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Navratri 2026 Kanya Pujan Dates and Auspicious Rituals
- •Confusion remains regarding the exact dates for Mahashtami and Kanya Pujan on October 18 and October 19 during Sharad Navratri 2026.
- •According to Pandit Shipra Sachdev, devotees can perform Kanya Pujan on October 18 after 11.36 AM or throughout the day on October 19 based on Udaya Tithi.
- •Since Venus is set this year, gifting fashion and beauty items to young girls during Kanya Pujan helps bring wealth and prosperity.
- •Kanya Pujan involves inviting girls aged 2 to 10 years, washing their feet, applying tilak, and serving them traditional prasad with utmost respect.
Key Questions Answered
In Sharad Navratri 2026, devotees can perform Kanya Pujan on either 18 or 19 October depending on tithi timings. Those fasting on Saptami can perform Kanya Pujan on 18 October after 11:36 AM, while others can keep the fast through 18 October and conduct the worship on 19 October.
Since planet Venus (Shukra) is currently in an eclipsed or set state, which can negatively impact wealth and prosperity, offering makeup and fashion accessories like rubber bands, hair claw clips, and perfumes to the young girls helps attract auspicious results and financial abundance.
Kanya Pujan typically involves inviting young girls aged 2 to 10 years, treating them as embodiments of Goddess Durga. Hosts should warmly welcome them, wash their feet, apply tilak, and serve traditional prasad such as halwa, poori, and black chickpeas before offering gifts and monetary dakshina with full respect.
