Chaitra Navratri 2026 Start and End Date: Ghatsthapana time, puja rituals and significance

Navratri, the nine days of festival which is celebrated to honor Goddess Durga. Nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped during these nine days. Devotees celebrate these days with great enthusiasm and fervor across the world where Hindu people resides.

The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, when Goddess Durga killed the demon Mahishasura. Each form of Goddess Durga is worshipped on each day. Devotees observe fast for nine long days and follow the sattvik lifestyle during these days to appease Maa Durga. The festival holds a great religious and spiritual significance among Hindus. Chaitra Navratri begins from Pratipada tithi of shukla paksha in the month of Chaitra and ends with Ram Navami. Let's check out Ghatsthapana timings and auspicious muhurat:

Chaitra Naratri 2026: Ghatsthapana Timings

Ghatasthapana Muhurat - March 19, 2026 - 06:52 AM to 07:43 AMGhatasthapana Abhijit Muhurat - March 19, 2026 - 12:05 PM to 12:53 PMPratipada Tithi Begins - March 19, 2026 - 06:52 AMPratipada Tithi Ends - March 20, 2026 - 04:52 AMMeena Lagna Begins - March 19, 2026 - 06:26 AMMeena Lagna Ends - March 20, 2026 - 07:43 AMGhatasthapana Muhurta falls during Dvi-Svabhava Meena LagnaGhatasthapana Muhurta falls on Amavasya Tithi due to skipped Pratipada

Navratri March 202 6 Start and End Date:

Chaitra Navratri 2026: Significance

Navratri is one of the most significant festivals of Hindus, which is celebrated across the globe where Hindu lives.

During these nine days, nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped. This festival falls during March and April month. This day marks the beginning of new year and the day is celebrated with different names in different parts of India. On this day, Vikram Samvat calendar marks the beginning of a new year.

Devotees worship Maa Durga with immense devotion and purity and show their gratitude to the Goddess. These nine forms of Maa Durga represent power, courage, calmness, purity, fearlessness, wisdom, protection and spiritual growth.

These days culminate with Ram Navami that falls on the last day of Navratri. Devotees perform various religious and spiritual activities during these day to seek blessings of Maa Durga.

Chaitra Navratri 2026: Puja Vidhi

Devotees perform Ghatsthapana on the first day of Navratri. Clean the area where the altar is to be set up. Place an idol of Goddess Durga and then pray to the Goddess Shailputri on this first day of Navratri. Place a kalash and a coconut on top of it. Light a diya with desi ghee, adorn the goddess with shringar and garland. Chant mantras to invoke the idol of Maa Durga. Recite Durga Saptashati and if you can not recite the whole book at once then you should at least read kavach, argala and keelak.

Following a day of fasting, devotees consume some fruits. Some devotees also eat fried potatoes, kuttu poori, and aloo ki sabzi. The food must be prepared by using rock salt or sendha namak.

Mantra

1. Om Jayanti Managal Kali Bhadra Kali Kapalini Durga Kshama Shivadhatri Swaha Swadha Namostute..!!2. Sarva Mangal Manglyayei Shive Sarvartha Sadhike Sharanyayei Triyambike Gauri Narayani Namostute..!!