Navaratri is a Hindu festival of worship of Devi Adi Para-Shakti and dance and festivities. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi Durga are worshipped. It is commonly referred to as Dussehra in India. Navaratri is celebrated four times a year according to India’s seasons. They are Poushya/Magha Navaratri, Vasant Navaratri, Ashadha Navaratri, and Sharada MAHA Navaratri. Of these, the Sharada Navaratri and Vasant Navaratri are most important.
Devi Bhagavatam book 3 chapter 27 states “On observing the Navaratri Vratam, one receives from Devi Durga riches, children, grandchildren, prosperity and happiness, longevity, health, heaven and even final beatitude. Those who are desirous of learning, riches or children will get them all if they perform this most auspicious Navaratra ceremony. On the performance of this sacrifice, those that want knowledge and learning receives all that. Those that have not performed the Navaratra ceremony, how can they acquire riches in this world and acquire happiness and peace in their next? There is no other vow superior to this vow in this world; this vow is very holy and will bring unto you lots of happiness.”
Devi devotees who abstain from animal sacrifice perform “symbolic BALI” with vegetables/fruits like bananas, cucumber, white pumpkin, nutmeg and sugar cane.
Magha Gupta Navaratri 2026
Magha Gupta Navaratri is the festival of nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Mother Durga or the three main forms of the Mother namely Mother’s Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati in the month of Magha (January/February).
19th of January – 27th of January – Magha Gupta Navaratri is observed over 9 days.
During the nine Vedic Magha Gupta Navaratri days, devotees may worship Devi in three formats, namely:
First format:
- 19th – 21st January: Is dedicated to Mother Durga
- 22nd – 24th January: Is dedicated to Mother Lakshmi
- 25th – 27th January: Is dedicated to Mother Saraswati
Second format (each day represents a form of the Supreme Devi):
- 19th January: Day 1 (Pratipada) – Mother Shailputri is worshipped
- 20th January: Day 2 (Dwitiya) – Mother Brahmacharini is worshipped
- 21st January: Day 3 (Tritiya) – Mother Chandraghanta is worshipped
- 22nd January: Day 4 (Chaturthi) – Mother Kushmanda is worshipped
- 23rd January: Day 5 (Panchami) – Mother Skandamata is worshipped
- 24th January: Day 6 (Shashti) – Mother Katyayani is worshipped
- 25th January: Day 7 (Saptami) – Mother Kalaratri is worshipped
- 26th January: Day 8 (Ashtami) – Mother Mahagauri is worshipped
- 27th January: Day 9 (Navami) – Mother Siddhidatri is worshipped
- 28th January: Day 10 (Dashami) – Vijay Dashami
Third format:
The predominating devi deity for Magha (Gupta) Navaratri is the Tantrik form of Mother Saraswati called MAATANGI DEVI.
Who is Maatangi devi? A brief synopsis…
Devi Maatangi (Sanskrit: मातङ्गी, Maatangi) is one of the Das Mahavidyas, ten Tantric goddesses and an aspect of the Vedic Divine Mother. Devi Maatangi is named as the ninth Mahavidya devi. She is the Tantric form of Mother Saraswati, the goddess of music and learning. Maatangi devi governs speech, music, knowledge and the arts. Her worship is prescribed to acquire supernatural powers, especially gaining control over enemies, attracting people to oneself, acquiring mastery over the arts and gaining supreme knowledge.
Vasant/Chaitra Navaratri 2026
Vasant/Chaitra Navaratri 2026: is the festival of nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Mother Durga or the three main forms of the Mother namely Mother’s Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati in the spring (Vasant) season (March–April).
19th – 27th March 2026 – Vasant/Chaitra Navaratri is observed over 9 days.
During the nine Vedic Magha Gupta Navaratri days, devotees may worship Devi in three formats, namely:
First format:
- 19th – 21st March: Is dedicated to Mother Durga
- 22nd – 24th March: Is dedicated to Mother Lakshmi
- 25th – 27th March: Is dedicated to Mother Saraswati
Second format (each day represents a form of the Supreme Devi):
- 19th March: Day 1 (Pratipada) – Mother Shailputri is worshipped
- 20th March: Day 2 (Dwitiya) – Mother Brahmacharini is worshipped
- 21st March: Day 3 (Tritiya) – Mother Chandraghanta is worshipped
- 22nd March: Day 4 (Chaturthi) – Mother Kushmanda is worshipped
- 23rd March: Day 5 (Panchami) – Mother Skandamata is worshipped
- 24th March: Day 6 (Shashti) – Mother Katyayani is worshipped
- 25th March: Day 7 (Saptami) – Mother Kalaratri is worshipped
- 26th March: Day 8 (Ashtami) – Mother Mahagauri is worshipped
- 27th March: Day 9 (Navami) – Mother Siddhidatri is worshipped
- 27th March: Day 10 (Dashami) – Vijay Dashami
Third format:
The predominating devi deity for Vasant/Chaitra Navaratri is Mother Bandi.
Who is Bandi devi? A brief synopsis…
Bandi Devi (also known as Vindhyeshvari devi) is a manifestation of the Supreme Mother Goddess Shakti. Scriptural proof regarding her can be found in the Kashi Khand of the Skanda Purana and the Rig Veda VIII 101-13 “She, Bandi devi yonder, bending down, rich in rays, clothed in red hues is seen, advancing as one wonderful form, amid the ten surrounding arms”. It must be noted that in prayers, Mother Bandi is equated with Durga devi. Bandi devi interchanges riding a tiger and a lion, with depictions of her riding a tiger being the more popular choice. The Bandi Paath is a well-known prayer dedicated to this Goddess. Bandi devi is the bestower of children and rescues one from hardships. She blesses one with well-being and provides support when difficulty arises. Traders or shopkeepers should recite this katha with faith and concentration. People heavily in debt, should also recite the Bandi Paath often. It is said that whatever a person asks for, they shall receive when they pray to Mother Bandi — no matter if its milk, a child, riches or Lakshmi (abundance).
Ashadha/Gupta Navaratri 2026
Ashadha/Gupta Navaratri 2026: is the festival of nine “Vedic” days dedicated to the nine forms of Mother Durga or the three main forms of the Mother namely Mother’s Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati in the month of Ashadha (June–July).
15th – 22nd July 2026 – Ashadha Navaratri is observed over 8 Gregorian days.
During the nine “Vedic” Magha Gupta Navaratri days, devotees may worship Devi in three formats, namely:
First format:
- 15th – 16th July: Is dedicated to Mother Durga
- 17th – 19th July: Is dedicated to Mother Lakshmi
- 20th – 22nd July: Is dedicated to Mother Saraswati
Second format (each day represents a form of the Supreme Devi):
- 15th July: Day 1 (Pratipada) – Mother Shailputri is worshipped; Day 2 (Dwitiya) – Mother Brahmacharini is worshipped
- 16th July: Day 3 (Tritiya) – Mother Chandraghanta is worshipped
- 17th July: Day 4 (Chaturthi) – Mother Kushmanda is worshipped
- 18th July: Day 5 (Panchami) – Mother Skandamata is worshipped
- 19th July: Day 6 (Shashti) – Mother Katyayani is worshipped
- 20th July: Day 7 (Saptami) – Mother Kalaratri is worshipped
- 21st July: Day 8 (Ashtami) – Mother Mahagauri is worshipped
- 22nd July: Day 9 (Navami) – Mother Siddhidatri is worshipped
- 23rd July: Day 10 (Dashami) – Vijay Dashami
*** Kindly note that Hindu Vedic days differ hugely from Western Gregorian days. A Gregorian day commences at midnight and ends the following midnight, whilst a Vedic day (Tithi) can begin at varying times of a Gregorian day and vary in duration from approximately 19 to approximately 26 hours. Hence one may often find that there are two Vedic days (Tithis) in one Gregorian day or two Gregorian days in one Vedic day (Tithi) as stated above.
Third format:
The predominating devi deity for Ashadha/Gupta Navaratri is the Tantrik form of Mother Earth (Bhumi) called VARAHI DEVI.
Who is Varahi devi? A brief synopsis…
Varahi (Sanskrit: वाराही, Vaaraahee) is a member of one of the Sapta-Matrikas group (“seven mothers”), in Vedic scriptures. Since she’s the fifth of the matrikas, she is also known as ‘Panchami’. Bearing the head of a sow, Varahi is the shakti (feminine energy) and one of the consorts of Varaha, the boar avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Maha/Sharad Navaratri 2026
Sharad Navaratri 2026: This is the most important of the Navaratris. It is simply called Maha Navaratri (the Great Navaratri) and is celebrated in the month of Ashwina. It is celebrated during Sharad (beginning of winter in India, September–October) and is the festival of nine “Vedic” days dedicated to the nine forms of Mother Durga or the three main forms of the Mother namely Mother’s Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.
11th – 19th October 2026 – Maha (Sharad) Navaratri is observed over 9 days.
During the nine “Vedic” Magha Gupta Navaratri days, devotees may worship Devi in three formats, namely:
First format:
- 11th – 13th October: Is dedicated to Mother Durga
- 14th – 16th October: Is dedicated to Mother Lakshmi
- 17th – 19th October: Is dedicated to Mother Saraswati
Second format (each day represents a form of the Supreme Devi):
- 11th October (Sunday): Day 1 (Pratipada); Navaratri color of the day – ORANGE; Mother Shailputri is worshipped
- 12th October: Day 2 (Dwitiya); Navaratri color of the day – WHITE; Mother Brahmacharini is worshipped
- 13th October: Day 3 (Tritiya); Navaratri color of the day – RED; Mother Chandraghanta is worshipped
- 14th October: Day 4 (Chaturthi); Navaratri color of the day – ROYAL BLUE; Mother Kushmanda is worshipped
- 15th October: Day 5 (Panchami); Navaratri color of the day – YELLOW; Mother Skandamata is worshipped
- 16th October: Day 6 (Shashti); Navaratri color of the day – GREEN; Mother Katyayani is worshipped
- 17th October: Day 7 (Saptami); Navaratri color of the day – GREY; Mother Kalaratri is worshipped
- 18th October: Day 8 (Ashtami); Navaratri color of the day – PURPLE; Mother Mahagauri is worshipped
- 19th October: Day 9 (Ashtami/Navami); Navaratri color of the day – PEACOCK GREEN; Mother Siddhidatri is worshipped
- 20th October: Day 10 (Dashami) – Vijay Dashami/Dussehra
- 21st October: DURGA VISARJAN
Third format:
The predominating devi deity for Maha/Sharad Navaratri is Adi Para Shakti Herself as Durga devi.
Who is Durga devi? A brief synopsis…
Durga (Sanskrit: दुर्गा Durga) is a major deity and supreme divinity in the Vedic scriptures. Durga devi is worshipped as one of the principal aspects of the supreme divinity Mahadevi and is also one of the most popular and widely revered among Vedic divinities. Durga devi is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction and wars. Durga devi’s fame centres around combating evils and demonic forces that threaten peace, prosperity and Dharma, the power of good over evil. Durga devi unleashes her divine wrath against the wicked for the liberation of the oppressed, and includes destruction to empower creation. Durga devi is seen as a motherly figure and is often depicted as a beautiful woman, riding a lion or tiger, with many arms each carrying a weapon, and often defeating demons. She is widely worshipped by the followers of the goddess centric sect, Shaktism, and has importance in other denominations like Shaivism (devotees of Lord Shiva) and Vaishnavism (devotees of Lord Vishnu). The two most important scriptural texts of Shaktism, Devi Mahatmya and Devi-Bhagavat, reveres Devi or Shakti (goddess) as the primordial creator of the universe, and the Brahman (ultimate truth and reality). While all major texts of Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma) mention and revere the goddess, these two texts centre around her as the primary divinity. The word Durga (दुर्गा) literally means “impassable”, “invincible, unassailable”. It is related to the word Durg (दुर्ग) which means “fortress, something difficult to defeat or pass”. According to the Monier-Williams Sanskrit dictionary, Durga is derived from the roots “dur” (difficult) and “gam” (pass, go through).
DIPIKA has the 14 pages article named “The predominating devi Deity for each Navaratri of the year“. It comes with the full prayer procedure of the above devi’s. The link to this article is below. Please click on this hyperlink.
“https://dipika.org.za/the-predominating-devi-deity-for-each-navaratri-of-the-year/“