Sharad Navratri 2026

Dates around the world · 2026

Date source: drikpanchang.com (New Delhi, Edison, New Jersey, San Jose, California, London, Toronto, Sydney). Dates are taken from the cited published panchang for each region and year; regions we could not verify are left out.

How to observe

Tick the steps as you go. The ticks are saved on this device only.

1. 1Clean the puja space. On Pratipada, in the muhurat, set up a kalash with water, mango leaves and a coconut, and sow barley in soil beside it (Ghatasthapana). A clean steel or brass pot works as a kalash. If you can't find mango leaves, betel leaves are fine, or skip them.
2. 2Light an akhand diya if your family keeps one, and take a sankalp for the nine days.
3. 3Each morning offer flowers, kumkum, akshat and naivedya to the Goddess in that day's form.
4. 4Recite the Durga Saptashati or Durga Chalisa, or at least sing the aarti, morning and evening.
5. 5Keep the fast your family follows: fruit and milk, one sattvic meal a day, or water only.
6. 6On Ashtami or Navami, do Kanya Puja. Wash the feet of young girls, feed them and give small gifts.
7. 7On Dashami, thank the Goddess, immerse the barley shoots or keep them as prasad, and break the fast.

Customs differ by family and region. Follow your family tradition and temple where they differ from these steps.

What you will need

• Kalash (copper, brass, steel or clay) with water
• Coconut and mango leaves (betel leaves if you can't find mango)
• Whole barley and clean soil (supermarket pearl barley usually won't sprout)
• Red cloth and chunri
• Kumkum, haldi, akshat (unbroken rice)
• Flowers and a garland
• Ghee diya and cotton wicks
• Incense and camphor
• Fruit, sweets and naivedya
• Durga Saptashati or an aarti book

Texts to recite

• Jai Ambe GauriJai Ambe Gauri is one of the most widely sung Hindi aartis to Goddess Durga, whom it calls Ambe, Gauri and Shyama. Its refrain and twelve stanzas describe her radiant form on the lion and her victories over Mahishasura, Shumbha-Nishumbha, Chanda-Munda and Raktabija. Families sing it every evening of Navratri, often just before garba, and on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Questions

Other years