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Devotees all over the US are getting ready for Navratri 2025, which will be one of the most anticipated Hindu festivals of the year. They will spend nine nights praying, fasting, dancing, and being devoted. This festival, also called Shardiya Navratri or Maha Navratri, honors the nine divine forms of Goddess Durga.

Navratri has a lot of spiritual meaning. It starts on September 22, 2025, and ends on October 2, 2025, with Vijayadashami (Dussehra). Every day has a goddess, a color that stands for something, rituals, and offerings that bring devotees closer to the divine.

Navratri honours nine different forms of the goddess Durga. Every day is dedicated to a god, a color that represents that god, and special rituals. The festival mixes devotion with cultural traditions, from rules about fasting to Garba nights. It ends with Vijayadashami's victory of good over evil.


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When does Navratri 2025 start and end?

Shardiya Navratri starts on Monday, September 22, 2025, and ends on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. Vijayadashami (Dussehra) comes next on Thursday, October 2.

Chaitra Navratri will also take place earlier in the year, from March 30 to April 7, 2025. Both festivals are good, but the Sharad season's celebrations are the biggest and best in India and for Indians living abroad, as per a report by Radhakrishnatemple.net.

Shardiya Navratri calendar 2025

Each day of Navratri is dedicated to a different goddess form, and devotees make special offerings, perform rituals, and wear a color that represents that goddess. This is the full calendar for Sharad Navratri 2025:


Navratri Day 1
Sept 22 (Pratipada): Ghatasthapana, Shailputri Puja
Navratri color of the day: White

Navratri Day 2
Sept 23 (Dwitiya): Chandra Darshana, Brahmacharini Puja
Navratri color of the day: Red

Navratri Day 3
Sept 24 (Tritiya): Sindoor Tritiya, Chandraghanta Puja
Navratri color of the day: Royal Blue

Navratri Day 4
Sept 25 (Chaturthi): Kushmanda Puja, Vinayaka Chaturthi
Navratri color of the day: Yellow

Navratri Day 5
Sept 26 (Panchami): Upang Lalita Vrat, Skandamata Puja
Navratri color of the day: Green

Navratri Day 6
Sept 27 (Shashthi): Katyayani Puja
Navratri color of the day: Grey

Navratri Day 7
Sept 28 (Saptami): Kalaratri Puja
Navratri color of the day: Orange

Navratri Day 8
Sept 29 (Ashtami): Saraswati Avahan
Navratri color of the day: Peacock Green

Navratri Day 9
Sept 30 (Ashtami/Maha Navami): Saraswati Puja, Durga Ashtami, Mahagauri Puja, Sandhi Puja (8:12 AM–9:00 AM)
Navratri color of the day: Pink

Navratri Day 10
Oct 1 (Navami): Ayudha Puja, Navami Homa, Navratri Parana

Navratri Day 11
Oct 2 (Dashami): Durga Visarjan, Vijayadashami

What is the significance of each goddess?

Each day of Navratri honors a different form of Goddess Durga, each one representing a different virtue, as per a report by Radhakrishnatemple.net:

• Shailputri gives you strength and stability.
• Brahmacharini stands for dedication and discipline.
• Chandraghanta is a sign of bravery in the face of evil.
• Kushmanda radiates cosmic energy and creation.
• Skandamata shows love and care like a mother.
• Katyayani is full of the energy of a fierce warrior.
• Kalaratri gets rid of fear and negativity.
• Mahagauri assures Peace and purity.
• Siddhidatri gives people spiritual knowledge and understanding.

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Offerings and rituals for each goddess during Navratri:

Each goddess gets a special prasad that fits her personality, as per a report by Radhakrishnatemple.net.

People who worship offer:

• Desi ghee is good for Shailputri's health
• Sugar to Brahmacharini to make life sweet
• Kheer to Chandraghanta for strength
• Malpua to Kushmanda for brightness
• Bananas to Skandamata for good luck
• Honey to Katyayani for good vibes
• Jaggery to Kalaratri to get rid of bad energy
• Mahagauri's coconut for purity
• Sesame seeds to Siddhidatri to get wisdom

How do worshippers fast and pray during Navratri?

Fasting is an important part of Navratri rituals. Some people fast for all nine days, while others only fast on the first and last days, as per a report by Radhakrishnatemple.net.

You can eat these foods while fasting:

• Kuttu (buckwheat flour), singhare ka atta (water chestnut flour), and samak rice are all types of flour.
• Milk, paneer, curd, and buttermilk are all dairy products.
• Fruits, dried fruits, and some vegetables, like potatoes and pumpkins
• Use rock salt instead of regular salt.

Ghatasthapana is the most important ritual for calling Goddess Durga into your home, along with fasting. It entails planting barley seeds in a clay pot, placing a Kalash filled with holy water, and lighting an Akhand Jyot (eternal lamp). Daily aarti, morning prayers, and staying clean keep the devotion going for all nine days.

Indian communities in the US, especially in cities like New York, Chicago, and Houston, keep the spirit alive by having Garba nights, fasting traditions, and community pujas.

The last day, Vijayadashami, is when good wins over evil. Durga Visarjan happens on this day, when idols are put in water to show that the goddess is going back to her heavenly home. Devotees also pray for peace, prosperity, and protection during Ayudha Puja and Navami Homa.

Every part of the festival, from fasting to colorful dances, from home pujas to big temple ceremonies, brings people together in their devotion to Goddess Durga.

FAQs

What day is Navratri in 2025?
The Shardiya Navratri festival starts on September 22 and ends on October 2.

What do the different colors of Navratri days mean?
The color of each day is connected to the goddess that is worshipped and the planet that rules that day.