Navratri holds immense importance in Hindu culture, and the Navami tithi is particularly special. This day is marked by the traditional rituals of Havan and Kanya Puja, both of which are central to the worship during this sacred festival. The Shardiya Navratri of 2025 is unique because it spans ten days instead of the usual nine, which has led to some confusion regarding the specific dates and timings for various ceremonies.

Navratri Navami 2025: Key Dates and Timings

This year, the Navami tithi begins on the evening of September 30, 2025, at 6:06 PM, and it will end on the evening of October 1, 2025. Since the Udaya tithi (the time when the tithi begins after sunrise) is important for such occasions, Navami will be celebrated on October 1 as per traditional customs. The day is expected to witness grand celebrations with devotees performing Havan and Puja in their homes and temples.

Significance of Navami in Navratri

The ninth day of Navratri, or Navami, has a profound religious and spiritual significance. This day is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga in her form as Goddess Siddhidatri, who is believed to grant all types of siddhis or spiritual powers. It is also a time when devotees perform special rituals like Havan to seek the blessings of the goddess for prosperity, health, and well-being.

In addition to the traditional Havan, Kanya Puja is another essential ritual on Navami. This Puja involves the worship of young girls, symbolizing the divine forms of the goddess. It is believed that worshipping young girls on Navami, especially those below the age of ten, brings immense blessings. This practice is considered highly auspicious and is a significant part of Navratri’s religious observances.

Key Puja Timings for Navratri Navami 2025

For devotees planning to perform the rituals, it is essential to follow the correct timings to ensure the rituals’ spiritual effectiveness. The Brahma Muhurat, considered the most auspicious time for starting the day with prayers, will occur from 4:37 AM to 5:26 AM. This time is ideal for offering prayers to Goddess Durga before embarking on the main rituals of the day.

There are other important times during the day for performing specific Puja and Havan rituals. The Vijay Muhurat, which is regarded as a time for victory and success, will occur from 2:09 PM to 2:57 PM. The Godhuli Muhurat, a time considered perfect for spiritual activities, will be from 6:07 PM to 6:31 PM.

In addition to these, there are specific timings for Amrit Kaal, Nishita Muhurat, and Ravi Yoga, which are all auspicious moments for various rituals. The Amrit Kaal will occur from 2:31 AM to 4:12 AM on October 2, 2025, while Nishita Muhurat will be from 11:46 PM to 12:35 AM, October 2.

For the Havan ceremony, the specific time window is from 6:14 AM to 6:07 PM on October 1, lasting for 11 hours and 53 minutes. This is the ideal period for performing the sacred Havan and invoking the goddess’s blessings for health, wealth, and prosperity.

Havan Materials for Navratri Navami

The Havan on Navami is a significant ritual, and the materials required for it are numerous, each serving a unique purpose. Common items used in the Havan include:

• Havan Kund (sacred fire altar)

• Ghee (clarified butter)

• Ganga Jal (holy water from the Ganges)

• Panchamrit (a mixture of five ingredients: milk, yogurt, honey, ghee, and sugar)

• Peepal, Chandan (sandalwood)

• Raksha Sutra or Kalava (sacred thread)

• Dry wood from Neem and Mango trees

• Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Palash (herbs)

• Guggul, Mulethi (liquorice root)

• Gular bark

• Akshat (unbroken rice), Agarbatthi (incense sticks), Dhoop (incense)

• Diya (oil lamp)

• Barley, Roli (red thread), Jatavala, Coconut (whole and dry)

• Cardamom, Cloves, Camphor, Matchsticks

• Loban (resin), Betel leaves, Betel nuts, Honey, Sugar, Flowers

• Garland, 5 types of fruits, Black Sesame seeds, Sweets, Havan Samagri packet

• Havan book, Bael leaves

These items are used in the Havan to offer to the sacred fire while chanting mantras and prayers. The intention behind this sacred fire ritual is to purify the surroundings, invite positive energies, and invoke the goddess’s blessings.

Kanya Puja: Significance and Rituals

Kanya Puja, performed during Navratri, is one of the most significant rituals on the eighth and ninth days of the festival. The tradition involves worshipping young girls, usually under the age of ten, as manifestations of Goddess Durga. Devotees believe that performing Kanya Puja during Navratri brings immense spiritual merit and is highly auspicious.

It is said that worshipping nine young girls and a young boy, who represents Bhairav Baba, on Navami brings great blessings. The ritual involves offering food, clothes, and gifts to the young girls as a mark of respect and devotion. This is a way of honoring the divine feminine energy and acknowledging the goddess’s presence in the form of young girls.

Kanya Puja is often seen as a symbolic representation of the goddess in her most pure and innocent form. The ritual is not only spiritually significant but also culturally rich, reinforcing values of respect, love, and devotion.

Celebrating Navratri Navami with Devotion

Navratri is a festival that brings people together to celebrate the triumph of good over evil, as symbolized by Goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Each day of the festival is dedicated to a different form of the goddess, and the final day, Navami, is considered the most auspicious. It is a time to reflect on the spiritual progress made during the previous days and to seek the goddess’s blessings for future success.

Navami, with its focus on Havan and Kanya Puja, is an opportunity for devotees to deepen their spiritual connection, purify their surroundings, and seek blessings for their families and communities. The rituals performed on this day are not just ceremonial but are also a way to invoke divine protection and positivity.

Navratri Navami 2025 holds a special place in the hearts of devotees. The combination of Havan, Kanya Puja, and other religious rituals makes this day one of the most sacred during the festival. As the ninth day of Navratri is celebrated with devotion and faith, it serves as a reminder of the power of spiritual practice and the divine blessings that come from it. By following the auspicious timings for Puja and ensuring the use of correct Havan materials, devotees can create a spiritually uplifting experience that will bring peace, prosperity, and health into their lives.