Date: Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Occasion: Pausha Navratri Begins & Makar Sankranti Eve
Significance: Goddess Durga worship and pre-harvest rituals of gratitude
🪔 About Pausha Navratri 2026
Pausha Navratri marks the beginning of the nine-day worship of Maa Durga and her nine divine forms during the Pausha month (December–January). Unlike Chaitra and Sharad Navratri, which are more popular, Pausha Navratri is observed mainly by devotees seeking inner peace, spiritual cleansing, and divine protection.
During this Navratri, sadhaks perform Durga Saptashati Path, offer bhog (sacred food) daily to the goddess, and observe fasts to purify their mind and body.
🌾 Makar Sankranti Eve – Kichadi Preparation Day
The day before Makar Sankranti is celebrated in many parts of India as a pre-harvest gratitude day, where devotees prepare Kichadi (a mix of rice and lentils) — a symbolic offering representing balance, unity, and nourishment.
In states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, this day is considered auspicious for cleaning homes, decorating with rangoli, buying new utensils, and preparing for the holy dip (snan) in rivers the next morning.
🌺 Rituals and Observances
- Durga Puja Sthapana (Kalash Sthapana): Devotees set up a Kalash filled with water, mango leaves, and coconut as a symbol of divine presence.
- Daily Worship: Offer flowers, ghee lamps, and recite Durga Chalisa or Devi Mahatmya.
- Fasting: Many devotees observe partial fasts or consume only fruits and milk during these nine days.
- Kichadi Preparation: The evening before Sankranti is devoted to preparing til (sesame), jaggery, and kichadi, which are offered the next morning to Surya Dev (Sun God).
- Charity (Daan): Donations of sesame, blankets, and food to the poor are considered extremely auspicious.
🕉️ Spiritual Significance
Pausha Navratri is a time of meditation, introspection, and inner rejuvenation. Each day focuses on invoking a different form of the Divine Mother, symbolizing courage, wisdom, and transformation.
The Makar Sankranti Eve holds symbolic importance — it marks the transition of the Sun towards the north (Uttarayan), which spiritually represents light overcoming darkness and knowledge defeating ignorance.
❓ FAQs on Pausha Navratri & Makar Sankranti Eve 2026
Q1. When does Pausha Navratri begin in 2026?
A1. Pausha Navratri begins on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, and continues for nine days.
Q2. What is special about Makar Sankranti Eve?
A2. It is a day of cleansing, preparation, and offering gratitude before Makar Sankranti. People prepare Kichadi and til-jaggery sweets for the Sun God.
Q3. Is fasting mandatory during Pausha Navratri?
A3. No, it is optional. Devotees can choose to observe full or partial fasts depending on their capacity and devotion.
Q4. What foods are offered during Kichadi preparation day?
A4. Rice, moong dal, sesame seeds, and jaggery are cooked and offered to Surya Dev on the next morning.
Panchang Official