Sharadiya Navratri 2026 will culminate with important observances including Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami, days on which devotees worship Goddess Durga, observe fasts and conduct rituals such as havan and Kanya Puja.
Maha Ashtami will be observed on Monday, October 19, 2026. Devotees will worship Goddess Mahagauri, regarded as the eighth form of Goddess Durga, on this day.
The festival’s Maha Navami observance is also listed as falling on October 19. On Navami, devotees worship Goddess Siddhidatri, the ninth form of Goddess Durga.
Maha Ashtami 2026 Tithi timings
- Ashtami Tithi begins: October 18, 2026, at 8:27 am
- Ashtami Tithi ends: October 19, 2026, at 10:51 am
- Maha Ashtami: Monday, October 19, 2026
Devotees intending to perform Kanya Puja on Maha Ashtami may complete the ritual before the Ashtami Tithi concludes at 10:51 am on October 19. The Navami Tithi begins after that, and many devotees also conduct Kanya Puja and havan during Navami.
Kanya Puja is a significant Navratri tradition in which young girls are worshipped as manifestations of Goddess Durga. The ceremony generally includes applying tilak on their foreheads and tying a sacred thread around their wrists.
As part of the ritual, the girls are served a sattvic meal that typically consists of halwa, puri and kala chana. Devotees may also offer fruits and sweets.
These observances allow devotees to express their faith in Goddess Durga while honouring the different forms associated with Sharadiya Navratri.
Follow us
