Navratri — observances and vrat guides
Navratri brings several distinct Devi festival cycles into the yearly calendar. Chaitra and Sharad Navratri are widely celebrated, while Gupt Navratri has a different devotional setting. Durga Puja has its own regional ceremonial life rather than being an identical copy of every nine-night fast. Worship, household food rules and the sequence of festival days differ by tradition and location. This hub preserves those named cycles and related entries instead of placing all goddess festivals under a single date. Each linked guide identifies the deity, description and food guidance recorded for that observance.
The catalog currently includes 8 distinct entries in this collection. Examples are Chaitra Navratri — Spring; Sharad Navratri — October; Magha Gupt Navratri — Winter; Ashadha Gupt Navratri — Monsoon; Sharadiya Navaratri (Bengali Durga Puja). Their recorded devotional focus includes Goddess Durga (nine forms); The Ten Mahavidyas (Goddess Shakti); Maa Durga (Mahishasuramardini). Follow the individual links below for the full description, calendar dates, mantra and allowed or avoided foods; each link leads to a dedicated observance page rather than a search result.
Calendar dates are references, not a substitute for the observance rules of your chosen city and community. Lunar days can cross civil-date boundaries, and regional practice can change which day is kept. Meal suggestions are optional ideas for an allowed meal, not instructions to eat during a complete fast. Children, pregnant people and anyone with a medical condition should seek appropriate advice before fasting. Compare the linked guides with your family or temple's practice and choose a discipline suited to your health.
All 8 observances in this collection
- Chaitra Navratri — Spring — March 19, 2026
Nine sacred nights of Goddess Durga — March 19 to 27, 2026 (Chaitra/Spring Navratri)
- Sharad Navratri — October — October 11, 2026
Nine sacred nights of Goddess Durga — October 11 to 19, 2026 (Vijayadashami on October 20). The main Navratri of the year.
- Magha Gupt Navratri — Winter — January 19, 2026
Magha Gupt Navratri — the 'secret' winter Navratri (Magha Shukla Pratipada to Navami), January 19–27, 2026 and February 7–15, 2027. Observed quietly with sadhana of the Ten Mahavidyas, especially in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, UP and Uttarakhand.
- Ashadha Gupt Navratri — Monsoon — July 14, 2026
Ashadha Gupt Navratri — the 'secret' monsoon Navratri (Ashadha Shukla Pratipada to Navami), also called Gayatri Navratri — July 14–22, 2026 (Parana July 23) and July 4–11, 2027 (Parana July 12). Nine nights of quiet Shakti sadhana ahead of Chaturmas.
- Sharadiya Navaratri (Bengali Durga Puja) — October 11, 2026
Sharadiya Navaratri — the autumn nine nights of Devi, peaking with Bengali Durga Puja from Maha Shashti through Vijayadashami. Asvina Shukla Pratipada to Navami. The Devi Mahatmyam is recited continuously across pandals from Bengal to Mumbai. Days 1-3 invoke Durga (warrior shakti), Days 4-6 invoke Lakshmi (prosperity shakti), Days 7-9 invoke Saraswati (wisdom shakti).
- Chaitra Navaratri (Vasanta Navaratri) — April 7, 2027
Chaitra Navaratri — the spring nine nights of Devi worship. Chaitra Shukla Pratipada to Navami. Begins on the Hindu lunar new year (Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Ugadi in Andhra/Karnataka). Held in equal reverence to Sharadiya Navaratri in the Shakta tradition. Concludes on Ram Navami (Day 9).
- Magha Gupta Navaratri — February 6, 2027
Magha Gupta Navaratri — the hidden nine nights of Devi observed in Magha (mid-Jan to mid-Feb). Less-known publicly than Sharadiya / Chaitra Navaratri, but held in the Tantric Shakta tradition (Kashmir Shaivism cross-current, Bengal Tantric akhadas, Vindhyachal, Tarapith, Kamakhya) as the most powerful Navaratri for inner Devi sadhana. The 10 Mahavidyas are worshipped instead of the 9 Durgas.
- Ashadha Gupta Navaratri — July 15, 2026
Ashadha Gupta Navaratri — the second hidden nine nights of Devi, observed in Ashadha (the monsoon month, mid-June to mid-July). The companion to Magha Gupta Navaratri. Reserved for Tantric Shakta sadhakas at Kamakhya (Assam), Tarapith (Bengal), Vindhyachal (UP), and the Shakti peethas of Kashmir. Worshipping the 10 Mahavidyas during the monsoon retreat is held to be especially transformative.