Chaitra Navratri The Spring Nine Nights
The spring Navratri in the month of Chaitra - nine days of Durga worship, each dedicated to one of the Navadurga and to a colour to wear. It opens on the Hindu New Year (Gudi Padwa / Ugadi) with Ghatasthapana and closes on Ram Navami. Below: the nine days for this year, computed for your city.
Chaitra Navratri Wed, 7 Apr - Thu, 15 Apr 2027·Mumbai, Maharashtra
What is Chaitra Navratri?
Chaitra Navratri - also called Vasanta Navratri, the spring Navratri - is the worship of the Goddess across nine days and nights in the lunar month of Chaitra (March-April), each dedicated to one of the nine forms of Durga, the Navadurga. It begins on Gudi Padwa / Ugadi, the Hindu lunar New Year, with the installation of the sacred pot (Ghatasthapana), and rises through the nine nights to close on the ninth day, Ram Navami - the birth of Lord Rama at midday. It is the second of the two widely-kept Navratris; the greater autumn one is Sharad Navratri.
Ghatasthapana - opening the nine nights
Ghatasthapana (Kalash Sthapana) is the rite that opens Chaitra Navratri on Day 1 (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada) - the very morning of the Hindu New Year. A consecrated pot (kalash) is installed on a bed of soil in which barley seeds are sown; the Goddess is invoked into it for all nine nights, and the barley that greens through the festival is treated as a living blessing. It is performed in an auspicious morning window - the Day 1 (Shailaputri) page shows the Ghatasthapana muhurat computed for your city.
The nine days, the Navadurga & the colours
Each day of Chaitra Navratri honours one of the nine Navadurga in worship order, and carries a colour to wear. The colour follows the weekday that day falls on, so it changes a little each year. Tap any day for its story, mantra, bhog and the day’s muhurats - all computed for your city.
Ram Navami - the ninth day
The ninth day of Chaitra Navratri is Ram Navami, the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, born at noon on Chaitra Shukla Navami. The Madhyahna (midday) window is the day’s central muhurat, when the birth (Ram Janma) is enacted with the rocking of a cradle. For many households the nine-day fast is completed after this midday worship. It is the joyful culmination toward which the whole of Chaitra Navratri moves.
The Chaitra Navratri fast (vrat)
Many observe a fast through the nine days, ranging from a full nirjala (waterless) fast to a daily satvik meal. Grains, rice, lentils, onion, garlic, meat and alcohol are set aside; devotees eat phalahar (fruit) and vrat foods made from kuttu (buckwheat), singhara (water-chestnut) flour, samak rice and sendha namak (rock salt). Hair and nails are traditionally left uncut through the vrat, an Akhand Jyoti (unbroken lamp) is kept burning, and the Durga Saptashati is read. The fast is broken after the Ram Janma worship on Ram Navami.
The four Navratris of the year
The Goddess is honoured in four Navratris across the lunar year - two widely celebrated and two quieter “Gupt” (secret) ones. Chaitra Navratri opens the year in spring; the great Sharad Navratri comes in autumn and closes into Dussehra; and the two Gupt Navratris fall in Ashadha (monsoon) and Magha (winter). See the Navratri overview for all four with their dates.
Frequently asked questions
What is Chaitra Navratri?
Chaitra Navratri (also Vasanta Navratri) is the spring Navratri - nine days and nights of worship of the Goddess (Durga / Shakti) in the lunar month of Chaitra (March-April), each dedicated to one of her nine forms, the Navadurga. It opens on the Hindu lunar New Year (Gudi Padwa / Ugadi) and closes on Ram Navami, the birth of Lord Rama.
How is Chaitra Navratri different from Sharad Navratri?
They honour the same nine Navadurga in the same order, but fall in different seasons and close on different days. Chaitra Navratri is in spring (Chaitra, Mar-Apr) and ends on Ram Navami; the greater Sharad Navratri is in autumn (Ashwin, Sep-Oct) and ends on Vijayadashami (Dussehra).
When is Chaitra Navratri this year in Mumbai, Maharashtra?
Chaitra Navratri runs Wed, 7 Apr - Thu, 15 Apr 2027 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, opening with Gudi Padwa / Ugadi and closing on Ram Navami on the ninth day.
What are the nine colours of Chaitra Navratri?
Each day has a colour to wear, and the colour follows the weekday that day falls on, so it shifts a little each year. The nine cards above show this year's colour for every day, computed for your location.
What is Ghatasthapana?
Ghatasthapana (Kalash Sthapana) is the opening rite of Navratri, performed on Day 1: a consecrated pot is installed and barley seeds are sown, invoking the Goddess for all nine nights. In Chaitra Navratri it falls on the New Year morning; the muhurat is shown on the Day 1 page for your city.
Is Ram Navami part of Chaitra Navratri?
Yes - Ram Navami falls on the ninth day (Chaitra Shukla Navami) and is the culmination of Chaitra Navratri. Lord Rama's birth (Ram Janma) is celebrated at midday, and the nine-day fast is broken after that worship.
Last updated 28 July 2026