Hindu festival
Navratri
Also known as Sharada Navratri, Sharad Navratri.
In short
Navratri is nine nights honouring the Goddess in her nine forms, kept from the first to the ninth tithi of the waxing moon in Ashwin. Devotees fast, worship Durga, and on the tenth day (Vijayadashami) celebrate the victory of good over evil.
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When is Navratri?
- This year’s date
- Set by the panchang each year from the rule below. Godify shows a specific date only once it is confirmed against an authoritative panchang — never guessed.
- Tithi / rule
- The nine tithis from Shukla Pratipada to Navami of the month of Ashwin
- Calendar
- Lunar calendar (tithi-based)
- Deity
- Durga
This is Sharada Navratri, the principal autumn Navratri. There are four Navratris in the year; Chaitra Navratri (spring) is the other widely observed one.
The story
Navratri — 'nine nights' — celebrates the Divine Mother, Durga, and her nine aspects (Navadurga), one honoured on each night. It recalls her battle with the buffalo-demon Mahishasura, defeated on the tenth day.
The nine nights are a graded worship of Shakti — power, protection, and grace — moving through forms of the Goddess, and culminating in Vijayadashami (Dussehra), the day of victory of good over evil.
How it’s celebrated
Devotees fast and worship Durga's nine forms across nine nights; in Gujarat with garba and dandiya dance, in Bengal as Durga Puja, and everywhere culminating in Vijayadashami.
A mantra to mark the day
ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः
oṃ duṃ durgāyai namaḥ
I bow to Durga, the invincible protector and mother of strength.
Temples for Navratri
More Hindu festivals
About Navratri
When is Navratri?
The nine tithis from Shukla Pratipada to Navami of Ashwin (autumn). The exact Gregorian dates are set by the panchang each year.
What do the nine nights of Navratri represent?
The nine forms of the Goddess (Navadurga), worshipped one per night, culminating in Vijayadashami — the victory of good over evil.
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