Sharad Navratri 2026 in Canada: Sun, Oct 11 — Puja Time by City

Related days (Toronto)

Other cities may differ by a day; open the festival's own page for city-wise dates.

How the Sharad Navratri date is decided

Pratipada prevailing at local sunrise (Udaya tithi); Ghatasthapana in the first part of the day.

Significance

According to the Puranas Maa Durga killed Mahishasura on the tenth day after a nine-day battle — hence the Dashami is called 'Vijaya'. In the Ramayana, Lord Rama worshipped Shakti in these very nine days before killing Ravana. It is also a change of season, so fasting and restraint are considered good for the body too.

Nine days, nine Goddesses: Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Mahagauri, Siddhidatri. Each day has its own colour, bhog and mantra; at home a simple puja — lamp, flowers, chunari, bhog and a reading of Durga Saptashati or Durga Chalisa — is enough.

The dates above come from the engine's calculation. Note: when a tithi is lost (kshaya) or doubled (vriddhi), Navratri can run 8 or 10 days — the middle days (Dwitiya to Saptami) may then shift by a day; the Ashtami, Navami and Dashami dates above come directly from the panchang and are firm.

Puja vidhi (brief)

1. Ghatasthapana (Pratipada): bathe in the morning and clean the puja place. Fill an earthen tray with soil and sow barley (jawara); place a water-filled kalash on or beside it — put betel nut, a coin, akshat and durva in the kalash; on its mouth place 5 mango leaves and a coconut wrapped in red cloth/chunari and tied with mauli.
2. Install Maa Durga's idol/picture beside the kalash on a red cloth; offer a chunari. The best time for Ghatasthapana is in the morning of Pratipada after sunrise, or in Abhijit Muhurat — see above. Installation is avoided in Chitra nakshatra and Vaidhriti yoga; if that is the case, do it in Abhijit.
3. Akhand jyoti: light a ghee or oil lamp that stays lit for nine days — a home that cannot keep an akhand jyoti may light a lamp morning and evening; that is fully valid.
4. Take the sankalp — 'I will keep Maa Durga's vrat with faith for nine days (or as many days).' Then worship Ganesha, the kalash and the Goddess with roli, akshat, flowers, incense, lamp and naivedya.
5. Every morning and evening: lamp and incense, flowers, bhog (of that day's Goddess), a reading of Durga Saptashati (or at least Kavach-Argala-Kilak and Siddha Kunjika Stotra) or Durga Chalisa, and the aarti 'Jai Ambe Gauri'. Sprinkle a little water on the jawara daily.
6. Kanya Pujan on Ashtami or Navami: invite 9 girls aged 2-10 and 1 boy (langur/Bhairav); wash their feet, seat them, apply tilak and kalava, serve poori-chana-halwa, give dakshina and gifts (chunari, bangles, handkerchief), touch their feet and see them off.
7. Havan on Navami: in a havan kund with mango wood/cow-dung cakes offer ghee and havan samagri with 'Om Dum Durgayai Namah Swaha' or Saptashati mantras; end with purnahuti (coconut).
8. Paran: break the fast after the Navami puja/havan or on Dashami morning after puja — according to your family tradition. Eat only after the girls have been fed.
9. Dashami (Vijayadashami): sprinkle the kalash water in the house, cut the jawara and place it in the caps/behind the ears of the men of the family and give it to sisters and daughters, break a coconut/distribute prasad, and immerse the kalash, jawara and idol in a river/pond or in a plant at home.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sharad Navratri 2026 on the same day in Canada and India?

Yes — Sunday, October 11, 2026.

What is the puja time for Sharad Navratri 2026 in Toronto?

Ghatasthapana Muhurat (Pratahkal): 7:27 AM to 9:42 AM (EDT). Other cities are in the table above.

Which time zone are these timings in?

Each row is in that city's own local time with daylight saving applied (Eastern Time (EST/EDT) for Toronto).

Kanya Pujan on Ashtami or Navami?

Both are valid — Ashtami (Kanjak) is more common in Punjab-Delhi and Navami in eastern UP-Bihar. Follow your family custom; the girls should be aged 2-10 with one boy.

How to break the Navratri fast (paran)?

After the havan and Kanya Pujan on Navami, or on Dashami morning after puja — as per your tradition. First bhog to the Goddess, then the girls, then yourself.

What if I cannot fast all nine days?

Fasting on the first and last day (jode ka vrat), or only on Ashtami, is also sanctioned by the shastras. Faith and regularity matter, not the count of days.

Why is Navratri 8 days this year (or 10)?

When a tithi begins and ends between two sunrises (tithi kshaya) a day is lost, and when one tithi touches two sunrises (tithi vriddhi) a day is added. The Ashtami-Navami-Dashami dates above come straight from the panchang, so they are correct.

Daily panchang in Canada

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