Chaitra Navratri 2027: Dates, Puja and Havan Guide

As spring arrives and the Hindu New Year begins, homes and temples prepare for nine nights of devotion to the Divine Mother. Chaitra Navratri 2027 begins on Wednesday, 7 April and concludes with Ram Navami on Thursday, 15 April.

This guide gives you the day-wise calendar, how to observe Navratri at home, the Ashtami–Navami havan and Kanya Pujan, and how to have a Maa Baglamukhi Puja or Havan at Nalkheda, whether you live in India or abroad.

Chaitra Navratri 2027 Day-Wise Calendar

Published panchangs note that in 2027 there is no tithi repetition or loss in this fortnight, so the nine days fall neatly on nine dates.

Ghatasthapana on 7 April 2027

Ghatasthapana (Kalash Sthapana) is performed on the morning of 7 April within the muhurat. Different panchangs publish slightly different windows for 2027, so ask your priest or Acharya for the muhurat for your city. As a general guide, it is performed in the morning, after sunrise and before noon, avoiding Rahu Kaal.

Read more: Best Days and Muhurat for Baglamukhi Puja

The Hindu New Year Begins

Chaitra Navratri begins on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the Hindu lunar year in many traditions. It is celebrated as:

• Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra
• Ugadi in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
• Navreh in Kashmir
• Cheti Chand among Sindhi communities (around the same time)
• The start of the new Vikram Samvat year in North India

So Chaitra Navratri is doubly auspicious: a new year and nine nights of the Goddess together.

How to Observe Chaitra Navratri at Home

1. Clean and decorate your puja space before 7 April.
2. Ghatasthapana: sow barley in a clay bed, place a water-filled kalash with mango leaves and a coconut.
3. Light a diya morning and evening; keep an akhand jyoti if you can do so safely.
4. Daily puja to the form of the day, with flowers, incense, naivedya and aarti.
5. Recitation: Durga Saptashati, Durga Chalisa, or the Baglamukhi Chalisa for devotees of Maa Baglamukhi.
6. Sattvik routine: fast as your health allows; many avoid grains, onion and garlic.
7. Kanya Pujan and havan on Ashtami (14 April) or Navami (15 April).

Read more: Shri Baglamukhi Chalisa · Can Baglamukhi Puja Be Done at Home?

Ashtami, Navami and Ram Navami

• Durga Ashtami, Wednesday 14 April: worship of Maa Mahagauri; many families perform Kanya Pujan and the havan.
• Navami and Ram Navami, Thursday 15 April: worship of Maa Siddhidatri, and celebration of Lord Rama's birth at midday. Many families conclude Navratri with a havan and Kanya Pujan on this day.

Kanya Pujan: young girls, traditionally nine, are honoured as forms of the Goddess: their feet are washed, tilak applied, and they are served halwa, puri and chana, with a small gift.

Read more: Navratri Ashtami and Navami Havan

Maa Baglamukhi Puja and Havan in Chaitra Navratri

Chaitra Navratri is one of the most popular times for devotees of Maa Baglamukhi to: - Begin a Special Anushthan on Ghatasthapana and complete it with a havan on Ashtami or Navami - Offer a Maa Baglamukhi Havan with yellow offerings - Visit Maa Baglamukhi Temple, Nalkheda for darshan - Have a puja performed in their name if they cannot travel

A lovely detail in 2027: Day 2 (8 April) and Day 9 (15 April) fall on Thursdays, the day of yellow, especially loved by devotees of Maa Pitambara.

Read more: What Is a Baglamukhi Anushthan? · Baglamukhi Havan Guide · Navratri at Nalkheda

Nine Days, Nine Intentions

A simple way to make each day meaningful is to hold one quality in mind, inspired by the form of the Goddess worshipped that day:

What to Eat During the Navratri Fast

Commonly eaten during a Navratri vrat: - Fruits, milk, curd and paneer - Kuttu (buckwheat) and singhara (water chestnut) flour - Sabudana khichdi or vada - Samak (barnyard millet) rice - Potatoes, sweet potatoes and pumpkin - Sendha namak (rock salt)

Commonly avoided: regular grains, onion, garlic and non-vegetarian food. Fast only as your health allows.

Ram Navami at Home

On Thursday, 15 April, many families celebrate Lord Rama's birth at midday: - Decorate a small cradle or place an image of Bal Rama on the altar - Recite the Ram Raksha Stotra or sing "Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram" - Offer panjiri, fruits and panchamrit - Perform aarti and share prasad

Chaitra Navratri at Nalkheda

Chaitra Navratri brings devotees to Maa Baglamukhi Temple, Nalkheda for darshan, puja and havan. April in Malwa is already warm, so plan darshan early in the morning, carry water, and book your ritual in advance, especially for Ashtami and Navami.

Read more: Navratri at Nalkheda · Planning Your Nalkheda Visit

Taking Part From Abroad

A havan held at 9:00 AM IST during Chaitra Navratri 2027 falls at:

So a havan on Ashtami morning (14 April) in India can be joined by families in North America on Tuesday evening, 13 April.

1. Book a free consultation by phone or online.
2. Share sankalp details: names, gotra, city and intention.
3. The puja or havan is performed at Nalkheda in your name.
4. Join by video call or receive photos or video, where arranged.

Read more: How to Book a Puja in India from the USA, Canada or UK

Chaitra vs Sharad Navratri

Both are sacred times for the Goddess and popular for puja, havan and anushthan.

Read more: Sharad Navratri 2026 · Hindu Festival Calendar 2027

A New Year Sankalp

Because Chaitra Navratri opens the Hindu New Year, many families make a sankalp for the year ahead on Ghatasthapana. It need not be grand:

• A daily practice: ten minutes of prayer each morning
• A discipline of speech: fewer harsh words, more patience at home
• A family habit: a Thursday evening diya and chalisa together
• An act of service: regular daan, however small
• A pilgrimage: a visit to Nalkheda during the year

Write it down, place it on the altar during Navratri, and read it again on Ram Navami.

Keeping the Akhand Jyoti Safely

• Use a tall, stable brass lamp with a glass cover if possible.
• Place it away from curtains, paper decorations and children's reach.
• Top up ghee or oil morning and evening, and trim the wick carefully.
• In apartments abroad, check smoke-alarm and building rules; an electric or LED lamp beside a diya lit during prayer times is a sensible alternative.

Your Chaitra Navratri 2027 Checklist

Before 7 April: - Clean the puja space; buy kalash, coconut, mango leaves, barley and clay - Stock sattvik and vrat foods - Book your puja, havan or anushthan (especially for 14–15 April)

During Navratri: - Daily puja and recitation at a fixed time - Gentle speech and a calm home

On 14–15 April: - Kanya Pujan and havan - Ram Navami celebration at midday on 15 April

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using last year's dates. Navratri moves every year.
2. Booking the Ashtami–Navami havan late. These days fill first.
3. Confusing Indian and local time when joining from abroad.
4. Fasting beyond your health.
5. An unattended akhand jyoti. Keep it stable and away from curtains.
6. Starting mantra sadhana without guidance.

About Acharya Ashish Sharma

Acharya Ashish Sharma has served in the tradition of Maa Baglamukhi for more than 25 years. He is Sanskrit-trained and connected with this tradition since birth, and his office is near Maa Baglamukhi Temple, Nalkheda. He performs traditional Maa Baglamukhi Puja, Havan and Special Anushthan, and offers personal spiritual guidance according to each devotee's situation, for families in India and around the world.