Key Highlights
- Shardiya Navratri commences on 22 September 2025 with Ghatasthapana and ends on 2 October 2025 with Vijayadashami.
- Durga Puja, the most celebrated phase, spans from 28 September to 2 October, lasting five days.
- Each of the nine days is dedicated to a distinct form of Goddess Durga, accompanied by a specific color and symbolic meaning.
- Ghatasthapana is performed during the auspicious morning and midday muhurats to invite divine blessings.
- In eastern India, the festival is synonymous with Durga Puja, featuring elaborate pandals, cultural performances, and processions.
Detailed Insights
Shardiya Navratri, one of the two principal Navratri celebrations, is observed with fervor across Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, and West Bengal. The nine‑day festival begins on 22 September 2025, marked by the installation of a sacred pot (Kalash) during the morning muhurat of 06:09–08:06 AM and again in the afternoon muhurat of 11:49–12:38 PM. This ritual, known as Ghatasthapana, is believed to usher in peace, prosperity, and positive energy into homes.
From 28 September to 2 October, Durga Puja unfolds, culminating in the immersion of the goddess’s idol on Vijayadashami. Each day of Navratri is associated with a specific avatar of Maa Durga—Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri—alongside a color that embodies the essence of that form. For instance, white on the first day symbolizes purity, while pink on the ninth day reflects love and harmony.
Devotees observe fasting, recite Durga Saptashati, and perform various rituals to honor the nine manifestations of the goddess. In West Bengal and neighboring states, the festival transforms into a grand cultural spectacle, featuring ornate pandals, music, dance, and processional parades that celebrate both spiritual devotion and artistic expression.