What is Navratri Puja?
The goddess is invited into the home in a kalash on the first day, a lamp (akhand jyoti) is kept burning, and each day one form of Navadurga is worshipped — Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. Families book a pandit for the Ghatasthapana, for all nine days, or for the Ashtami and Navami puja with kanya pujan and havan.
Navratri is one of the most auspicious times of the year to begin anything new. Telugu and Kannada families celebrate it as Dasara, Tamil families keep Golu, Bengal celebrates Durga Puja and Gujarat dances garba — the puja at home follows your family’s tradition.
Navratri 2026 dates and Navadurga schedule
- Navratri begins
- Sunday, 11 October 2026Ghatasthapana in the morning
- Durga Ashtami
- Monday, 19 October 2026Kanya pujan
- Maha Navami
- Tuesday, 20 October 2026Havan & Ayudha puja
- Vijayadashami
- Tuesday, 20 October 2026Dussehra
When is Navratri 2026? Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October 2026 with Ghatasthapana and ends with Vijayadashami (Dussehra) on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
Which goddess is worshipped on each day? One form of Navadurga each day: Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.
Navratri 2026 day by day
| Date | Day | Goddess | Mantra | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, 11 Oct | Day 1 | Maa Shailaputri | Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah | Ghatasthapana (kalash sthapana) |
| Mon, 12 Oct | Day 2 | Maa Brahmacharini | Om Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah | — |
| Tue, 13 Oct | Day 3 | Maa Chandraghanta | Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah | — |
| Wed, 14 Oct | Day 4 | Maa Kushmanda | Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah | — |
| Thu, 15 Oct | Day 5 | Maa Skandamata | Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah | — |
| Fri, 16 Oct | Day 6 | Maa Katyayani | Om Devi Katyayanyai Namah | — |
| Sat, 17 Oct | Day 7 | Maa Kalaratri | Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah | — |
| Sun, 18 Oct | Day 7 | Maa Kalaratri | Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah | — |
| Mon, 19 Oct | Day 8 | Maa Mahagauri | Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah | Durga Ashtami · kanya pujan |
| Tue, 20 Oct | Day 9 | Maa Siddhidatri | Om Devi Siddhidatryai Namah | Maha Navami · Ayudha puja · Vijayadashami (Dussehra) in the afternoon |
Dates are calculated by Stuti Mandir’s panchang for sunrise at Hyderabad; in a few places a tithi can fall a day apart, and your pandit confirms the muhurat for your city.
Navratri guide: katha, vidhi, samagri and city-wise timings →
Benefits and best time for Navratri Puja
Benefits
- The protection and blessings of Goddess Durga for the whole family
- Strength, courage and victory over obstacles
- Peace, prosperity and an auspicious start to new ventures
- Fulfilment of a family vow (sankalp) made for the nine days
When to perform
- Sharad Navratri: Ashwin Shukla Pratipada to Navami (September–October)
- Ghatasthapana on the first morning, in the muhurat after sunrise
- Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami for kanya pujan and havan
- Chaitra Navratri in March–April
Navratri Puja vidhi (step by step)
- 1Ganapati puja and sankalpam for the nine days
- 2Ghatasthapana: kalash sthapana with barley (jau) sowing and akhand jyoti
- 3Durga avahanam and daily shodashopachara puja of that day’s form of Navadurga
- 4Durga Saptashati (Chandi path) parayanam, Lalitha Sahasranamam or kumkum archana
- 5Kanya / kumari pujan on Ashtami or Navami
- 6Navami havan (Chandi homam if booked) and Ayudha puja
- 7Visarjan of the kalash on Vijayadashami
Navratri Puja samagri list
- Kalash (copper or brass), coconut and mango leaves
- Barley (jau) and clean soil for sowing
- Durga idol or photo and red chunri / saree
- Red flowers, garlands, kumkum, turmeric and akshata
- Ghee lamp for akhand jyoti, camphor and incense
- Fruits, sweets and naivedyam for each day
- Durga Saptashati book
- Items for kanya pujan (gifts, food, red cloth)
Your pandit confirms the exact list after booking; you can add a Stuti Mandir samagri kit to your order.
Navratri Puja across India’s traditions
Telugu tradition
Telugu families celebrate Dasara Navaratri with daily Devi puja, Bathukamma in Telangana, Saraswati puja on Moola nakshatram and Ayudha puja on Maha Navami; the Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada is the centre of the festival.
Kannada tradition
Karnataka celebrates Navaratri as Nada Habba Dasara, with Devi puja at home, Saraswati puja and Ayudha puja on Mahanavami, and the Mysuru Dasara procession on Vijayadashami.
Tamil tradition
Tamil families keep Navaratri Golu — steps of dolls — with daily puja, sundal prasadam and Saraswati and Ayudha puja on Mahanavami.
Malayalam tradition
Kerala keeps books and tools for puja (pooja veppu) on Durgashtami and begins learning with Vidyarambham on Vijayadashami.
Marathi tradition
Maharashtrian homes do ghatasthapana with a garland added each day, the Bhondla or Hadga songs, and Saraswati puja; Dussehra is marked by exchanging apta leaves as gold.
Hindi tradition
North Indian homes do kalash sthapana with jau sowing and akhand jyoti, keep the nine-day fast, and end with kanya pujan on Ashtami or Navami.
Gujarati tradition
Gujarati families keep the garbo (pierced pot with a lamp) at home, worship Amba Mata daily and dance garba and dandiya each night.
Bengali tradition
Bengali Durga Puja runs from Bodhon on Shashthi to Sindoor Khela on Dashami, with Chandi path, pushpanjali and Sandhi puja on Ashtami.
Odia tradition
Odisha celebrates Durga Puja with Chandi path and pandal worship, and many homes keep the nine days with daily Devi puja.
Book Navratri Puja in your city
Telangana
Andhra Pradesh
- Visakhapatnam
- Vijayawada
- Guntur
- Tirupati
- Nellore
- Kurnool
- Kadapa
- Anantapur
- Rajahmundry
- Kakinada
- Eluru
- Ongole
- Srikakulam
- Vizianagaram
- Chittoor
Karnataka
Tamil Nadu
Kerala
Maharashtra
Delhi NCR
Uttar Pradesh (Delhi NCR)
Haryana (Delhi NCR)
Rajasthan
Uttar Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Chandigarh (Punjab & Haryana)
Bihar
Gujarat
West Bengal
Odisha
Chhattisgarh
Uttarakhand
Punjab
Jammu and Kashmir
Jharkhand
Assam
Why book Navratri Puja with Stuti Mandir
Verified pandits
Every pandit’s profile is reviewed and approved by Stuti Mandir before they can take bookings. See their languages and experience before you choose.
Price shown upfront
Dakshina, fees and taxes are itemised before you pay, so there is no haggling on the day.
Live pandit tracking
Follow your pandit on a live map from the moment they start their journey, just like a delivery app.
OTP-verified pooja
You confirm the pandit’s arrival and the pooja’s completion with one-time codes.
Your language, your tradition
Choose a pandit who speaks your language and follows your family’s customs.
Samagri made easy
Get the full samagri list after booking, or add a samagri kit to your order.
How to book Navratri Puja
- 1
Choose Navratri Puja and a verified pandit — compare their languages, experience and price.
- 2
Pick a date and time slot and add any muhurtham preference.
- 3
Pay securely online (UPI, cards, net banking), or choose pay-after-pooja where it is offered.
- 4
On the day, track your pandit live, confirm their arrival with an OTP, and share the completion code once the pooja is done.
Frequently asked questions
When does Navratri 2026 start and end?
Sharad Navratri 2026 starts on Sunday, 11 October 2026 with Ghatasthapana; Durga Ashtami is on Monday, 19 October 2026, Maha Navami on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 and Vijayadashami on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
How do I book a pandit for Navratri 2026?
Open the Navratri puja booking page, choose a verified pandit, pick the day (Ghatasthapana, a daily puja, Ashtami or Navami) and pay online — or send your details on WhatsApp and Stuti Mandir arranges a pandit. Book early: Navratri dates fill fast.
How much does Navratri Puja cost?
On Stuti Mandir, Navratri Puja starts from ₹6,500 as pandit dakshina for 1 to 2 pandits. The final price depends on your city, the pandit you choose, samagri and express booking, and is shown in full before you pay.
How long does Navratri Puja take?
About 1.5 to 3 hours per day (Ghatasthapana is the longest), performed by 1 to 2 pandits.
Can I book a pandit for all nine days of Navratri?
Yes. You can book the Ghatasthapana only, daily puja for all nine days, or the Ashtami and Navami puja. Tell us your plan on WhatsApp and we arrange a pandit for each day you need.
What is the Ghatasthapana muhurat?
Ghatasthapana is done on the morning of Pratipada, in the first part of the day after sunrise (avoiding Rahu Kalam), or in the Abhijit muhurat. Your pandit fixes the exact time for your city from the panchangam.
Can Navratri puja be done online?
Yes. Choose live video when booking and the pandit performs the puja on a video call while you follow along at home; or book a puja at a temple in your name from Online Puja.
Can I book a pandit who speaks my language for Navratri Puja?
Yes. Stuti Mandir has Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali and Odia-speaking pandits, depending on the city; each pandit’s languages are shown on their profile.
In which cities can I book Navratri Puja?
Navratri Puja can be booked in 85 cities including Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Khammam and Visakhapatnam. Choose your city below for local details.