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Chaitra Navratri 2018 Date — Sunday, March 18, 2018

When is Chaitra Navratri in 2018? Chaitra Navratri 2018 falls on Sunday, March 18, 2018.

Observance: Chaitra Navratri Ghatasthapana. City calendars may vary slightly by sunrise and amanta or purnimanta tradition — confirm with your local mandir.

Chaitra Navratri 2018 calendar — nine days, Devi forms & colours

Chaitra Navratri 2018: date, day, Devi worshipped, and traditional colour
NightDate & dayDeviColour
Day 1Sun, 18 March 2018ShailputriOrange
Day 2Mon, 19 March 2018BrahmachariniWhite
Day 3Tue, 20 March 2018ChandraghantaRed
Day 4Wed, 21 March 2018KushmandaRoyal Blue
Day 5Thu, 22 March 2018SkandamataYellow
Day 6Fri, 23 March 2018KatyayaniGreen
Day 7Sat, 24 March 2018KaalratriGrey
Day 8Sun, 25 March 2018MahagauriOrange
Day 9Sun, 25 March 2018SiddhidatriOrange

Navratri colours follow the weekday each night falls on, which is why the list changes every year. Some regional lists swap the last two colours for pink and purple — follow the one your community uses. When a tithi is doubled or dropped, two nights can share a date or a night can be skipped.

Chaitra Navratri 2018 — full list of dates

Chaitra Navratri 2018 key dates and days
ObservanceDate & dayNotes
Ghatasthapana (Day 1)Sun, 18 March 2018
Durga Ashtami (Day 8)Sun, 25 March 2018
Ram Navami (Day 9)Sun, 25 March 2018Concludes Chaitra Navratri

Why we celebrate

Beginning of nine nights of Devi — installation of sacred kalash invoking Durga.

How it is celebrated

Daily Devi puja, golu/kolu display in South India, garba/dandiya in Gujarat, Durga puja in Bengal. Fasting or sattvic diet through nine days.

Puja timing

Morning and evening puja; Ghatasthapana on Day 1 during Shubh muhurta. Sandhya arati each night.

Foods & offerings

Fasting foods: sabudana, kuttu, fruits, milk. South India: sundal prasadam daily. Bengal: bhog to Ma Durga.

Rituals

  1. Ghatasthapana (Day 1): establish kalash, invoke Durga, sow barley/jowar.
  2. Daily: lamp, Devi stotram, offer flowers and naivedyam.
  3. Color-coded dress optional per day; visit temples for alankaram darshan.
  4. Kanya puja (invite young girls as Devi) on Ashtami or Navami in many homes.
  5. Ayudha puja / Saraswati puja on Mahanavami in several regions.
  6. Vijayadashami: visarjan, sindoor khela, and new beginnings.

Chaitra Navratri dates by year

When is Chaitra Navratri — 2017 to 2021
YearDate & day
2017Tue, 28 March 2017
2018Sun, 18 March 2018
2019Sat, 6 April 2019
2020Wed, 25 March 2020
2021Tue, 13 April 2021

Hindu festivals around Chaitra Navratri 2018