Navratri — "nine nights" — is the longest and most devotionally charged festival of the Hindu calendar. For Bangalore families, it's a beautifully diverse celebration combining South Indian Kolu/Golu displays, North Indian Durga Puja, Gujarati Garba, and Bengali traditions.
Navratri 2026 Dates
Sharad Navratri 2026 runs from September 20 to September 28, with Vijayadashami (Dussehra) on September 29.
Check our complete 2026 muhurat calendar for exact daily timings.
The 9 Days of Durga
- Day 1 · Pratipada — Shailaputri (mountain daughter) · Ghatasthapana (kalash installation)
- Day 2 · Dwitiya — Brahmacharini (ascetic) · austerity and devotion
- Day 3 · Tritiya — Chandraghanta (moon-bell) · courage
- Day 4 · Chaturthi — Kushmanda (cosmic egg) · universal creativity
- Day 5 · Panchami — Skandamata (mother of Skanda) · motherhood
- Day 6 · Shashti — Katyayani (warrior goddess) · victory over evil
- Day 7 · Saptami — Kalaratri (dark night) · destruction of ignorance
- Day 8 · Ashtami (Durga Ashtami) — Mahagauri · Kanya Pujan, Sandhi Puja
- Day 9 · Navami — Siddhidatri (giver of siddhis) · spiritual completion
- Day 10 · Vijayadashami — Victory day · Ayudha Puja, Saraswati immersion
Ghatasthapana — Opening Ritual (Day 1)
The Navratri Puja begins with Ghatasthapana (Kalash Sthapana) in the puja room. A copper or brass kalash filled with water is placed on a bed of grain, with mango leaves and a coconut on top. The Devi is invoked into the kalash.
Our Navratri Durga Puja service handles the full setup.
Setting Up a Kolu (South Indian) or Mata Ki Chowki (North Indian)
South Indian families set up an odd-numbered tier of steps (5, 7, 9, 11) displaying dolls of deities and mythological scenes. North Indian families set up a Mata ki Chowki with Durga's image, lamps, and offerings. Both serve the same devotional function — inviting the Devi into the home for 9 nights.
Ashtami Sandhi Puja & Kanya Pujan
The most spiritually charged 48 minutes of Navratri — the junction between Ashtami and Navami. Our pandits time this precisely and perform the Sandhi Puja. Kanya Pujan (feeding 9 young girls representing the 9 forms of Durga) typically follows.
Samagri for 9-Day Navratri
Comprehensive samagri: Durga idol or framed image, 9 color cloths (one per day), silver kalash, coconut, mango leaves, barley seeds (to germinate over 9 days), flowers (red preferred), rice, turmeric, kumkum, sandal, sindoor, dhoop, camphor, ghee, sweets, 9 varieties of offering grains.
For the full list, see complete puja samagri checklist.
What Does Home Navratri Puja Cost?
Depends on scale. A simple daily aarti + main pandit-led puja on Ashtami/Navami starts from ₹8,999. Full 9-day pandit presence with daily rituals runs ₹24,999–₹39,999 depending on duration.
See our complete puja pricing page.
Book Your Navratri Pandit (Early!)
Navratri dates book out 6–8 weeks in advance. By August, most Ashtami and Navami slots are gone. WhatsApp +91 6364375041 by early August at the latest. Read Gopuja reviews from Bangalore families who've celebrated Navratri with us.
Next steps for your puja in Bangalore
Browse our full catalogue of 28 Vedic puja services in Bangalore, see transparent pandit charges and puja pricing, or pick an auspicious date from our 2026 Hindu muhurat calendar for Bangalore. Want to find a pandit near you? See every Bangalore locality we serve — from HSR Layout to Whitefield to Yelahanka. Read 18+ verified reviews from Bangalore families or learn about Pandit Manjunath Bhat — our founder's Vedic credentials.