Navratri (Sharad Navratri) 2020: Day-by-Day
Ghatasthapana (Navratri begins)
Ashvina Shukla Pratipada Tithi 17 October 2020 (Saturday)
Navratri opens with Ghatasthapana (Kalash Sthapana), the installation of a sacred pot invoking Goddess Durga at the start of nine nights of worship. The ritual is performed in a specific morning muhurat, which is why it follows the standard sunrise-tithi rule.
Lalita Panchami
Ashvina Shukla Panchami Tithi 20 October 2020 (Tuesday)
Lalita Panchami, also called Upang Lalita Vrat, is dedicated to Goddess Lalita, a form of Durga, and marks the traditional day for beginning the worship of sacred texts and instruments (Saraswati Avahan preparations often begin around this day). It follows the standard sunrise-tithi rule.
Saraswati Pujan (Saraswati Avahan)
Ashvina Shukla Shashthi Tithi 21 October 2020 (Wednesday)
Saraswati Pujan marks the ceremonial invocation (Avahan) of Goddess Saraswati, traditionally performed in the evening of Shashthi ahead of the Maha Saptami and Maha Ashtami rites that follow. Because the invocation is an evening ritual, this uses the evening-anchored rule rather than a sunrise one.
Bhanu Saptami (Maha Saptami)
Ashvina Shukla Saptami Tithi 22 October 2020 (Thursday)
Maha Saptami includes the Nabapatrika ritual and continued Saraswati worship. When this Saptami tithi falls on a Sunday it is specifically called Bhanu Saptami (Bhanu/Ravivar being names for the Sun and Sunday) and considered especially auspicious for Sun worship - note that the 'Bhanu' distinction depends on the weekday, which isn't captured by the tithi calculation alone, so check a detailed Panchang to confirm whether a given year's date actually falls on a Sunday.
Durgashtami (Maha Ashtami)
Ashvina Shukla Ashtami Tithi 23 October 2020 (Friday)
Durgashtami (Maha Ashtami) is one of the most significant days of Navratri, marked by Kanya Puja in many traditions and, in Bengali Durga Puja, the Sandhi Puja performed at the precise junction of Ashtami and Navami tithis - check a detailed Panchang for that exact junction moment if observing Sandhi Puja specifically.
Maha Navami (Navratri concludes)
Ashvina Shukla Navami Tithi 24 October 2020 (Saturday)
Maha Navami is the ninth and final night of Navratri, marked by Kanya Puja (the ritual worship of young girls as embodiments of the Goddess) and closing havans. Vijayadashami follows the very next day.