Maha Saptami 2026: October 17 Nabapatrika Snan Muhurat, Puja Vidhi and Significance of Durga Puja Saptami

Durga Puja Saptami 2026 Date and Muhurat

Maha Saptami will be observed on Saturday, October 17, 2026. The day is associated with Nabapatrika Snan, also known as Kolabou Snan, followed by the installation of the sacred plant bundle and the worship of Goddess Durga.

Event	Date and time
Maha Saptami	Saturday, October 17, 2026
Saptami Tithi Begins	5:54 AM, October 17
Saptami Tithi Ends	8:27 AM, October 18
Nabapatrika Snan	Traditionally performed at dawn
Dawn in New Delhi	5:59 AM
Sunrise in New Delhi	6:23 AM

The tithi and dawn timings are based on the 2026 panchang for New Delhi. Nabapatrika Snan is traditionally performed in the early morning, but the precise ritual schedule can vary by location, temple and family tradition. Devotees should confirm the applicable muhurat with their local puja committee or panjika.

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What Is Nabapatrika Snan and Why Is It Performed?

Nabapatrika Snan is one of the defining rituals of Maha Saptami during Bengali Durga Puja. The word Nabapatrika refers to a group of nine sacred plants that are bundled together and worshipped as a representation of the divine feminine.

The ritual begins with bathing the Nabapatrika, traditionally in a river or another designated water body. The plant bundle is then dressed in a red or orange saree and brought to the Durga Puja pandal for worship.

The banana plant is the most prominent part of the arrangement, which is why the Nabapatrika is popularly known as Kolabou or Kola Bou. The ritual symbolises the worship of nature, fertility, abundance and the nine divine energies associated with Goddess Durga.

Also Read: Why Bengalis Perform Dhunuchi Naach During Durga Puja | Sindoor Khela 2026

Nabapatrika Puja: Names of the Nine Plants

The Nabapatrika consists of nine plants, each associated with a particular form or aspect of the Goddess.

1. Banana plant: Associated with Goddess Brahmani.
2. Colocasia plant: Associated with Goddess Kalika.
3. Turmeric plant: Associated with Goddess Durga.
4. Jayanti plant: Associated with Goddess Kartiki.
5. Bilva plant: Associated with Lord Shiva.
6. Pomegranate plant: Associated with Goddess Raktadantika.
7. Ashoka plant: Associated with Goddess Shokarahita.
8. Arum plant: Associated with Goddess Chamunda.
9. Paddy plant: Associated with Goddess Lakshmi.

Together, these plants represent different manifestations of divine energy and the connection between worship, nature and prosperity.

Nabapatrika Snan and Puja Vidhi

The following are the main steps of the traditional Nabapatrika ritual. Specific practices may differ between households and Durga Puja committees.

1. Prepare the Nabapatrika

The nine prescribed plants are collected and tied together to form the Nabapatrika. The ritual arrangement is prepared according to the customs followed by the family or puja committee.

2. Perform the ceremonial bath

The Nabapatrika is taken to a river or another designated bathing place at dawn. The ceremonial bath, known as Nabapatrika Snan, marks the purification and ritual preparation of the sacred plant bundle for worship.

3. Dress the Nabapatrika

After the bath, the plant bundle is dressed in a red or orange saree. The banana plant remains the most visible part of the arrangement, giving the Nabapatrika its familiar Kolabou appearance.

4. Bring the Nabapatrika to the pandal

The dressed Nabapatrika is brought back to the Durga Puja pandal and placed on a designated seat, traditionally to the right of the idol of Goddess Durga.

5. Perform the invocation and worship

The priest performs the prescribed invocation and puja rituals to consecrate the Nabapatrika. This is followed by the worship of Goddess Durga and the customary offerings according to the pandal's traditions.

6. Offer prayers and participate in the puja

Devotees can attend the Saptami puja, offer flowers where permitted and seek the Goddess's blessings. The day's observances may also include bhog offerings, aarti and other community rituals.

Maa Kalaratri Puja on Navratri Day 7

October 17, 2026, is also the seventh day of Sharad Navratri, dedicated to Maa Kalaratri, the seventh form of Navdurga.

Maa Kalaratri is traditionally depicted with a dark complexion, dishevelled hair and four hands. She rides a donkey and is associated with the destruction of evil, the removal of fear and the protection of devotees. Although her appearance is fierce, she is worshipped as a compassionate and protective manifestation of the Divine Mother.

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Maa Kalaratri Puja Vidhi

Devotees observing Navratri can follow these customary steps to worship Maa Kalaratri:

1. Wake up early, bathe and clean the place of worship.
2. Place the image or idol of Maa Kalaratri on the puja altar.
3. Light a diya and offer flowers, incense and other customary puja items.
4. Offer jaggery or jaggery-based prasad, if this is part of the family's tradition.
5. Chant the Goddess's mantra and pray for courage, protection and freedom from fear.
6. Perform aarti and distribute prasad among family members.

Maa Kalaratri Mantra:

Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah.

Devotees may chant this mantra during the puja as an expression of devotion.

Maa Kalaratri worship and Nabapatrika Puja are distinct observances, even though they coincide on October 17 in 2026. The former belongs to the Navdurga tradition of Sharad Navratri, while the latter is a central ritual of Bengali Maha Saptami.

Significance of Durga Puja Saptami

Maha Saptami marks the beginning of the principal days of Durga Puja celebrations in Bengal. The Nabapatrika ritual holds special importance because it honours the Goddess through nine sacred plants, reflecting the close relationship between divinity and the natural world.

The day also includes the ceremonial invocation of divine energy and the continuation of worship dedicated to Goddess Durga. For devotees, Saptami is an occasion to offer prayers for well-being, prosperity, protection and the strength to overcome difficulties.

The simultaneous observance of Maa Kalaratri Puja on Navratri Day 7 adds another dimension to the day's spiritual significance. Maa Kalaratri represents the destruction of negative forces, while Nabapatrika worship emphasises nature, fertility and abundance.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is Durga Puja Saptami in 2026?
   Maha Saptami falls on Saturday, October 17, 2026. The associated Saptami tithi continues until 8:27 AM on October 18, according to the cited New Delhi panchang.
2. What is the Nabapatrika Snan muhurat in 2026?
   Nabapatrika Snan is traditionally performed at dawn on Maha Saptami. For New Delhi, dawn is listed at 5:59 AM and sunrise at 6:23 AM on October 17, 2026. The exact ritual timing may vary by location and the panjika followed.
3. Why is Nabapatrika called Kolabou?
   Nabapatrika is commonly called Kolabou because the banana plant forms the most prominent part of the bundle of nine sacred plants. The dressed plant arrangement is worshipped during Bengali Durga Puja.
4. Which Goddess is worshipped on Navratri Day 7 in 2026?
   Maa Kalaratri, the seventh form of Navdurga, is worshipped on October 17, 2026. She is associated with courage, protection and the destruction of evil.
5. What is offered to Maa Kalaratri?
   Devotees commonly offer flowers, incense, a diya and prasad. Jaggery or jaggery-based offerings are associated with her worship in many traditions, although specific practices may vary.

Conclusion

Durga Puja Saptami on October 17, 2026, brings together the traditional Nabapatrika Snan and worship of the nine sacred plants with the observance of Maa Kalaratri Puja on Navratri Day 7. Devotees should check their local panchang or temple schedule for the exact Nabapatrika Snan timing and follow the rituals prescribed by their family or community tradition.