The nine sacred days of Sharad Navratri are dedicated to the worship of various manifestations of Goddess Durga. The eighth day of this festival is celebrated as Mahashtami, during which devotees worship Mahagauri, the eighth form of the divine mother. According to religious traditions, anyone who worships Mahagauri with a pure heart is relieved of all sorrows, bringing auspiciousness and prosperity into their lives. Furthermore, sincere devotion on this day strengthens the planet Venus in one's astrological chart. The goddess is named Mahagauri because of her exceptionally fair and radiant complexion. However, during Sharad Navratri 2026, a certain amount of confusion has persisted among devotees regarding whether Kanya Pujan should be performed on October 18 or October 19.
Navratri holds immense spiritual and religious significance in Hindu culture. Throughout these nine days, distinct forms of Goddess Durga are revered through daily rituals. It is believed that observing fasts and praying to the goddess with complete dedication invokes her divine blessings, filling the household with abundance, peace, and harmony. Specifically, on the occasions of Mahashtami and Mahanavami during Sharad Navratri, the tradition of Kanya Pujan is observed, which is also popularly known as Kanjak Pujan. During this ritual, young girls are venerated as living embodiments of Goddess Durga herself.
According to Pandit Shipra Sachdev, in certain regions, the fast is observed on Saptami while the Kanya Pujan takes place on Ashtami. This time, Mahasptami overlaps across both October 17 and October 18. Saptami tithi prevails throughout the entirety of October 17, whereas Mahashtami commences on October 18 at 11:36 AM. Devotees who wish to do so can keep the fast on October 17 and perform Kanya Pujan on October 18 after 11:36 AM. Alternatively, worshippers can maintain their fast for the entire day of October 18 and conduct the Kanya Pujan on October 19.
Pandit Shipra Sachdev further explained that Navami tithi will begin on Monday, October 19, at 7:36 AM. On this particular day, devotees have the option to perform Kanya Pujan for both Ashtami and Navami. Based on Udaya Tithi calculations, Ashtami and Navami will be observed on October 19 this year. Since the planet Venus is currently in a combust state, gifting young girls items related to marital auspiciousness and personal care, such as hair bands, hair claws, and perfumes, will help in attaining wealth and prosperity. The combustion of Venus can potentially cause financial setbacks, making it imperative to offer fashion and lifestyle related gifts to the young girls during the ritual.
The ritual of Kanya Puja holds profound religious value during the Navratri festival. It is widely believed that young girls embody the nine divine forms of Goddess Durga. Therefore, on the sacred days of Ashtami and Navami, devotees wash the feet of these young girls, apply a sacred tilak on their foreheads, serve them a traditional meal, and present them with monetary offerings along with gifts. It is believed that this act pleases Goddess Durga immensely, bestowing her devotees with prosperity, happiness, and wellbeing.
6 Essential Rules to Keep in Mind During Kanya Puja
To ensure the religious rituals are performed successfully and to earn the complete blessings of the goddess, it is vital to observe certain important guidelines during Kanya Puja
- Age Group: Generally, young girls between the ages of 2 and 10 years should be invited to participate in the Kanya Puja ritual.
- Warm Reception: Welcome the invited girls into your home with utmost respect, gently wash their feet, and apply a tilak on their foreheads.
- Traditional Prasad: Preparing a sacred meal featuring halwa, puri, and black gram (kala chana) as prasad is considered highly auspicious.
- Respectful Serving: Serve the food to the young girls with genuine love, affection, and complete dignity.
- Offerings and Gifts: Present monetary offerings (dakshina) and gifts to the girls according to your personal capacity and devotion.
- Equal Treatment: Avoid any form of partiality or discrimination among the children during the ritual, paying close attention to their comfort and preferences.
