From Rohini Nakshatra's tender glow to Ayushman Yoga's life-giving energy, Tuesday, 24 March carries a rare celestial confluence that devout Hindus have been waiting for all season.
Tuesday, 24 March 2026 · Chaitra Shukla Shashthi · Vikram Samvat 2083
There is something quietly electric about the sixth day of Chaitra Navratri. The incense is thicker, the prayers louder, and the sense of anticipation more palpable, because today, devotees across India and the world bow before Maa Katyayani, the warrior goddess who is both fearsome and fiercely loving.
On 24 March 2026, that devotion meets an unusually auspicious sky. The Panchang for this Tuesday weaves together Rohini Nakshatra, the moon's most beloved constellation, said to bestow beauty, abundance, and stability, with not one but two powerful yogas: Priti Yoga in the morning and Ayushman Yoga for the rest of the day. It is, in traditional Jyotish terms, a day built for worship, new beginnings, and long-lasting results.
Here is everything you need to know, every tithi, every muhurat, every minute to embrace and every hour to avoid.
Panchang for 24 March 2026
Panchang for Tuesday, 24 March 2026
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Tithi | Shukla Paksha Shashthi until 4:08 PM. Saptami begins thereafter until 1:50 PM on 25 March. |
| Nakshatra | Rohini until 7:04 PM (Auspicious). Mrigashirsha begins at 7:04 PM. |
| Yoga | Priti Yoga until 9:07 AM. Ayushman Yoga from 9:07 AM to 6:01 AM on 25 March. |
| Karana | Taitil until 4:08 PM, then Gar until 2:57 AM on 25 March. |
| Paksha | Shukla (Waxing Moon) |
| Vara (Weekday) | Mangalvaar (Tuesday) |
| Vikram Samvat | 2083 (Siddhartha) |
| Shaka Samvat | 1948, Chaitra 3 |
| Masa (Month) | Chaitra |
| Sun Sign | Pisces |
| Moon Sign | Taurus, transits to Gemini by 6:17 AM on 25 March. |
| Season | Vasant Ritu (Spring), Uttarayan |
Festivals and Fasts on 24 March 2026
- Chaitra Navratri Day 6: Maa Katyayani Puja
- Rohini Vrat: Jain observance
- Yamuna Chhath: River worship
- Shashthi: Tithi festival
Chaitra Navratri Day 6 and Maa Katyayani Puja
She rides a lion. She carries a lotus in one hand and a sword in the other. Her complexion glows like burnished gold. Maa Katyayani, born from the collective rage of the gods to slay the demon Mahishasura, is worshipped on the sixth day of Navratri as the embodiment of divine courage and unconditional protection.
In Hindu tradition, she is especially dear to young unmarried women who pray to her for a worthy life partner, a belief immortalised in the Bhagavata Purana, where the Gopis of Vrindavan observed a month-long fast dedicated to Maa Katyayani to attain Lord Krishna as their husband. This makes the sixth day of Navratri one of the most emotionally charged days of the entire festival.
'Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Shaktirupe Sansthita, Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah.' A timeless invocation to the divine feminine power.
Devotees offer honey to Maa Katyayani and dress the idol in red, her sacred colour. Chanting the Katyayani Mantra during the Abhijit Muhurat on this day is believed to be especially potent.
Sun and Moon Timings on 24 March 2026
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| Sunrise | 6:30 AM |
| Sunset | 6:35 PM |
| Moonrise | 10:09 AM |
| Moonset | 12:28 AM (next day) |
The moon, placed in Taurus, the sign of its exaltation, until early Wednesday morning, amplifies the calm and grounded energy of the day. A moon in Taurus in Rohini Nakshatra is classically described as chandra bali, the moon at its strongest, blessing those born under Taurus, Cancer, Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Pisces with particular lunar strength through the day.
Shubh Muhurat on 24 March 2026
Planning a puja, a new venture, or an important ceremony? Here are the windows of divine favour that the Panchang unlocks on this Tuesday:
| Muhurat | Timing | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Abhijit Muhurat | 12:09 PM to 12:57 PM | Supreme for any auspicious act. Do not miss this. |
| Amrit Kaal | 4:06 PM to 5:35 PM | Nectar period, ideal for spiritual practice and medicine. |
| Brahma Muhurat | 4:53 AM to 5:41 AM | Pre-dawn window for meditation and mantra chanting. |
| Priti Yoga | Active until 9:07 AM | Promotes harmony, love, and mutual affection. |
The Abhijit Muhurat, the 48-minute window around solar noon, is considered the most universally powerful time slot of any day. Ancient texts describe it as the 'victorious hour,' when Surya (the Sun) is at the meridian, and his energy cuts through obstacles like a blade. For 24 March 2026, this falls between 12:09 PM and 12:57 PM.
If you are performing the Shashthi puja for Maa Katyayani, beginning the ritual within the Abhijit Muhurat is the ideal choice. It aligns perfectly with the lingering grace of Rohini Nakshatra, which holds until 7:04 PM.
Special Auspicious Yogas on 24 March 2026
Dwipushkar Yoga: Active from 7:04 PM on 24 March to 6:29 AM on 25 March. Mrigashirsha Nakshatra meets on Tuesday and Shukla Saptami. Activities begun in this period are said to double in their outcome, positive and negative alike. Plan wisely.
Sarvarthasiddhi Yoga: Active from 6:29 AM to 5:33 PM on 25 March, formed by Mrigashirsha Nakshatra and Wednesday. Though this begins tomorrow, any puja or ritual that extends into Wednesday morning carries its blessings.
Matang Yoga: Active until 7:04 PM on 24 March. An auspicious yoga noted in the Anandadi system is considered favourable for learning and intellectual pursuits.
Rahukaal on 24 March 2026
Rahukaal on 24 March 2026: 3:34 PM to 5:04 PM. Avoid starting any new work, travel, or important decisions during this window.
In Vedic astrology, Rahukaal is the inauspicious period governed by Rahu, the shadow planet associated with illusions, sudden reversals, and unforeseeable complications. Every day of the week carries a fixed Rahukaal window, and on Tuesdays, it typically falls in the afternoon. On 24 March 2026, that shadow period runs from 3:34 PM to 5:04 PM.
The standard advice: do not begin new ventures, travel, sign contracts, or perform major religious rites during Rahukaal. However, completing already-started work, cooking, or routine devotion is generally considered unaffected.
All Inauspicious Timings on 24 March 2026
| Inauspicious Period | Timing |
|---|---|
| Rahukaal | 3:34 PM to 5:04 PM |
| Yama Ganda | 9:32 AM to 11:02 AM |
| Kulik Kaal | 12:33 PM to 2:03 PM |
| Gulika Kaal | 12:20 PM to 1:51 PM |
| Durmuhurta | 8:55 AM to 9:44 AM |
| Varjyam | 11:39 AM to 1:08 PM |
Notice something elegant in this puzzle: the Abhijit Muhurat (12:09 to 12:57 PM) sits right in the middle of what looks like a dense cluster of inauspicious periods. Gulika Kaal, Kulik Kaal, and Varjyam all bracket it. This is not unusual; ancient Jyotish held that Abhijit's solar power was strong enough to pierce through these minor doshas. It remains auspicious regardless.
Rashi and Moon Strength on 24 March 2026
With the Moon exalted in Taurus through most of the day, certain zodiac signs receive enhanced Chandrabalam (lunar strength), a traditional indicator of overall day quality.
Favoured until 6:17 AM on 25 March when the Moon is in Taurus: Vrishabha (Taurus), Karka (Cancer), Simha (Leo), Vrishchika (Scorpio), Dhanu (Sagittarius), and Meena (Pisces).
After the Moon enters Gemini: Mesha (Aries), Mithuna (Gemini), Simha (Leo), Kanya (Virgo), Dhanu (Sagittarius), and Makara (Capricorn) come into strength.
Signs like Chitra (last 2 Pada), Swati, and Vishakha (first 3 Pada) experience Chandrashtama today, a period where the Moon transits the eighth house from their natal moon, making it advisable to avoid major decisions and prioritise rest, devotion, and introspection.
Panchang 24 March 2026
24 March 2026 is, by any reading of the Panchang, a day that rewards those who show up with intention. The sixth day of Chaitra Navratri, anchored by Maa Katyayani's fierce and protective energy, is amplified by the beauty of Rohini Nakshatra and the vitality of Ayushman Yoga. It is a rare Tuesday when the cosmos seems to pause and invite you to ask for what you truly need.
Rise early for the Brahma Muhurat if you can. Hold your puja in the Abhijit Muhurat between 12:09 and 12:57 PM. Let the Amrit Kaal between 4:06 and 5:35 PM be your evening sadhana. And keep the Rahukaal window of 3:34 to 5:04 PM firmly in your calendar as a quiet pause rather than a time for action.
Whether you are a devout observer, an astrology enthusiast, or simply someone who finds comfort in the rhythm of the Hindu calendar, the Panchang for 24 March 2026 offers a clear map. The rest, as always, is in your hands and Maa Katyayani's.
Jai Maa Katyayani. May this Navratri bring you courage, clarity, and grace.
This article is based on traditional Vedic Panchang calculations. Timings may vary slightly by location. For precision local timings, consult a regional Panchang or a qualified Jyotishi.
