Sharad Navratri & Ghatasthapana · Madhya Pradesh, India
All times are Ratlam local time (IST).
Sharad Navratri is the nine-night worship of Goddess Durga in her nine forms, from Shailaputri to Siddhidatri, ending with Vijayadashami. It opens with Ghatasthapana — installing the sacred kalash that invokes the Goddess for the nine days — and the time of that installation is the one moment of Navratri an almanac fixes to the minute.
Navratri begins on the day Pratipada holds at sunrise; Ghatasthapana is done in the first third of that day, ideally while a dual sign (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces) is rising, or else in Abhijit muhurat.
Each night is dedicated to one form of Durga: Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. Devotees keep a fast, light the akhand jyoti, recite the Durga Saptashati and, on Ashtami or Navami, worship young girls as the Goddess (kanya pujan).
The kalash is installed on Pratipada, in the first third of the day after sunrise. Within that span, tradition prefers a dual (dvi-swabhava) sign on the ascendant, and the midday Abhijit muhurat is the accepted alternative. Because sunrise and the rising sign depend on where you are, the window differs from city to city — which is why this page is computed for your city.
Navratri begins on Sunday, 11 October 2026 in Ratlam, with Ghatasthapana in the morning.
In the first third of the day on Pratipada, preferably while a dual sign is rising; the timings for Ratlam are listed on this page.