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Festival guide

Sharadiya Navratri 2025

शारदीय नवरात्रि

Sharadiya Navratri is the most celebrated Navratri, falling in the autumn season.

Ended
Dates
22 September – 1 October 2025 · 9 festival days
Main muhurat
Ghatasthapana Muhurat · Mon, 22 September · 5:46 – 7:41 am

Plan the day

Good times and times to avoid

· Varanasi time (IST)

Auspicious windows

  • Ghatasthapana Abhijit Muhurat49m
  • Brahma Muhurta47m

Times to avoid

  • Rahu Kaal1h 31m
  • Yama Gandam1h 31m
  • Dur Muhurta49m
  • Dur Muhurta49m

Sun and moon

Sunrise
5:46 am
Sunset
5:54 pm
Moonrise
6:04 am
Moonset
6:03 pm

Day by day

The 9 days of Sharadiya Navratri

  1. Day 1Main muhurat · 5:46 – 7:41 am

    Ghatasthapana

    Colour WhiteMaa Shailputri

    The first form of Goddess Durga. Daughter of the Himalayas, she rides the bull Nandi and carries a trident and lotus.

    Prasadam: Pure Desi Ghee

    ॐ देवी शैलपुत्र्यै नमः

    Sunrise
    5:46 am
    Sunset
    5:54 pm
    Abhijit
    11:26 am – 12:14 pm
    That day's panchang: Mon, 22 September
  2. Day 2

    Dwitiya

    Colour RedMaa Brahmacharini

    The ascetic form of the Goddess who practiced intense penance to win Lord Shiva as her husband.

    Prasadam: Sugar

    ॐ देवी ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नमः

    Sunrise
    5:47 am
    Sunset
    5:53 pm
    Abhijit
    11:26 am – 12:14 pm
    That day's panchang: Tue, 23 September
  3. Day 3

    Tritiya

    Colour Royal BlueMaa Chandraghanta

    The warrior form adorned with a crescent moon on her forehead. She rides a tiger and has ten arms.

    Prasadam: Milk

    ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः

    Sunrise
    5:47 am
    Sunset
    5:52 pm
    That day's panchang: Wed, 24 September
  4. Day 4

    Chaturthi

    Colour YellowMaa Kushmanda

    The creator of the universe with her divine smile. Her name means 'cosmic egg' — she created the world with her laughter.

    Prasadam: Malpua

    ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः

    Sunrise
    5:47 am
    Sunset
    5:51 pm
    Abhijit
    11:25 am – 12:13 pm
    That day's panchang: Thu, 25 September
  5. Day 5

    Panchami

    Colour GreenMaa Skandamata

    Mother of Lord Kartikeya (Skanda). She sits on a lotus with her son in her lap, symbolizing motherly love.

    Prasadam: Banana

    ॐ देवी स्कन्दमातायै नमः

    Sunrise
    5:48 am
    Sunset
    5:50 pm
    Abhijit
    11:25 am – 12:13 pm
    That day's panchang: Fri, 26 September
  6. Day 6

    Shashthi

    Colour GreyMaa Katyayani

    Born to sage Katyayana, she is the warrior form who slayed the demon Mahishasura.

    Prasadam: Honey

    ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नमः

    Sunrise
    5:48 am
    Sunset
    5:49 pm
    Abhijit
    11:24 am – 12:12 pm
    That day's panchang: Sat, 27 September
  7. Day 7

    Saptami

    Colour OrangeMaa Kaalratri

    The fiercest form of Durga — dark-complexioned with wild hair. She destroys ignorance and darkness.

    Prasadam: Jaggery

    ॐ देवी कालरात्र्यै नमः

    Sunrise
    5:49 am
    Sunset
    5:48 pm
    Abhijit
    11:24 am – 12:12 pm
    That day's panchang: Sun, 28 September
  8. 29 September · the festival continues
  9. Day 8

    Ashtami

    Colour Peacock GreenMaa Mahagauri

    The extremely fair and radiant form. After severe penance, Lord Shiva cleansed her with Ganga water, making her brilliantly white.

    Prasadam: Coconut

    ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नमः

    Sunrise
    5:49 am
    Sunset
    5:45 pm
    Abhijit
    11:24 am – 12:11 pm
    That day's panchang: Tue, 30 September
  10. Day 9

    Navami

    Colour PinkMaa Siddhidatri

    The granter of all siddhis (supernatural powers). Even Lord Shiva attained his powers through her grace.

    Prasadam: Sesame Seeds

    ॐ देवी सिद्धिदात्र्यै नमः

    Sunrise
    5:50 am
    Sunset
    5:44 pm
    That day's panchang: Wed, 1 October

Ghatasthapana's almanac

Panchang for Mon, 22 September

Tithi
Pratipada, then Dwitiya
Nakshatra
Uttara Phalguni
Yoga
Shukla
Karana
Kimstughna
Paksha
Shukla
Masa
Ashwina
Tithi
PratipadaFrom Until Then Dwitiyauntil
Nakshatra
Uttara PhalguniFrom Until

Choghadiya, day and night

Day

  • AmritGood
  • KaalAvoid
  • RogAvoid
  • ShubhGood
  • UdvegAvoid
  • ChalNeutral
  • LabhGood
  • AmritGood

Night

  • ChalNeutral
  • RogAvoid
  • KaalAvoid
  • LabhGood
  • UdvegAvoid
  • ShubhGood
  • AmritGood
  • ChalNeutral

The story

Sharadiya Navratri: significance and rituals

It honors the victory of Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura and concludes with Vijayadashami (Dussehra).

Rituals

Perform Ghatasthapana on Day 1 in the morning's Ghatasthapana Muhurat (the first third of the day while Pratipada holds), or else at the Abhijit Muhurta. Observe fasting for 9 days. Worship one form of Devi each day. Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami feature special pujas and havan. Conclude with Kanya Puja.

Fasting

Strict fasting for 9 days. Satvic food only — no onion, garlic, grains. Fruits, milk, and sendha namak (rock salt) are permitted.

Local colour

Sharadiya Navratri in Varanasi

Varanasi's Durga Puja celebrations during Sharadiya Navratri are grand. Pandals are set up across the city. The Bengali community organizes vibrant celebrations at Dashashwamedh Ghat area. Ramnagar's Ramlila — the world's oldest — runs concurrently.

Keep exploring

More on Sharadiya Navratri