Festivals · Shukla Pratipada
Navratri 2027 and 2026: Chaitra and Sharad Navratri dates
When Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri begin in 2026 and 2027, the Pratipada rule, and the Ghatasthapana window, computed for New Delhi.
In short
Navratri 2027: Chaitra Navratri begins on Wednesday, 7 April 2027 and Sharad Navratri on Thursday, 30 September 2027. In 2026 they began on Thursday, 19 March 2026 and Sunday, 11 October 2026. These are the days computed by Astrojar's Panchang engine for New Delhi. Navratri begins on Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright half: Chaitra Navratri in Chaitra (March or April), with the Hindu new year, and Sharad Navratri in Ashvina (September or October), ending with Vijayadashami.
Navratri dates for 2026 and 2027
| Navratri | First day | Pratipada (IST) | Ghatasthapana (first third of the day) | Abhijit muhurta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaitra Navratri 2026 | Thursday, 19 March 2026 | Shukla Pratipada: 6:53 am, 19 Mar to 4:52 am, 20 Mar (kshaya) | 6:53 am to 10:28 am | 12:04 pm to 12:53 pm |
| Sharad Navratri 2026 | Sunday, 11 October 2026 | Shukla Pratipada: 9:19 pm, 10 Oct to 9:31 pm, 11 Oct | 6:19 am to 10:11 am | 11:44 am to 12:30 pm |
| Chaitra Navratri 2027 | Wednesday, 7 April 2027 | Shukla Pratipada: 5:20 am, 7 Apr to 4:28 am, 8 Apr | 6:05 am to 10:17 am | None: no Abhijit on a Wednesday |
| Sharad Navratri 2027 | Thursday, 30 September 2027 | Shukla Pratipada: 8:05 am, 30 Sep to 5:35 am, 1 Oct (kshaya) | 8:05 am to 10:11 am | 11:47 am to 12:34 pm |
Sharad Navratri ends on Vijayadashami: see Dussehra 2027. Chaitra Navratri begins on the lunar new year: see Ugadi 2027.
Times are for New Delhi, in IST, from Astrojar's Panchang engine.
How the date of Navratri is fixed
The first day is the one on which Pratipada is running at sunrise. If Pratipada starts after one sunrise and ends before the next (a kshaya tithi), the day it begins is taken. Ghatasthapana, setting up the kalash, is done in the first third of the day while Pratipada lasts; Abhijit muhurta around noon is the usual second choice.
| Year | Day | Sunrise that day | Shukla Pratipada covers it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, 10 October 2026 | 6:18 am | No: it begins at 9:19 pm, after sunrise |
| 2026 | Sunday, 11 October 2026 | 6:19 am | Yes ← the festival day |
| 2026 | Monday, 12 October 2026 | 6:20 am | No |
| 2027 | Wednesday, 29 September 2027 | 6:12 am | No |
| 2027 | Thursday, 30 September 2027 | 6:13 am | No: it begins at 8:05 am, after sunrise, and ends at 5:35 am, 1 Oct, before the next sunrise (kshaya) ← the festival day |
| 2027 | Friday, 1 October 2027 | 6:13 am | No |
The same check on the neighbouring days shows why they were not taken.
A kshaya Pratipada
Chaitra Navratri 2026 and Sharad Navratri 2027 begin on a kshaya Pratipada: it starts after one sunrise and ends before the next, so it touches no sunrise. The day it begins is taken, and Ghatasthapana is done after it begins. The sunrise check for Chaitra Navratri is on the Ugadi page.
Why Navratri can differ by place and tradition
The nine nights are counted by tithi, so when a tithi is skipped or repeated the festival can be eight or ten days long, and Durga Ashtami or Maha Navami can move by a day. This page gives the first day; Vijayadashami is on the Dussehra page.
Sunrise, sunset and moonrise change with the city, so the windows here move for other places. Astrojar's daily Panchang gives them for where you are.
Questions about Navratri
When is Navratri in 2026?
Chaitra Navratri 2026 begins on Thursday, 19 March 2026 and Sharad Navratri 2026 on Sunday, 11 October 2026 (New Delhi). For Sharad Navratri, Pratipada runs 9:19 pm, 10 Oct to 9:31 pm, 11 Oct. Ghatasthapana window: 6:19 am to 10:11 am.
When is Navratri in 2027?
Chaitra Navratri 2027 begins on Wednesday, 7 April 2027 and Sharad Navratri 2027 on Thursday, 30 September 2027 (New Delhi). For Sharad Navratri, Pratipada runs 8:05 am, 30 Sep to 5:35 am, 1 Oct. Pratipada is kshaya this time: it begins after sunrise and ends before the next sunrise. Ghatasthapana window: 8:05 am to 10:11 am.
What is Ghatasthapana?
Ghatasthapana is setting up the kalash (a water pot with barley sown around it) on the first day of Navratri, to invite the goddess. It is done in the first third of the day while Pratipada lasts, or in Abhijit muhurta around noon.
How many Navratris are there in a year?
Four: Chaitra and Sharad (Ashvina) Navratri are widely kept, and the two Gupta Navratris, in Ashadha and Magha, are kept by fewer people. This page gives Chaitra and Sharad Navratri.
Why do some calendars give a different date for Navratri?
A panchang is worked out for one place. Where the tithi begins or ends close to the part of the day the rule looks at, a city east or west of New Delhi can land on the other side of the boundary. Calendars also differ in tradition (amanta or purnimanta, Smarta or Vaishnava) and in the ephemeris they use.
Sources
- Dates, tithi start and end times, sunrise, sunset, moonrise, Nishita muhurta, Vijaya muhurta, Abhijit muhurta and the rising sign (udaya lagna): Astrojar's Panchang engine (Lahiri ayanamsa), for New Delhi (28.61° N, 77.21° E, IST), computed on 21 October 2026. The tithi and nakshatra end times were checked against the Swiss Ephemeris and agree to within a minute.
- Which part of the day a festival's tithi must cover: Nirnaya Sindhu (Kamalakara Bhatta) and Dharma Sindhu (Kashinatha Upadhyaya), the chapters on the festivals month by month.
This is the traditional reading of the classical texts, given for learning and reflection. It is not a prediction for you, and not medical, legal or financial advice.
Navratri times for your city
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