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Shardiya Navratri 2026: Dates, Ghatasthapana Timings And Complete 9-Day Calendar
- •Shardiya Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, October 11, with Ghatasthapana and concludes with Vijayadashami on Tuesday, October 20.
- •The primary Ghatasthapana Muhurat is scheduled from 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM, with an additional Abhijit Muhurat from 11:44 AM to 12:31 PM.
- •The festival spans nine days dedicated to the worship of the nine forms of Goddess Durga, starting with Maa Shailputri and ending with Maa Siddhidatri.
- •According to traditional beliefs, Goddess Durga arrives on an elephant for Navratri 2026, which is viewed as a symbol of prosperity and abundance.
Key Questions Answered
Shardiya Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, October 11, and culminates with Vijayadashami on Tuesday, October 20. According to Drik Panchang, the primary Ghatasthapana Muhurat is from 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM, while the Abhijit Muhurat falls between 11:44 AM and 12:31 PM on October 11. The Pratipada Tithi begins at 9:19 PM on Saturday, October 10, and ends at 9:30 PM on Sunday, October 11.
According to traditional beliefs based on the weekday the festival starts, Goddess Durga arrives on an elephant for Shardiya Navratri 2026 because the festival begins on a Sunday. In religious interpretations, the elephant is viewed as a symbol of prosperity, abundance, well-being, good rainfall, and wealth.
Ghatasthapana requires a wide earthen pot with soil and barley seeds, a copper, brass, or silver Kalash filled with water, a coin, betel nut, sacred thread, mango or Ashoka leaves, and a coconut tied with a red chunari. To perform the ritual, clean the puja space, set up a wooden chowki with a clean cloth, sow the barley seeds in the soil, prepare and install the Kalash with the leaves and coconut, and finally light a diya and offer prayers.
