in temples, with crowds at Vaishno Devi and the hill shrines, ending with Ram Navami.

Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra

The first day is the new year: Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, with a gudi raised at the door, and Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra, with the bitter-sweet ugadi pachadi.

Bengal

Basanti Puja, Durga worshipped in spring, kept in some homes and temples, though autumn’s Durga Puja is far larger.

Kashmir

Navreh, the Kashmiri Pandit new year, on the first day.

When it falls

Shukla Pratipada of Chaitra. Kept on the day this tithi holds at sunrise.

These are the usual rules. A few days can differ by a day in your tradition, so check with your temple.

Chaitra Navratri begins in the coming years

New Delhi, India time

  1. 2027Wednesday 7 April 2027
  2. 2028Monday 27 March 2028

Questions

When is Chaitra Navratri in 2027?

Wednesday 7 April 2027, in New Delhi. In a few places it can fall a day apart, so the date above is worked out for your city.

When does Chaitra Navratri fall?

Shukla Pratipada of Chaitra. Kept on the day this tithi holds at sunrise.

How is Chaitra Navratri kept?

Families set up the kalash (ghatasthapana), fast or eat simple food during the nine days and honour young girls on Ashtami or Navami (kanya puja). Customs vary by region and family.

Who is honoured on Chaitra Navratri?

Durga. The spring Navratri: nine nights of worship of Durga in her nine forms, from the Hindu new year to Ram Navami. A kalash is set up on the first morning.

How is Chaitra Navratri different from Sharad Navratri?

Both are nine nights of Durga in her nine forms, with the same Ghatasthapana. Chaitra Navratri comes in spring, begins the new year in much of India and ends with Ram Navami; Sharad Navratri comes in autumn and leads to Dussehra.

When is Ghatasthapana done?

In the first third of the day while Pratipada holds, the most auspicious time. If that is not open, in Abhijit Muhurat around midday. The page shows the times for your city.

Why is the ninth day Ram Navami?

Rama was born on the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra, so the spring Navratri ends with his birthday, celebrated at midday.

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