Gupt Navratri 2026: Gupt Navratri is starting from today, these 9 days are most special for the seekers.

New Delhi: Gupt Navratri of Ashadh month is going to start from 15th July. This nine-day long holy festival will conclude with Durga Navami on 23rd July. Gupt Navratri is considered to have special significance in Hindu religion. While nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped in Chaitra and Shardiya Navratri, in Gupt Navratri there is a special tradition of worshiping ten Mahavidyas of the Goddess. This festival is considered especially important for spiritual practice and spiritual progress.

According to Hindu calendar, Gupt Navratri of Ashadha month will start from 15th July and continue till 23rd July. These nine days are considered extremely auspicious for goddess worship, mantra chanting, meditation and special sadhana. According to religious beliefs, Gupt Navratri is also mentioned in tantric texts like Meru Tantra and Damar Tantra. Sadhana done during these days is considered especially fruitful.

Why is Gupt Navratri considered special?

Gupt Navratri is somewhat different from normal Navratri. While in Chaitra and Shardiya Navratri, installation of Kalash in every house, fasting and worship of nine forms of Maa Durga is done, Gupt Navratri is mainly known for deep meditation and worship of Mahavidyas of the Goddess. This festival is considered especially important for Tantric practitioners. However, householders can also perform puja, havan, chanting mantras and religious rituals of Maa Durga with full devotion and rules. It is believed that worship done with true devotion brings spiritual peace and blessings of the Goddess.

Ten Mahavidyas are worshiped during Gupt Navratri.

During Gupt Navratri, ten Mahavidya forms of the Goddess are worshipped. According to religious traditions, all these forms represent different forms of power and their worship is done in a special way.
The names of ten Mahavidyas are as follows-

Maa Kali
mother star
Maa Shodashi (Tripur Sundari)
Mother Bhuvaneshwari
Maa Bhairavi
mother chinnamasta
Mother Dhumavati
Maa Baglamukhi
Maa Matangi
Mother Kamla

According to religious beliefs, the practice of these Mahavidyas is done according to special rules and methods. Therefore such sadhanas are usually done by experienced seekers only.

Which form should the common devotee worship?

According to religious experts, it is considered auspicious for ordinary devotees to worship the traditional forms of Goddess Durga even during Gupt Navratri. Devotees can worship Goddess Durga, chant mantras and recite Durga Saptashati for the entire nine days. The forms of Mother Goddess that are worshiped these days include Mother Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. Devotees can also observe fast as per their devotion and capacity.

Special religious events will be held in temples

During Gupt Navratri, special pujas, havans, Durga recitation and religious rituals are organized in goddess temples across the country. These days, a large number of devotees visit temples to have darshan of Goddess Bhagwati and wish for happiness, prosperity and well-being of the family. There is a religious belief that worshiping the Goddess during Gupt Navratri with full devotion, rules and devotion paves the way for positive energy, mental peace and spiritual progress in a person’s life. Therefore, these nine days are considered to be a very sacred time for Shakti Sadhana and Goddess worship.