Chaitra Navratri 2026: Know the date, significance and muhurat time

New Delhi: This year, Chaitra Navratri will begin from March 19  and conclude on March 27. Navratri is a nine day celebration and these days are dedicated to worship Goddess Durga and marks the beginning of the Hindu lunar new year in the month of Chaitra.

What are the key dates?

Chaitra Navratri falls in the month of March-April. Each subsequent day is dedicated to a different form of the goddess: Brahmacharini (March 20), Chandraghanta (March 21), Kushmanda (March 22), Skandamata (March 23), Katyayani (March 24), Kalaratri (March 25), and Mahagauri (March 26), when the special Sandhi Puja is also performed. The festival concludes on Rama Navami (March 27), marking the birth of Lord Rama.

What is the Chaitra Navratri Ghatasthapana Muhurat?

The festival starts with Kalash Sthapana (Ghatasthapana) and the beginning of fasting. 

• Tithi Begins: March 19, 06:52 am
• Tithi Ends: March 20, 04:52 am
• Lagna Begins: March 19, 06:26 am
• Lagna Ends: March 20, 07:43 am
• Ghatasthapana Muhurat: March 19, 06:52 am to 07:43 am
• Ghatasthapana Abhijit Muhurat: March 19, 12:05 pm to 12:53 pm

Will Panchak happen during Chaitra Navratri 2026?

The Panchak period will start on March 16 at 6:14 pm and continue until March 21. And Chaitra Navratri will begin on March 19.

The early days of Navratri, including the period from Ghatasthapana to the Tritiya Tithi, will fall under the influence of Panchak. This overlap has led many devotees to wonder whether performing important rituals during this time is appropriate.