Chaitra Navratri 2026 in USA: Thu, Mar 19 — Puja Time by City

Related days (New York)

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

How the Chaitra Navratri date is decided

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

Significance

On this very Pratipada Brahma began creation (Brahma Purana) — hence the Hindu new year; King Vikramaditya started the Vikram Samvat from here; and Shri Rama was born on the Navami of this Navratri.

Vasanti Navratri comes at the junction of seasons (winter to summer) — nine days of restraint and neem-jaggery-mishri (Ugadi pachadi/the neem of Gudi Padwa) prepare the body for the new season; another reason the fast is fruit-based and sattvik.

The nine goddesses are the same — Shailputri to Siddhidatri; Gangaur in Rajasthan-Malwa on the Tritiya, Durgashtami/Ashokashtami on the Ashtami, Ram Navami on the Navami (Rama's birth celebration at noon).

Puja vidhi (brief)

1. On Pratipada after sunrise (or in Abhijit — time above) Ghatasthapana: sow barley in an earthen tray, a water kalash (betel nut, coin, akshat, durva), mango leaves, a chunari-wrapped coconut; the Durga picture, red cloth; akhand jyoti (or a lamp morning and evening); sankalp.
2. The new year custom (the same morning): a toran of mango and ashoka leaves at the door, rangoli, a flag/gudi (Maharashtra); prasad of neem shoots, jaggery, mishri and black pepper (bitter, sweet, pungent — the new year with every taste); listening to the panchang/year forecast (the family together); bowing to the elders.
3. Every morning and evening: lamp and incense, the bhog of that day's Goddess, Durga Saptashati/Chalisa, aarti; water to the jawara; the fast — fruit/sattvik (nine days, or the first and last, or Ashtami).
4. Tritiya: Gangaur (Rajasthan-Malwa — a separate page); Chaturthi-Panchami: Vinayaka Chaturthi, Lakshmi Panchami (some traditions); Shashthi: Skanda Shashthi — Katyayani.
5. Ashtami (Durgashtami/Ashokashtami): Kanya Pujan — 9 girls + 1 boy, feet washed, halwa-poori-chana, dakshina and gifts; 8 ashoka leaves with water (Ashokashtami — the end of sorrow); many homes break the fast on Ashtami.
6. Navami (Ram Navami): havan — 'Om Dum Durgayai Namah Swaha' + the name of Rama; Rama's birth at noon — a cradle for the Ram Darbar, panjiri-panchamrit, 'Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram'; Kanya Pujan (for those whose custom is Navami); cut the jawara and share in the family, sprinkle the kalash water; paran.
7. On Dashami immerse the kalash, jawara and idol (water/plant) — the end of Navratri.
8. Homes keeping Ugadi/Gudi Padwa: oil bath (abhyanga), new clothes, the gudi (a silk cloth, neem, flowers, jaggery and a copper lota on a bamboo) at the door, shrikhand-puran poli/Ugadi pachadi-bobbatlu, the panchang reading.

Frequently asked questions

Is Chaitra Navratri 2026 on the same day in USA and India?

Yes — Thursday, March 19, 2026.

What is the puja time for Chaitra Navratri 2026 in New York?

Ghatasthapana Muhurat (Pratahkal): 7:01 AM to 9:26 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 New York).

Which Hindu new year (Vikram Samvat) begins?

The new Vikram Samvat begins on this Pratipada (the samvat number in the date strip above) — the Common Era year + 57; along with it a new samvatsara name (a cycle of 60 names); the Shaka Samvat from Chaitra Shukla Pratipada (or 22 March), CE − 78.

Why are Gudi Padwa, Ugadi and Chaitra Navratri on the same day?

All fall on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada (the first day of the lunar year) — the gudi in Maharashtra, Ugadi in the south, Navratri Ghatasthapana in the north; occasionally the span of the Amavasya creates a one-day difference.

What is the difference between Sharad and Chaitra Navratri?

The Goddess worship is the same; Chaitra (Vasanti) is joined by the new year and Ram Navami, Sharad by Dussehra and Durga Puja; Sharad is celebrated with more pomp, Chaitra is more a home fast. Two more Gupt Navratris (Magha, Ashadha) belong to sadhaks.

Why eat neem and jaggery?

Preparing the body for the new season (neem purifies the blood, jaggery gives strength) and a symbol of accepting the bitter and the sweet of life with equanimity — the six tastes of Ugadi pachadi are an extension of this.

Daily panchang in USA

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Other years