Kanya Pujan Vidhi: How Kanjak Is Done on Ashtami and Navami (2026 Dates)

Kanya pujan — also called Kanjak or Kumari puja — closes the Navratri vrat. Young girls are invited home, worshipped as forms of the Devi, fed and given gifts. The Devi Bhagavata says that the Devi is not pleased by japa, havan and charity as she is by the worship of the kumari; the fast is not regarded as complete without it.

In many traditions the nine nights are kept in three parts — the first three for Durga, the middle three for Lakshmi, the last three for Saraswati. For families who want a puja performed in their name this Navratri, Maa Lakshmi Puja is a private puja: performed for your family alone, with the sankalp in your name and gotra, on the date you choose.

• Ashtami kanya pujan — Monday, 19 October 2026, in the morning. Ashtami lasts until 10:51 am.
• Navami kanya pujan — Tuesday, 20 October 2026, in the morning, before Navami ends at 12:50 pm. This is the day for homes that keep Navami by the tithi at sunrise, which is the usual North Indian custom.

Navami begins at 10:51 am on the 19th, so calendars that follow the Durga Puja rule mark Maha Navami on 19 October, and a family that keeps Ashtami and Navami together may do the pujan on the 19th after that hour. Why the two dates both appear is set out in Navratri 2026 dates. Whichever day you keep, it is done after the day’s puja and havan and before the fast is broken. Timings are for New Delhi (IST).

Traditionally nine girls, for the nine forms of Durga, between about two and ten years of age, with one small boy seated among them as Batuk Bhairav (called langur in many homes). The texts give each age a name — Kumari at two, Trimurti at three, Kalyani at four, Rohini at five, Kalika at six, Chandika at seven, Shambhavi at eight, Durga at nine and Subhadra at ten. No girl is to be chosen or refused on the basis of family or caste; the Devi is seen in each alike.

The classical bhog is sooji halwa, puri and kala chana — dry black chickpeas cooked without onion or garlic — often with a piece of coconut. For gifts, prefer what a child will use: notebooks, pencils and colours, a lunch box, a water bottle, bangles and hair clips, with a coin or a small note. It is better given with regard than given large.

In a flat, a new city or abroad, nine is often impossible. The tradition allows seven, five, three or even one. Where none can come home, the bhog is taken to girls at a nearby temple, school or children’s home, or the cost of the meal and gifts is given for the education and food of girls in need. The meaning of the rite is honour and care shown to the girl child, and that can be kept anywhere.

Kanya pujan is also a required limb of the larger Devi anushthan: a Navchandi closes with the havan, kanya pujan and purnahuti, in that order. When our pandits perform it in Ujjain the kanya pujan is done as part of the anushthan in the family’s name: Navchandi Durga Puja.