# Navratri Havan at Home: Mantras, Samagri List and Simple Steps

> A gentle, step-by-step Navratri havan you can do at home, with a samagri list, safety notes and the havan mantras, each linked to its lyrics and recording.

- **Published:** 2026-10-08
- **Author:** Mahakatha
- **Category:** festivals
- **Canonical URL:** https://mahakatha.com/blog/navratri-havan-at-home/

At the end of Navratri, many homes light a small sacred fire. It's called a havan. For nine nights you have prayed to the Goddess with lamps, flowers and chants. The havan gathers all of that into one quiet act. You say a mantra, you add the word "Swaha", and you let a pinch of herbs fall into the flame.

You don't need a priest or a big setup to do this. You need a safe place for a small fire, a few simple things, and a little time. This guide walks you through it slowly: what to gather, what to do, and which mantras to say. Each mantra link opens its full lyrics, meaning and our recording, so you can listen first and chant along.

One thing before we begin: havan customs differ from family to family and region to region. If your family has its own way, follow it. Think of this as a simple, gentle version for anyone doing it for the first time.

## When to do the Navratri havan in 2026

Most families do the havan on Ashtami (the eighth day) or Navami (the ninth day), often on the same day as Kanya Pujan, when young girls are honoured as forms of the Goddess. Some do it on the morning of Dashami (Dussehra) instead.

In 2026, Sharad Navratri begins on Sunday, 11 October. In New Delhi, Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami both fall on Monday, 19 October, because the Ashtami tithi is short this year. Vijayadashami (Dussehra) is Tuesday, 20 October. Tithis start and end at different times in different cities, so please check your local panchang for the exact time.

- [October 2026 festival calendar, New Delhi (Drik Panchang)](https://www.drikpanchang.com/calendars/hindu/hinducalendar.html?date=01/10/2026)
For the nine goddesses and a mantra for each night, see our guide to [Navratri 2026: the nine goddesses and their mantras](https://mahakatha.com/blog/navratri-mantras/).

## What a havan is, in simple words

A havan (also called a homa or hawan) is an offering made into fire. In the Vedic tradition, Agni, the fire, is the messenger. What you offer into the flame is carried to the divine.

Each offering is called an ahuti. You say a mantra and end it with "Swaha". As you say "Swaha", you let the offering go into the fire. The tradition describes Swaha as Agni's consort, and the word is said at the moment of giving. You can think of it as "I offer this, fully, and I let it go."

That letting go is the heart of it. You're not trying to get the ritual perfect. You're placing your prayers, your gratitude and your nine days of practice into the light, and letting them rise.

## Havan samagri list for home

Ready-made havan samagri packets are sold in most puja shops and online. They usually contain a mix of dried herbs, wood shavings, resins and grains. You only need a small amount for a home havan.

### The fire

- A havan kund: a small metal or brick fire bowl. A wide steel or copper tray with a layer of sand under the fire also works.
- Dry mango wood (aam ki lakdi), in small, thin sticks. Some families use other dry wood or cow-dung cakes, depending on what is local.
- Camphor (kapoor) and matches, to light the fire.
- Ghee in a small bowl, with a small spoon. In formal havans this spoon is called a sruva.

### The offerings

- Havan samagri (the ready-made herb mix), about a cup.
- A little black sesame (til), barley (jau) and rice (akshat). Many families mix these into the samagri.
- A little sugar or jaggery and a few dry fruits, if your family uses them.
- A dry coconut (gola) with a small opening, for the final offering (purnahuti). Many families wrap it in a red cloth or red thread (kalava).

### For the puja

- A picture or murti of Durga, and your Navratri kalash if you set one up.
- A small pot (lota) of clean water, kumkum or roli, red thread (kalava), flowers.
- A lamp (diya) and incense.
- Prasad: whatever your family offers, such as halwa, puri and chana, fruit or sweets.

### For safety

- A bucket of water or sand kept close by.
- An open window, or do the havan on a balcony or in a courtyard.
Quantities, ingredients and the type of wood change by region and family. If your family uses a different list, follow theirs.

## Before you begin: a few safety notes

A havan is a real fire, even a small one. Let's keep it gentle and safe.

- Keep the fire small. A few sticks are enough. You're not trying to make a big blaze.
- Never use kerosene, petrol or any fuel to start or feed the fire. Camphor and ghee are enough.
- Smoke from the samagri can be strong. Open windows, sit a little back from the kund, and keep anyone with asthma or breathing trouble at a comfortable distance.
- In flats, smoke can set off alarms. A balcony or open space may be easier.
- Keep children and pets at a safe distance, and never leave the fire unattended.

## Simple havan vidhi, step by step

This is a simple home version. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes. A full Durga Saptashati havan done by a priest is much longer, and that is a lovely thing too, but you don't need it to take part.

1. **Prepare yourself and the space.** Bathe and wear clean clothes. Clean the space, place the havan kund on a layer of sand or a thick tray, and set the Goddess's picture nearby. Sit facing east or north if you can.
1. **Sit, breathe and settle.** Take a few slow breaths. Sprinkle a few drops of water on yourself and around the kund as a simple act of purification.
1. **Make your sankalp (intention).** Hold a little water, rice and a flower in your right hand. In your own words, say who you are, that you are doing this havan at the end of Navratri, and what you are offering it for: thanks, peace for your family, or simply devotion. Then let the water fall to the ground or into a plate.
1. **Begin with Ganesha.** Families begin a puja with Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Say a short Ganesha prayer such as [Vakratunda Mahakaya](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/ganesha/vakratunda-mahakaya/).
1. **Light the fire.** Arrange a few sticks of mango wood in the kund with camphor in the middle. Light the camphor and add a few drops of ghee. As the fire catches, you can chant the [Agni Gayatri Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/gayatri/agni-gayatri-mantra/) to welcome Agni.
1. **Offer the ahutis.** Take a small pinch of samagri with your right hand, using the thumb, middle and ring fingers. Say the mantra, and as you say "Swaha", let the samagri fall gently into the fire. Every few offerings, add a few drops of ghee with the spoon. The mantras are in the next section.
1. **Offer the purnahuti (the final, "complete" offering).** Fill the dry coconut with a little samagri and ghee. Stand up, hold it with both hands, and place it gently into the fire. Many families chant the [Om Purnamadah](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/universal/om-purnamadah/) shanti mantra at this moment, since it speaks of wholeness.
1. **Aarti.** Wave the lamp before the Goddess and sing the aarti your family knows, such as [Jai Ambe Gauri](https://mahakatha.com/aarti/jai-ambe-gauri/).
1. **Ask forgiveness for any mistakes.** It's traditional to close with a short prayer saying, in your own words: "Mother, I don't know the right way to invite you, worship you or bid you farewell. Please forgive anything I have missed, and accept what I have offered." This is called kshama prarthana.
1. **Let the fire rest.** Let it burn down on its own. Don't pour water over a hot metal kund. When the ash is cool, many families place it in a plant pot or garden soil.
Then share the prasad. If you're doing Kanya Pujan, this is often when the girls are welcomed and fed.

## Havan mantras: what to say with each offering

You don't need to say every mantra below. Choose the ones that feel right, and say them clearly, with attention. Many people offer 11, 21 or 27 ahutis for each mantra. A traditional full round is 108.

The words below match our mantra pages. In a havan, "Swaha" is added at the end of each one. Each link opens the page with the meaning and our recording, so you can learn the rhythm before the day.

### 1. For Ganesha (begin here)

Om Shree Ganeshaaya Namah Swaha

ॐ श्री गणेशाय नमः स्वाहा

[Om Shree Ganeshaya Namah: meaning and audio](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/ganesha/om-shree-ganeshaya/)

### 2. For the nine planets and all the gods

Adityadi Navagrahadevatabhyo Namah Swaha

आदित्यादि नवग्रहदेवताभ्यो नमः स्वाहा

This line comes from the [Sarva Deva Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/universal/sarva-deva-mantra/), a short prayer that bows to your chosen deity, your family deity, the deities of your village and home, the nine planets and all the gods. Some families offer one ahuti with each of its lines.

### 3. For the Goddess (the main offering)

This is the mantra most families use for the Navratri havan. It's often called the Navarna mantra, the nine-syllable mantra of Chamunda, a fierce form of Durga.

Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Viche Swaha

ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुंडायै विच्छे स्वाहा

It is the opening line of our [Ambe Mata Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/durga/ambe-mata-mantra/). If you offer 108 ahutis for any one mantra, this is the one many families choose.

You can also offer ahutis with the [Durga Gayatri Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/durga/durga-gayatri-mantra/):

Om Mahaadevyai Cha Vidhmahe, Durgaayai Cha Dheemahi, Thanno Devi Prachodayaat Swaha

ॐ महादेव्यै च विद्महे दुर्गायै च धीमहि तन्नो देवी प्रचोदयात् स्वाहा

### 4. The Gayatri Mantra

Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah, Tatsaviturvarenyam, Bhargo Devasyadheemahi, Dhiyoyonnah Prachodayat Swaha

ॐ भूर् भुवः स्वः। तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि। धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्। स्वाहा

[Gayatri Mantra: meaning and audio](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/saraswati/gayatri-savitri/)

### 5. While you sit with the fire

Between offerings, or while the fire burns down, you might chant a Devi prayer without offerings. Two that many families love:

- [Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/durga/ya-devi-sarva/): bowing to the Goddess who lives in every being as the Mother
- [Sarvamangala Maangalye](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/devi/sarvamangala-maangalye/): a short verse to Durga as the source of all that is auspicious

### 6. To close

- [Om Purnamadah](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/universal/om-purnamadah/) with the purnahuti
- [Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/yoga/om-sarve-bhavantu/): a prayer that everyone may be happy and free from suffering
Many families also recite chapters of the Durga Saptashati (Chandi Path) before or during the havan, and some offer an ahuti with each of its 700 verses. That longer havan is usually led by a priest.

## What if I can't do a fire at home?

That's completely fine. Many people live in flats where a fire isn't safe or allowed. You can still keep the spirit of the havan:

- Light a ghee lamp in front of the Goddess.
- Chant the same mantras, saying "Swaha" in your mind and offering a flower or a few grains of rice into a plate with each one.
- Later, place the flowers and rice in a plant pot or garden soil.
The tradition puts the weight on the offering and the attention you bring, more than the size of the fire.

## Questions people often ask

### Can I do a havan without a pandit?

Yes. Many families do a simple home havan themselves, as described above. For a long or formal havan, such as a full Durga Saptashati havan, families usually invite a priest.

### How many times should I offer for each mantra?

There's no single rule. 11, 21 or 27 ahutis per mantra is common for a short home havan. 108 is the traditional full round. Choose a number you can offer calmly, without rushing.

### Which mantra should I say during the Navratri havan?

Begin with Ganesha, then the Goddess. The Navarna mantra of Chamunda and the Durga Gayatri are the most common choices for the main offering, as listed above.

### Can I make havan samagri at home?

Some families do, by mixing dried herbs, wood shavings, sesame, barley, rice, a little ghee and jaggery. If you're unsure of the herbs, a ready-made packet from a puja shop is the simpler choice.

### What do I do with the ash?

Let it cool fully. Many families place it in a plant pot or garden soil, or keep a pinch to touch to the forehead as prasad.

## A last thought

A havan is a beautiful way to close nine nights of practice. You offered a little each night. Now you offer it all into the light, with one word: Swaha.

If you'd like to learn the mantras before the day, open any of the pages above and listen once or twice. By Ashtami, the rhythm will feel familiar, and you'll be chanting along.

## Related mantras

- [Ambe Mata Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/durga/ambe-mata-mantra/)
- [Durga Gayatri Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/durga/durga-gayatri-mantra/)
- [Agni Gayatri Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/gayatri/agni-gayatri-mantra/)
- [Om Shree Ganeshaya Namah Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/ganesha/om-shree-ganeshaya/)
- [Vakratunda Mahakaya Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/ganesha/vakratunda-mahakaya/)
- [Sarva Deva Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/universal/sarva-deva-mantra/)
- [Gayatri Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/saraswati/gayatri-savitri/)
- [Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/durga/ya-devi-sarva/)
- [Sarvamangala Maangalye Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/devi/sarvamangala-maangalye/)
- [Om Purnamadah Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/universal/om-purnamadah/)
- [Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah Yoga Mantra](https://mahakatha.com/mantras/yoga/om-sarve-bhavantu/)

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Source: https://mahakatha.com/blog/navratri-havan-at-home/ — Mahakatha, https://mahakatha.com