Chaitra Navaratri March 19 – 27, 2026

Introduction: The Meaning of Chaitra Navaratri

9 Forms of Goddess Durga

Chaitra Navaratri, also called Vasanta Navaratri, is the spring celebration of the Divine Feminine. It begins on the first day of the Hindu Lunar New Year and marks a period of renewal, intention, and creative emergence. The Hindu Lunar New Year begins on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, which is the New Moon that occurs while the Sun is in Pisces. Because the positions of the Sun and Moon are astronomical, the New Year falls on the same lunar day everywhere in the world, even though local sunrise times differ. In simple terms: when the Sun is in Pisces and the Moon becomes new, the Hindu New Year is celebrated.

While the more widely known Sharada (autumn) Navaratri emphasizes purification and descent into inner stillness, the spring cycle expresses the opposite movement: ascent, blossoming, and new beginnings.

Across nine days, we honor the Navadurga, the nine forms of Goddess Durga, each representing a distinct phase of spiritual, psychological, and seasonal transformation. These nine days mirror the natural rhythm of spring: grounding, disciplined growth, expansion, protection, shadow‑clearing, purification, and finally, integration.

Some Suggestions for Planning Your Practice.

Goal: Aim to chant one to five malas (one mala being 108 mantras) of one of the Durga Mantras for 9 nights.

Start and End Dates:  Chaitra Navaratri begins on the Pratipada Tithi (first lunar day) of the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) when the Sun is in Pisces. We will start on Thursday March 19, 2026 and continue until Friday March 27, 2026. This occurs over 9 lunar days.

Day	Gregorian Date (2026)	Lunar Tithi	Devi Form (Navadurga)	Core Shakti Theme
1	March 19	Pratipada	Shailaputri	Grounding, embodiment, beginnings
2	March 20	Dwitiya	Brahmacharini	Tapas, discipline, inward focus
3	March 21	Tritiya	Chandraghanta	Courage, emotional clarity
4	March 22	Chaturthi	Kushmanda	Creative expansion, prana, radiance
5	March 23	Panchami	Skandamata	Protection, nurturing, devotion
6	March 24	Shashthi	Katyayani	Resolve, boundaries, righteous action
7	March 25	Saptami	Kalaratri	Shadow work, dissolution, fierce compassion
8	March 26	Ashtami	Mahagauri	Purification, grace, renewal
9	March 27	Navami	Siddhidatri	Integration, siddhi, completion

How to count your mantras: You can use a Rudraksha or other mala if you have one and know how to use it. It takes your mind off counting how many times you have chanted. You may also consider keeping a simple journal to track your daily progress. This way you can ensure that you don’t miss a day.

Duration of program: 9 lunar days is the standard Navaratri Japa duration. The purpose of this program is to support people at all levels of practicing Mantra Japa, so please go at your own pace.

When to chant: It is advised to chant Navaratri mantras in the evening. Please note the Vedic day starts at sunrise each morning and lasts until the next sunrise the following day. It is not started at midnight local time. If you feel that it is easier for you to chant in the morning, so you won’t forget or be too tired to do it in the evening, please do so. Chanting at the same location around the same time of the day is recommended but if that is not convenient, it is okay to do it when/where you like.

Define Your Practice:

• Prepare your meditation space: Find a quiet comfortable area where you will not be disturbed. If you like you can light a diya or white candle and burn incense if you like. Some people choose to ring a bell to harmonize the energy in the area.

• Asana: You can choose to sit on a cushion or in a chair, in either case, you should be sure that you are comfortable and there is a slight curve at the base of your spine to allow your chest and shoulders to be open and relaxed. Take your seat and breathe for a moment to settle into the moment.

• When you are focused, you may want to start with three Mantras to Ganesha so that he will remove all obstacles for your practice. Om Gam Ganapataye Namah x3.

• Then you can complete your Durga Mantras. See Mantra Options below.

• As you end your Mantras, take a moment to be still and receive the practice. Then you can close by chanting:

  • MANTHRA HEENAM,  KRIYAA HEENEM, BAKTHI HEENAM,

  • YA MATH POOJITHAM, 

  • (MAYA DEVI, SURESWARI, or GANAPATHI)  PARI POORNAM THADASTHU ME

  • Meaning: Oh Devi, Sureswari, or (Ganapathi) kindly rectify and complete properly any errors or deficiency in my pronunciation, or in my devotion or in my performance of the pooja ritual.

• Chant OM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.

Durga Saptashati Paath

Pandit Yogesh will be reciting the Durga Saptashati for our group during Navaratri.When he performs this sacred recitation on our behalf, it invokes the blessings of Mother Durga. She removes all negativity from our lives, protects us from fear, planetary imbalances (Navagraha doshas), illness, enemies, and legal troubles. She also grants us prosperity, comfort, happiness, and peace.

On the first day of Navratri, Panditji will send a brief video and photo of the puja. Then, he will take a sankalp (resolution) on behalf of the group.

He will recite the entire 13 chapters of Durga Saptashati, including Argala, Keelak, and Kavach, daily, dedicating it to the 9 forms of Mother for everyone's well-being. On the final day, he will perform a Havan Yajna for the fulfillment of the puja. He will be sharing brief photos or videos of these activities and show us the idols of Mother Kali and Durga daily.

Donation (optional and highly recommended): We have established a GoFundMe site to thank Panditji as he guides us this year. You can donate at https://gofund.me/cf43e2e6f . All proceeds will be sent to Pandit Yogesh.

Please note that you can adjust the GoFundMe Tip amount at the top of the last screen by moving the green slider to the left or right. This Tip goes to support the GoFundMe platform which is free for fundraisers like our group to use. The tip money does not go to the fundraiser (our group).

WhatsApp Group: Bill Sinclair (Ramdas) and Keiko Ito will co-moderate a WhatsApp Group to support the group during the program. If you are interested in joining, please email Bill at Ramdasbill@outlook.com and he will send you the links to join the groups.

This program has 2 WhatsApp groups. The first is the Silent group where the Moderators post the daily reflection and the Second is the Interactive group which allows participants to chat with each other about the practice and share support with each other.

Mantra Options

Choose one of those mantras below or any Durga mantra you know and continue chanting the same mantra for 9 nights.

1. Durga Beej Mantra

Sanskrit: ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः

Transliteration: Om Dum Durgāyai Namaha

Translation: “I bow to Goddess Durga, the remover of misfortunes and embodiment of strength.”

Use: A concise invocation for protection and inner power. “Dum” is the seed syllable representing Durga’s fiery energy.

2. Durga Stuti Mantra

Sanskrit:  ॐ सर्वमङ्गलमङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके।शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तुते॥

Transliteration: Om Sarva-Mangala-Maangalye Shive Sarvārtha-Sādhike, Sharanye Tryambake Gauri Nārāyani Namostute

Translation: “O auspicious one, fulfiller of all desires, three-eyed Gauri, consort of Narayana—I bow to you.”

Use: This mantra is an invocation to Gauri, an auspicious form of Goddess Durga who grants refuge.

3. The Om Jayanti Mangala Kali Mantra

Sanskrit:

ॐ जयन्ती मङ्गला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनी ।

दुर्गा क्षमा शिवा धात्री स्वाहा स्वधा नमोऽस्तुते ॥

Transliteration: Om Jayanti Mangala Kali - Bhadrakali Kapalini - Durga Kshama Shiva Dhatri - Svaha Svadha Namostute

Translation:  This mantra praises the Goddess through eleven divine names, each representing a unique facet of her power:

• Jayanti – The ever-victorious one

• Mangala – The auspicious one

• Kali – The remover of darkness and time

• Bhadrakali – Fierce protector and destroyer of evil

• Kapalini – Bearer of skulls, symbolizing ego destruction

• Durga – The invincible and compassionate mother

• Kshama – Embodiment of forgiveness

• Shiva – Auspicious and benevolent

• Dhatri – Supporter of the universe

• Svaha – Receiver of ritual offerings

• Svadha – Receiver of ancestral offerings

The closing “Namostute” means “I bow to you.”

Use: This mantra invokes protection, courage, and spiritual strength, this practice helps overcome obstacles, fear, and negativity. It aligns the devotee with the cosmic feminine energy, bringing peace, clarity, and inner transformation. By chanting it 3, 21, or 108 times using a japamala, and ideally while visualizing the form of Goddess Kali or Durga, one can experience profound spiritual benefits.