Durga Ashtami 2026 is on Monday, 19 October, and according to Drik Panchang the Maha Navami puja falls on the same day. On 19 October the Ashtami tithi ends at 10:53 AM and Navami begins; Sandhi Puja is at 10:29–11:17 AM, and Kanya Puja is on this day too. Navami lasts until 12:52 PM on 20 October; the Navratri parana comes after it, and Dussehra is also on Tuesday 20 October. These tithi times are the same all over India.
Each morning the tithi, Rahu Kaal and coming festivals, in one short WhatsApp message.Follow the channel
At a glance
- Durga Ashtami
- Monday 19 October 2026 (worship of Maa Mahagauri)
- Maha Navami puja
- Monday 19 October 2026 (20 October in Bengal)
- Sandhi Puja
- 19 October, 10:29–11:17 AM
- Kanya Puja
- Monday 19 October; on Ashtami or Navami, as your family does
- Navami at sunrise
- Tuesday 20 October 2026 (until 12:52 PM)
- Navami Homa
- Tuesday 20 October (Drik Panchang’s Navratri calendar)
- Navratri parana
- Tuesday 20 October, after Navami ends (12:52 PM)
- Dussehra (Vijayadashami)
- Tuesday 20 October 2026; Vijaya Dashami in Bengal on 21 October
Why are Ashtami and Navami on the same day?
This year the Saptami tithi holds at sunrise on both 17 and 18 October. Ashtami begins on 18 October at 8:29 AM, after sunrise, and lasts until 10:53 AM on 19 October, so Ashtami holds at the sunrise of 19 October; Drik Panchang gives Durga Ashtami on 19 October. Navami begins the same day at 10:53 AM. Drik Panchang’s Maha Navami page gives the rule: if Ashtami and Navami meet before the evening (sayankal) of the Ashtami day, the Ashtami puja, the Sandhi Puja and the Navami puja are all performed on that one day. On 19 October they meet in the morning, about seven hours before sunset (5:48 PM in New Delhi), so this year both pujas fall on the same day.
The Maha Navami rule: Purva-viddha and Para-viddha
According to Drik Panchang, most states other than Bengal keep Maha Navami by the Purva-viddha rule: if Navami prevails for at least three muhurtas before sunset on the previous day, the Maha Navami puja and fast are kept on that previous day. Bengal follows the Para-viddha rule: Maha Navami is the day on which Navami prevails for at least one muhurta after sunrise. So in 2026 Drik Panchang gives Maha Navami on 19 October for New Delhi, while Bengal’s Durga Puja keeps Maha Navami on 20 October and Vijaya Dashami on 21 October. By our calculation, on 19 October Navami begins about six hours or more before sunset in all 66 cities on our list, far more than three muhurtas (about two and a quarter hours), so the date is the same across India.
When to do Kanya Puja in 2026
By tradition Kanya Puja is done on Ashtami or on Navami, as one’s family does. Drik Panchang’s Kumari Puja (Kanya Puja) page also says that many people hold it on a single day, the day of the Ashtami puja or of the Navami puja, and gives Monday 19 October as the date for New Delhi in 2026. This year the Ashtami and Navami pujas both fall on 19 October, so that is the day for families of either custom. That day Ashtami lasts until 10:53 AM and Navami follows. For families who count Navami by the tithi at sunrise, the morning of 20 October is also Navami (until 12:52 PM); in that case ask your purohit or the elders of your family to decide the day.
Compared with Drik Panchang
The times on this page come from our own panchang calculation (Indian Standard Time). Drik Panchang gives the same moments about two minutes earlier: Ashtami from 8:27 AM on 18 October to 10:51 AM on 19 October, Sandhi Puja 10:27–11:15 AM, and Navami until 12:50 PM on 20 October. Differences of this size between panchangs are normal. All the dates, and sunrise and sunset in New Delhi, are the same in both.
How to perform the puja
- Step 1
Morning puja
After bathing, worship the kalash and the Devi. In the order of the nine forms, Maa Mahagauri is worshipped on Ashtami and Maa Siddhidatri on Navami; this year both fall on 19 October. Read the Durga Saptashati or your family’s text.
- Step 2
Sandhi Puja
On 19 October, 10:29–11:17 AM, as Ashtami ends and Navami begins. Light a lamp and worship the Devi as your family does; in the Bengali tradition 108 lamps and 108 lotuses are offered at this time.
- Step 3
Kanya Puja
By tradition, the girls are invited home with respect; their feet are washed, a tilak is applied, they are given a meal, and dakshina or a gift is offered before taking their blessing. Drik Panchang says girls of two to ten years are suitable for Kumari Puja.
- Step 4
Navami Homa (havan)
Drik Panchang places the Navami Homa at the end of the Navami puja, and its Navratri calendar lists it on 20 October, when Navami holds at sunrise. Keep the day of the havan as your family and purohit do.
- Step 5
Parana
Drik Panchang, following the Nirnaya Sindhu, says the Navratri parana is done when Navami is over and Dashami prevails: after 12:52 PM on 20 October. Many families break the fast right after Kanya Puja instead; follow your own custom.
Verses
सप्तमं कालरात्रीति महागौरीति चाष्टमम्॥नवमं सिद्धिदात्री च नवदुर्गाः प्रकीर्तिताः।Frequently asked questions
When is Durga Ashtami 2026?
On Monday, 19 October. The Ashtami tithi runs from 8:29 AM on 18 October to 10:53 AM on 19 October, and Ashtami holds at the sunrise of 19 October.
When is Maha Navami 2026?
In Drik Panchang’s Navratri calendar (New Delhi) the Maha Navami puja is also on Monday 19 October, because Navami begins that day at 10:53 AM. Navami holds at sunrise on 20 October (until 12:52 PM), and Bengal keeps Maha Navami on that day.
Why are Ashtami and Navami on the same day?
Saptami holds at sunrise on both 17 and 18 October, so Ashtami falls on 19 October, and it ends at 10:53 AM that morning, when Navami begins. Drik Panchang’s rule is that if Ashtami and Navami meet before the evening of the Ashtami day, the Ashtami puja, the Sandhi Puja and the Navami puja are done on the same day.
Is Durga Ashtami on the 19th or the 20th?
On Monday 19 October. At sunrise on 20 October the tithi is Navami, not Ashtami; that day has the Navratri parana and Dussehra.
When should Kanya Puja be done in 2026?
According to Drik Panchang, on Monday 19 October, because this year the Ashtami and the Navami pujas both fall on that day. By tradition some families do Kanya Puja on Ashtami and some on Navami; on 19 October Ashtami lasts until 10:53 AM and Navami follows. Families who count Navami by the sunrise tithi should ask their purohit.
What is the Sandhi Puja time?
19 October, 10:29–11:17 AM, the same in Indian Standard Time all over India: the last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami. Drik Panchang gives 10:27–11:15 AM; a minute or two of difference is normal.
When is the Navratri parana?
On Tuesday 20 October, after Navami ends (12:52 PM); this is what Drik Panchang gives, following the Nirnaya Sindhu. Many families break the fast right after Kanya Puja instead; follow your own custom.
When is Dussehra 2026?
On Tuesday 20 October; Dashami begins that day at 12:52 PM. In Bengal, Vijaya Dashami (the immersion) is on 21 October. See the Dussehra page for the Vijay muhurat in your city.
Are these times the same in every city?
Yes. Ashtami, Navami and Sandhi Puja are tithi moments, which change at the same instant all over India, so in Indian Standard Time they are the same in every city. Sunrise and sunset differ from city to city, but this year they change none of the dates.
Sources
- Drik Panchang, Durga Ashtami (Mahashtami) 2026, New Delhi: drikpanchang.com/navratri/durga-puja/mahashtami-date-time.html
- Drik Panchang, Maha Navami 2026 (the rule that both pujas are on one day when Ashtami and Navami meet before the evening): drikpanchang.com/navratri/durga-puja/maha-navami-date-time.html
- Drik Panchang, Bengal Maha Navami 2026 (the Purva-viddha and Para-viddha rules): drikpanchang.com/navratri/durga-puja/bengal/maha-navami-date-time.html
- Drik Panchang, Sandhi Puja 2026 (New Delhi and Mumbai): drikpanchang.com/navratri/shardiya-navratri-sandhipuja.html
- Drik Panchang, Kumari Puja (Kanya Puja) 2026: drikpanchang.com/navratri/durga-puja/events/kumari-puja-date-time.html
- Drik Panchang, Navratri Parana 2026 (the rule, after the Nirnaya Sindhu): drikpanchang.com/navratri/events/navratri-parana-date-time.html
- Drik Panchang, the Sharad Navratri 2026 and Durga Puja 2026 calendars and the day panchang of 18–20 October (New Delhi); all pages seen on 4 October 2026
- Devi Kavach, verses 3–5 (order of the nine forms)
- How Kanya Puja is done: folk tradition
- Tithi, Sandhi Puja and parana times: SanatanBodh panchang calculation (astronomy-engine, Lahiri ayanamsha), New Delhi; about 2 minutes from Drik Panchang
Something wrong? Report a mistake
