World · India Bureau
Autumn Navratri begins October 11; auspicious timing for Ghatasthapana revealed
The nine-day festival of Sharadiya Navratri will commence on October 11, with the auspicious window for pot installation occurring in the early morning hours. According to lunar calculations, the ritual timing has been precisely determined for devotees across the region.
LSN India ·
The autumn Navratri festival will begin on October 11, marking the start of nine days of worship dedicated to the divine feminine. The auspicious tithi, or lunar day, of Ashwin Shukla Pratipada will commence on the night of October 10 at 9:19 PM and extend until 9:30 PM on October 11, according to the Hindu lunar calendar.
Following the Udaya tithi convention—which determines the validity of observances based on the lunar day at sunrise—October 11 will be observed as the official first day of Navratri. Devotees planning to perform Ghatasthapana, the ritual installation of the sacred pot that marks the festival's beginning, should note the specific timing window prescribed for this ceremony.
The auspicious period for conducting Ghatasthapana extends from 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM on October 11, providing a four-hour window for households and temples to perform the ritual. This timing is considered particularly propitious for initiating the festive season and is based on astronomical and astrological calculations.