Chaitra Navratri 2026 to Begin on March 19: Ghatasthapana Muhurat, Ram Navami Date and Nine-Day Festival Guide

New Delhi | 15 March 2026 According to the Hindu calendar, Chaitra Navratri 2026 will begin on March 19, Thursday. From this day, devotees will start worshipping Goddess Durga with the ritual of Ghatasthapana. During these nine sacred days, followers pray to different forms of the goddess and seek happiness, peace and prosperity in their lives. The festival is considered highly important in Hindu tradition, and many devotees also observe fasts during this period. Chaitra Navratri is also believed to mark the beginning of the Hindu New Year. On the first day of the festival, Ghatasthapana or Kalash Sthapana is performed in homes and temples to start the worship. The auspicious time for this ritual will be from 06:23 AM to 07:32 AM, while the alternative Abhijit Muhurat will be from 12:05 PM to 12:53 PM. Performing the ritual during these timings is considered highly favourable according to religious beliefs. As per astrological traditions, the vehicle of Goddess Durga is decided based on the day Navratri begins. Since the festival starts on Thursday in 2026, it is believed that the goddess will arrive on an elephant, which is considered a symbol of prosperity, good rainfall and overall well-being. Interestingly, this year both Ashtami and Navami will fall on the same day, March 26. On this day devotees will perform joint worship, Kanya Pujan and havan. The festival of Ram Navami will also be celebrated on March 26. Each day of Navratri is dedicated to a different form of the goddess. The sequence begins with Maa Shailputri on March 19, followed by Maa Brahmacharini, Maa Chandraghanta, Maa Kushmanda, Maa Skandamata, Maa Katyayani and Maa Kaalratri. On March 26, devotees will worship Maa Mahagauri and Maa Siddhidatri, along with celebrating Ram Navami. On the final day, Kanya Pujan is performed, where young girls are worshipped as a symbol of the goddess and offered food, gifts and blessings. During Navratri, devotees are advised to keep their homes clean, perform daily prayers and aarti, and follow a pure vegetarian diet. Many people read Durga Chalisa or Durga Saptashati during the festival. At the same time, followers are encouraged to avoid non-vegetarian food, alcohol, anger and negative behaviour, while focusing on devotion and charity. Chaitra Navratri 2026 to Begin on March 19, Ghatasthapana Muhurat Announced The festival of Chaitra Navratri will begin on March 19, 2026, Thursday, according to the Hindu calendar. The nine-day festival starts with the ritual of Ghatasthapana, marking the beginning of the worship of Goddess Durga. During these days, devotees pray to the nine forms of Durga and seek happiness, peace and prosperity in their lives. The auspicious time for Ghatasthapana on the first day will be from 06:23 AM to 07:32 AM, while an alternative Abhijit Muhurat will be from 12:05 PM to 12:53 PM. Many devotees observe fasts, perform daily prayers and follow spiritual practices during the nine-day festival. Chaitra Navratri is also considered the beginning of the Hindu New Year. According to religious beliefs, the vehicle of the goddess is decided based on the day Navratri begins. Since the festival starts on Thursday in 2026, it is believed that the goddess will arrive on an elephant, which is considered a symbol of prosperity, good rainfall and happiness. This year, both Ashtami and Navami will fall on the same day, March 26. On this day devotees will perform Kanya Pujan and havan. The festival of Ram Navami, which celebrates the birth of Rama, will also be observed on March 26, marking the conclusion of the Navratri celebrations.