Chaitra Navratri Pooja Vidhi & Muhurat 2026

🪔 Ghatasthapana / Kalash Sthapana (घटस्थापना)

🕐 2026 Muhurat: March 19, 06:52 AM – 10:10 AM (Pratipada Tithi)

Items Required (सामग्री)

• Clay or copper Kalash (मिट्टी/ताँबे का कलश)
• Mango leaves — 5 or 7 (आम के पत्ते)
• Whole coconut with husk (साबुत नारियल)
• Red cloth / chunari (लाल कपड़ा / चुनरी)
• Akshata — unbroken rice (अक्षत)
• Ganga jal or clean water (गंगा जल)
• Soil and barley seeds (मिट्टी एवं जौ)
• Supari, coins, durva grass (सुपारी, सिक्के, दूर्वा)

Steps (विधि)

1. Clean the puja area and spread a red cloth.
2. Place soil in a small mound, sow barley seeds in it.
3. Fill the Kalash with water, akshata, durva, supari, and coins.
4. Place 5–7 mango leaves around the mouth of the Kalash.
5. Place the coconut wrapped in red cloth on top.
6. Install the Kalash on the soil mound.
7. Light the akhand jyoti (continuous lamp) beside the Kalash.
8. Invoke Maa Shailputri with sankalp mantra and offer flowers, kumkum and prasad.

🔱 Daily Puja Routine (प्रतिदिन पूजा क्रम)

1. Snaan & Sankalp — Bathe early, wear clean clothes, take sankalp for the day's vrat. (स्नान एवं संकल्प)
2. Kalash Puja — Offer fresh water, flowers, and akshata to the Kalash. (कलश पूजा)
3. Devi Sthapana — Place the day's Navadurga image/murti and invoke with mantra. (देवी स्थापना)
4. Shodashopchar Puja — Offer 16 items: gandha, pushpa, dhoop, deep, naivedya, etc. (षोडशोपचार पूजा)
5. Durga Saptashati Path — Recite one or more chapters of the Saptashati. (दुर्गा सप्तशती पाठ)
6. Bhog & Aarti — Offer the designated bhog for the day and perform aarti. (भोग एवं आरती)
7. Sandhya Aarti — Evening lamp lighting and Durga Aarti. (संध्या आरती)

👧 Kanya Pujan (कन्या पूजन)

On Ashtami (March 26) and/or Navami (March 27), invite nine young girls (aged 2–10) who represent the nine forms of Maa Durga.

Ritual Steps

1. Wash their feet with warm water and wipe gently.
2. Apply tilak (kumkum/roli) on their forehead.
3. Tie a mauli (sacred thread) on their wrist.
4. Serve Halwa, Puri, Chana (Black chickpeas) and a sweet.
5. Offer gifts — clothes, money, bangles, or fruits.
6. Seek their blessings by touching their feet.

🔥 Havan Vidhi (हवन विधि)

The sacred fire ritual is performed on Navami (March 27) to conclude the nine-day fast and invoke Maa Durga's final blessings.

Havan Samagri (Items)

• Havan kund (fire pit)
• Mango wood sticks (आम की लकड़ी)
• Ghee (clarified butter)
• Havan samagri (mixed herbs)
• Camphor (कपूर)
• Coconut pieces and dry fruits

Procedure

1. Light the fire in the havan kund using mango wood.
2. Offer ghee with the ladle while chanting "Om Swaha".
3. Recite Durga Saptashati mantras or the Navarna Mantra (ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे).
4. Offer 108 ahutis (oblations) with samagri.
5. Conclude with purna-ahuti — offer a whole coconut, fruits and sweets.
6. Perform final aarti and distribute prasad.

✅ Parana — Breaking the Fast (व्रत पारण)

After Kanya Pujan and Havan on Navami, break the fast by eating the prasad first. Begin with something light — fruits, halwa-puri prasad — and then resume normal meals gradually. It is auspicious to break the fast during the Parana window before afternoon.

📜 Related — Durga Saptashati Trayam