Chaitra Navratri 2026 Date: Like Ashwin Navratri, Chaitra Navratri also has special significance in Hindu religion. This new day festival is considered especially fruitful for the worship of Goddess Shakti, which is known as Navratri. Because it falls in Chaitra month, it is called Chaitra Navratri. Chaitra Navratri becomes more important because from this day the Hindu New Year i.e. Vikram Satsavar begins. Let us know when is Chaitra Navratri starting in the year 2026, what will be the time of Ghatasthapana, what will be the ride of Mata and what is the auspicious time of worship of nine days?

Chaitra Navratri starts from 19 March 2026

According to the Hindu calendar, Chaitra month starts from the Pratipada date of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month. In the year 2026, the festival of Chaitra Navratri will start from Thursday, March 19, 2026 and will end on March 27, 2026. The holy festival of Ram Navami is also celebrated on Navami Tithi. During Navratri, nine different forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped with rituals for nine days and the devotees keep fast and remain engrossed in the worship.

Ghatasthapana Muhurta

Ghatasthapana or Kalash installation is most important during Navratri. With this the nine days of worship of Navratri begins. Ghatasthapana is done in auspicious time on Pratipada date. The time from 6:52 AM to 07:43 AM will be auspicious for Ghatasthapana on March 19. After this, Abhijeet Muhurta will be from 12:05 PM to 12:52 PM. In both these auspicious times you can perform Ghatasthapana or Kalash Sthapana. At the time of establishing the Kalash, barley is sown in an earthen vessel and Goddess Shakti is invoked by placing coconut and mango leaves on the Kalash.

Mata Rani will come in palanquin

Chaitra Navratri is starting from March 19 this year. Since this day is Thursday, Mata’s palanquin will be there. In fact, if Navratri arrives on Thursday or Friday, then the mother’s vehicle is a palanquin. Mother’s arrival on palanquin is considered auspicious. Navratri is ending on Friday 27th March. If Navratri ends on Friday then the mother departs on an elephant. Elephant is considered to be the cause of happiness, prosperity, rain, progress and opulence. Therefore, this year the vehicle of Mata Rani’s arrival and departure can prove to be auspicious for the country, the world and the people.

Chaitra Navratri 2026 nine days puja calendar

1. Day 1 (19 March 2026)- Maa Shailputri Puja and Ghatasthapana


2. Second day (20 March 2026)- Worship of Mother Brahmacharini


3. Third day (21 March 2026)- Worship of Maa Chandraghanta


4. Fourth day (22 March 2026)- Maa Kushmanda Pooja


5. Day five (23 March 2026)- Maa Skandamata worship


6. Day 6 (24 March 2026)- worship of mother katyayani


7. Seventh day (25 March 2026)- Maa Kalratri worship


8. Eighth day (26 March 2026)- Maa Mahagauri Puja, Maha Ashtami Puja and Kanya Puja


9. Ninth day (27 March 2026)- Maa Siddhidatri Puja, Ram Navami, Mahanavami Puja, Kanya Puja and breaking of fast.