Chaitra Navratri 2026: Festival Dates, Rituals, and Mata Ki Sawari Traditions

Chaitra Navratri 2026, beginning on March 19, marks the Hindu New Year and a nine-day festival dedicated to Goddess Durga. Devotees observe rituals including Mata Ki Sawari, where the Goddess symbolically arrives on a Palaki and departs on an Elephant, each vehicle carrying traditional symbolic meanings. The festival includes worship of Durga's nine forms, with special rituals like Kanya Pujan on Ashtami and Navami. The timing and observances follow Hindu calendar guidelines and sacred texts.