Maha Navami is the ninth and last full day of Navaratri. It is the day of Ayudha Puja, the worship of implements: whatever a person works with, from a plough or a sewing machine to a lorry or a laptop, is cleaned, marked with turmeric and kumkum, and left to rest.
The story
The custom is traced to the Mahabharata. Before their year in disguise the Pandavas hid their weapons in a shami tree; when the year was over they took them down and worshipped them before going to war. The day before victory became the day of the weapons.
It is also Saraswati's day. Books and musical instruments are placed before her and not opened until the next morning, which is why Vijayadasami is the chosen day to begin learning.
సరస్వతి నమస్తుభ్యం వరదే కామరూపిణి
Salutations to you, Saraswati, giver of boons, who takes any form you wish
The verse said before study begins
How it is kept
- The implementsWorkshops, shops and farms stop work. Machines and tools are washed, garlanded with marigold and smeared with sandal paste.
- VehiclesCars, autos, buses and bicycles are decorated, a lemon is placed under each wheel to be crushed as the vehicle first moves, and an ash gourd is broken to carry away the evil eye.
- Books at restChildren are, for once, told not to study. Books stay stacked before the goddess until Vijayadasami.
- At IndrakeeladriKanaka Durga is shown as Mahishasura Mardini, the slayer of the buffalo demon, on this day.
Why this date
Maha Navami is the ninth tithi (Navami) of the bright half of Ashwayuja. The calendar gives the day on which Navami is in force in the afternoon, so when Ashtami ends early it can share a date with Durgashtami, as it does in 2026.
Maha Navami in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday | |
| 2027 | Friday | |
| 2028 | Tuesday | |
| 2029 | Monday | |
| 2030 | Saturday | |
| 2031 | Friday |
More Telugu festivals
7 OctoberDurgashtamiదుర్గాష్టమి
9 OctoberVijayadasamiవిజయదశమి
7 OctoberSaddula Bathukammaసద్దుల బతుకమ్మ
28 OctoberNaraka Chaturdasiనరక చతుర్దశి
29 SeptemberBathukammaబతుకమ్మ
29 OctoberDeepavaliదీపావళి
Where to see Maha Navami
In the Telugu states
- Gnana Saraswati Temple, BasarTelanganaOn the Godavari, one of the few old temples to Saraswati; families bring children here for Aksharabhyasam, their first letters.
- Venkateswara Temple, TirumalaAndhra PradeshThe annual Brahmotsavam usually falls within these nine nights, with the Lord taken out on a different vahana morning and evening.
- Kanaka Durga Temple, VijayawadaAndhra PradeshThe goddess is shown as Mahishasura Mardini, the slayer of the buffalo demon.
Across India
- MysuruKarnatakaAyudha Puja at the palace: the royal weapons, elephants and horses are worshipped the day before the great procession.
- Mookambika Temple, KollurKarnatakaThousands of children are started on their letters here at Vidyarambham, the morning after Navami.
- Ramnagar, VaranasiUttar PradeshThe month-long Ramlila across the Ganga, staged with the town itself as its set, nears its end.