New Delhi, October 7 (Daily Kiran) : The wait for Sharadiya Navratri is nearly over. This sacred festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga begins on Sunday, October 11, 2026. Over the nine days of Navratri, devotees will honor the nine forms of the goddess, observe fasts, and pray for peace and prosperity. In addition to the dates and rituals, the vehicle of the goddess’s arrival and departure holds special significance.
According to religious beliefs, the vehicle of Goddess Durga is determined based on the day of the week on which Navratri begins. This year, the festival starts on a Sunday. Tradition dictates that if Navratri begins on a Sunday or Monday, the goddess is believed to arrive on an elephant. Thus, this year, Goddess Durga is expected to arrive riding an elephant.
In Indian tradition, elephants symbolize strength, stability, wealth, and prosperity. Therefore, the goddess’s arrival on an elephant is seen as an auspicious sign. Some beliefs even associate this with favorable rainfall and agricultural prosperity.
Following Navratri, Vijayadashami, or Dussehra, will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The vehicle for the goddess’s departure is also determined by the day of the week. According to tradition, if the departure day falls on a Tuesday or Saturday, the goddess is believed to leave on a rooster.
This year, it is thus believed that Goddess Durga will depart on a rooster. In religious traditions, this vehicle is not considered very auspicious and is often associated with challenges, worries, or social unrest.
In addition to elephants, other vehicles such as horses, boats, and palanquins have varying religious significances during Navratri. The choice of the goddess’s vehicle each year is based on the days of the week that mark the beginning and end of the festival.
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