New Delhi: In Hinduism, the special festival of Shardiya Navratri is a very important time to worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga and ask for her blessings. People believe that worshipping the Goddess with a sincere heart brings courage, mental power, and good energy. This festival is also thought to bring happiness and peace into life.
To get the full benefit of the nine-day fast and invite good things into your life, it is important to end the fast according to the right rituals and good timings.
Let’s find out when and how to end the Shardiya Navratri fast.
When Should You End the Shardiya Navratri Fast?
According to the Vedic calendar, Maha Ashtami will be on October 19, and Maha Navami will be on October 20 this year.
The way to end the Navratri fast may vary depending on family traditions and religious beliefs.
Those who do Kanya Pujan on Maha Ashtami can end their fast after completing the ritual.
On the other hand, those who do Kanya Pujan on Maha Navami should end their fast after the Navami observance is over, following the proper rituals.
Maha Ashtami 2026
– Ashtami Vrat Paran: Monday, October 19
– Ashtami Tithi Starts: October 18 at 8:27 AM
– Ashtami Tithi Ends: October 19 at 10:51 AM
Maha Navami 2026
– Navratri Vrat Paran: Tuesday, October 20
– Navami Tithi Starts: October 19 at 10:51 AM
– Navami Tithi Ends: October 20 at 12:50 PM
Shardiya Navratri Vrat Paran Vidhi: How to End the Fast
Here’s how to end the Shardiya Navratri fast on Ashtami or Navami:
1. Wake up early on the day you end the fast, take a bath, and wear clean clothes.
2. Clean the home temple and light a lamp.
3. Worship Goddess Durga using the proper rituals, offering incense, a lamp, akshat (unbroken rice grains), roli (red sacred powder), and flowers.
4. Light a lamp with pure desi ghee and perform the aarti.
5. Read the Durga Chalisa and chant the Goddess’s sacred seed mantras.
6. Offer a sattvik meal like halwa, puri, and black chickpeas to Goddess Durga.
7. Perform Kanya Pujan and give food to young girls.
8. After the meal, give gifts and dakshina to the girls, touch their feet, and ask for their blessings.
9. Eat the prasad and charanamrit that was offered at the feet of the Goddess.
10. Finish the fast by having a sattvik meal.
