A calendar kept for the Goddess. Not a full panchang, but the days that matter to Her worship: every Navratri, every Ashtami and Navami, the new moon that belongs to Kali and the full moon that belongs to Lakshmi, and the Friday that returns each week. Dates below are for the 2026-27 Devi season, checked against panchang and marked plainly wherever regional almanacs disagree.
The Devi Season 2026: Every Date
September 2026 - Gauri Arrives
| Date | Day | Observance | Where it is kept |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Sep | Mon | Ganesh Chaturthi | Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Telangana |
| 17 Sep | Thu | Jyeshtha Gauri Avahan - Gauri is welcomed in | Maharashtra |
| 18 Sep | Fri | Jyeshtha Gauri Pujan - the great offering | Maharashtra |
| 19 Sep | Sat | Jyeshtha Gauri Visarjan | Maharashtra |
Full guide: ज्येष्ठा गौरी २०२६ (Marathi)
October 2026 - The Nine Nights
| Date | Day | Observance | Where it is kept |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Oct | Sat | Mahalaya - Devi Paksha begins; tarpan at dawn | Bengal, Odisha, Assam |
| 10-18 Oct | - | Bathukamma - nine days of flower stacking | Telangana |
| 11 Oct | Sun | Sharadiya Navratri begins - Ghatasthapana | All India |
| 12-15 Oct | - | Navratri days 2-5 | All India |
| 16 Oct | Fri | Durga Puja Shashthi - Bodhon | Bengal, Odisha, Assam |
| 17 Oct | Sat | Durga Puja Saptami - Nabapatrika snan | Bengal |
| 18 Oct | Sun | Durga Ashtami - Kanya Pujan, Sandhi Puja | All India |
| 19 Oct | Mon | Maha Navami - Ayudha Puja, Saraswati Puja | South India, all India |
| 20 Oct | Tue | Vijayadashami - Dussehra, Sindoor Khela, Dashain | All India, Nepal |
| 25 Oct | Sun | Sharad Purnima / Kojagari Lakshmi Puja | Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra |
Guides: the nine colours, day by day · Durga Puja and the Mahishasura Mardini story · Kanya Pujan vidhi
November 2026 - Lamps and the Dark Moon
| Date | Day | Observance | Where it is kept |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Nov | Fri | Dhanteras | North and West India |
| 7 Nov | Sat | Naraka Chaturdashi / Bhoot Chaturdashi | All India |
| 8 Nov | Sun | Diwali Lakshmi Puja and Kali Puja (Kartik Amavasya) | All India / Bengal |
| 10 Nov | Tue | Govardhan Puja / Annakut | North India, Braj |
| 11 Nov | Wed | Bhai Dooj / Bhai Phota | All India |
| 13-16 Nov | - | Chhath Puja - Chhathi Maiya | Bihar, Jharkhand, Purvanchal |
Guides: Kali Puja 2026 - midnight muhurat and vidhi · কালী পূজা ২০২৬ (Bengali) · Diwali Lakshmi Puja vidhi · Annakut and the Goddess who became food
The Monthly Rhythm
Beyond the festivals, four observances return every month. These are the backbone of Devi practice, and the reason a Shakta household watches the moon rather than only the calendar.
| Tithi | Falls | Belongs to | What is traditionally done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashtami | 8th day of each fortnight | Durga | Masik Durgashtami. Fast, kanya pujan in some households, red flowers. |
| Navami | 9th day of each fortnight | Durga, Siddhidatri | Completion of the Ashtami vrat; the fast is broken. |
| Amavasya | New moon | Kali | Night worship. The darkest night is held to be Hers. Tarpan for ancestors. |
| Purnima | Full moon | Lakshmi | Satyanarayan katha, lamps, Lakshmi japa. Sharad Purnima is the greatest of them. |
And every Friday
Shukravar belongs to Lakshmi across almost all of India, and to Santoshi Maa in the North. The traditional keeping is simple: bathe before sunrise, light a lamp facing east, offer something white or sweet, and chant. Many families keep a partial fast until the evening lamp.
A chant for Fridays: Mahalakshmi Ashtakam or the Kamala beej mantra, 108 times.
The Four Navratris
Most people know one. The tradition keeps four, one in each quarter of the year, and the two "hidden" ones belong especially to the tantric Devi.
| Navratri | Month | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Chaitra Navratri | Mar-Apr (spring) | Ends in Rama Navami. Vasanta Navratri, kept widely in the North and West. |
| Ashadha Gupt Navratri | Jun-Jul (monsoon) | "Hidden" - kept quietly, associated with the Das Mahavidyas. |
| Sharadiya Navratri | Sep-Oct (autumn) | The great one. 11-19 October 2026. |
| Magha Gupt Navratri | Jan-Feb (winter) | The second hidden Navratri, for tantric upasana. |
The 2027 dates for Chaitra and the Gupt Navratris are set by panchang closer to the time. This page is updated as each is confirmed.
Find Your Nakshatra Devi
Your birth nakshatra carries a ruling planet and a classical presiding deity. Below, choose your nakshatra to see both, along with a chant from the Musinara library that suits its temperament. The planet and the presiding devata are traditional; the suggested chant is our own pairing, offered as a starting point rather than a rule.
Not sure of your nakshatra? It is set by the Moon's position at your birth, and any family panchang or purohit can tell you.
How to Use This Calendar
- Bookmark it. The page is updated as each panchang confirms the next season's dates.
- Watch the moon, not only the date. Amavasya and Purnima shift each month; the tithi is what the tradition counts.
- Where almanacs disagree, we say so. Regional panchangas differ on some dates, and this page flags it rather than picking one silently.
- For muhurat, ask your purohit. This is a calendar of observances, not a substitute for a full panchang or for your family's own tradition.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Navratri in 2026?
Sharadiya Navratri runs from Sunday 11 October to Monday 19 October 2026, with Vijayadashami on Tuesday 20 October. Durga Ashtami falls on Sunday 18 October.
Which day of the week belongs to the Goddess?
Friday (Shukravar) is Lakshmi's across most of India. Tuesday is widely kept for Durga and Kali, and Saturday for Kali in parts of the East.
What is the difference between Ashtami and Navami?
Ashtami is the eighth tithi of a fortnight and Navami the ninth. Devotees who keep the monthly Durgashtami fast typically break it on Navami.
Why are there four Navratris?
The tradition marks the turn of each quarter. Chaitra (spring) and Sharadiya (autumn) are public; the two Gupt Navratris in Ashadha and Magha are kept quietly and are associated with the Das Mahavidyas.
Is this a panchang?
No. A panchang gives tithi, nakshatra, yoga, karana and muhurat for a specific place each day. This is a calendar of Devi observances. For daily muhurat, use a full panchang or ask your purohit.
Continue
- The nine forms of Navadurga
- Beej mantras of the Goddess
- Free ebooks, including the Navratri 2026 Companion
- How the Ten Mahavidyas arose
May every one of these days find you ready.
Every nakshatra above names a ruling planet. The ten Mahavidyas are paired with those same nine grahas in tantric and jyotisha tradition. Das Mahavidya and the Navagraha gives the full mapping, and says plainly which parts are textual and which are not.