Chaitra Navratri 2027 begins on Wednesday, April 7, on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, and runs to Ram Navami on the ninth day.

What the day marks

Nine days of Durga worship begin on this day. Unlike Sharad Navratri in October, which gets the bigger cultural spotlight, Chaitra Navratri holds a special significance because it coincides with the start of the Vikram Samvat new year. This is the Hindu new year in the Purnimant calendar system, and it’s celebrated across India under different names: Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Navreh in Kashmir, and Cheti Chand in the Sindhi community.

For many families, this isn’t just a religious observance. It’s a practical new-year reset. New account books are opened, homes are cleaned and decorated with rangoli, and neem-based preparations (like Ugadi Pachadi in the south) are eaten to symbolize the mix of sweet and bitter experiences the year will bring.

When Ghatasthapana is done

Ghatasthapana, the ritual establishment of the sacred pot, is considered especially auspicious during Abhijit Muhurat in the morning, while Pratipada tithi is prevailing. Abhijit Muhurat typically falls around midday, roughly between 11:45 AM and 12:30 PM in most Indian cities, but the exact window depends on your location’s sunrise and sunset.

The ritual itself involves placing a copper or clay pot filled with water on a bed of soil (usually barley seeds), topping it with mango leaves, a coconut, and a red cloth. The barley sprouts over the nine days, and how well they grow is traditionally read as an indicator of the coming season’s prosperity.

One important rule: Ghatasthapana should be avoided during Chitra nakshatra’s inauspicious portion and during Rahu Kaal. If Abhijit Muhurat and Rahu Kaal overlap on this day in your city, use the broader Pratipada morning window instead, but check the panchang page to confirm the tithi hasn’t ended.

The nine days and Ram Navami

Each day of Chaitra Navratri is associated with one of the nine forms of Durga, following the same sequence as Sharad Navratri: Shailputri on the first day, Brahmacharini on the second, and so on through Siddhidatri on the ninth. Many devotees observe a nine-day fast, breaking it only on Navami or Dashami.

Ram Navami, the celebration of Lord Ram’s birth, falls on the last day. In many households, the Navratri puja and Ram Navami celebrations overlap, with a special Sundarkand path or Ram Charitmanas recitation held on the final day. If you’ve been fasting for all nine days, the Ram Navami feast is a welcome conclusion.

For NRI families

If you’re outside India, Chaitra Navratri can feel like a quieter affair compared to the October Navratri, which has more organized community events in diaspora cities. But the Ghatasthapana ritual works perfectly at home. All you need is a small pot, some soil, barley seeds (available at Indian grocery stores or online), and a quiet corner. Starting the pot on the right muhurat and watching the barley sprout over nine days is a simple, grounding practice, especially if you have kids you want to connect with the tradition.

Check the timing for your city

Check the muhurat page with your city selected for that day’s Abhijit Muhurat and Rahu Kaal.