When do I break the Navarātri fast — on Navamī or Daśamī?

both are followed; many break it after kanyā pūjana and havan on Aṣṭamī or Navamī, others on Daśamī morning.

Families differ, and both ways are sound. In many North Indian homes the fast ends on the day of kanyā pūjana: once the girls have eaten, the havan is done and the Goddess has been offered bhoga, the family eats the same prasāda. Others complete the full nine nights and do pāraṇa on Daśamī morning after the kalaśa has been honoured and before or after the visarjana.

In Bengal, Ṣaṣṭhī to Navamī are the main days and Daśamī brings Sindūr Khelā and the farewell; fasting rules follow local custom.

Whichever you follow, break the fast gently: begin with prasāda, then a simple meal. If you are unsure, ask the eldest woman of the family what her mother did; continuing that line is itself part of the tradition.

Pāraṇa after kanyā pūjana or on Daśamī · Source: common family practice

Dharma Q&A — vratas, festivals & temples · Ask a Jyotishi your own question