Maha Navami 2026: date, Navami tithi timings and Sandhi Puja muhurat

Maha Navami, the ninth day of Sharad Navratri, falls on Monday, 19 October 2026, according to Drik Panchang’s calendar for New Delhi. Because the Ashtami and Navami tithis meet on the same day this year, many households will mark Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami together today.

This year’s Sharad Navratri stretches from 11 October to 20 October, ten days instead of the customary nine, the Sunday Guardian reported.

Tithi and muhurat timings (New Delhi)

• Ashtami tithi: 8:27 am, 18 October, to 10:51 am, 19 October
• Navami tithi: 10:51 am, 19 October, to 12:50 pm, 20 October
• Sandhi Puja window: 10:27 am to 11:15 am, 19 October (48 minutes)
• Navratri parana: Tuesday, 20 October

Ashtami is present at sunrise on 19 October and gives way to Navami later that morning, so both observances land on Monday in the Delhi calendar. Drik Panchang notes the governing rule: if Ashtami and Navami merge before dusk on the Ashtami day, the Ashtami and Navami pujas, including Sandhi Puja, are done on that one day. Durga Balidan, though, is always carried out on the day Navami prevails at sunrise.

Those who follow the Bengali Durga Puja calendar will observe Maha Navami on Tuesday, 20 October, the Sunday Guardian said, and some panchang sites such as PujaPurohit also list 20 October. Samvat, which also places the day on 19 October, points out that dates can differ by city and family tradition. Timings here are for New Delhi; readers elsewhere should consult a local panchang.

Rituals and significance

Maha Navami is the third and final main day of Durga Puja. Worship opens with Mahasnan and Shodashopachar Puja, and the goddess is revered as Mahishasuramardini, the destroyer of the buffalo demon Mahishasura, whom she is believed to have slain on this day. In the Navratri cycle, the ninth day is devoted to Maa Siddhidatri.

Sandhi Puja, held at the meeting point of the two tithis, recalls the moment Durga is said to have taken on her Chamunda form to vanquish the demon duo Chanda and Munda. Navami Homa, a fire ritual, is ideally offered at the close of the Navami Puja. Many families also perform Kanya Pujan, honouring young girls as embodiments of the Devi, and the day is widely kept as a fast.

Dussehra next

The festival season moves on to Vijayadashami, or Dussehra, which falls on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, as per Samvat’s New Delhi calendar. Muhurat details for Dussehra were covered in our earlier report.

Sources: Drik Panchang, The Sunday Guardian, Samvat, Samvat (Dussehra), PujaPurohit