Navratri (Ghatasthapana) 2018: date and significance
Calculated from: Ashwina Shukla Pratipada (sunrise-prevailing)
Navratri, 'nine nights,' begins on the first day (Pratipada) of the bright fortnight, and this page follows the autumn (Sharad) Navratri that leads into Dussehra, the most widely observed of the four Navratri periods in the Hindu calendar. The nine nights honour the goddess Durga in nine forms, one each day, and the season opens with Ghatasthapana, the ceremonial installation of a sacred pot marking the start of worship. Observance varies widely by region: Gujarat is known for Garba and Dandiya Raas dance, West Bengal builds towards Durga Puja, and many households keep a nine-day fast.