This year, Shardiya Navratri is beginning on 11th October, 2026, with the auspicious Ghatsthapana and will conclude with Dussehra on October 20, 2026. On the first day of Navratri, devotees light an eternal flame (Akhand Jyot) and keep it lit for nine days.

Lighting the Akhand Jyot in Navratri is believed to bring divine blessings and harmony into homes. The Akhand Jyot symbolically keeps courage, devotion, and righteousness alive, no matter how dark the night outside may be.

Spiritual Significance Of Akhand Jyot

The word 'Akhand’ means uninterrupted or unextinguished, and ‘jyot’ means flame. It is basically an oil or ghee lamp that lights continuously for 9 to 10 days during Navratri in reverence for the Mother Divine.

According to Verse 17, Chapter 13 of the Bhagavad Gita, “The Self is the light of all lights, beyond darkness; it is knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the goal of knowledge, seated in the hearts of all.”

It means the light is the source from which all things in the universe emerged, and it will be the last thing in the universe before its end. However, the light that resides in us, which here is said to be eternal.

Here, eternal light symbolically represents Goddess Shakti, whom devotees light an akhand diya for during Navratri.

This act of lighting a diya reminds devotees of the eternal power, resilience, and protection that Goddess Durga embodies. It also signifies the victory of knowledge over the darkness of ignorance.

The act of lighting a diya reminds devotees of the eternal power, resilience, and protection that Goddess Durga embodies (Image: Pexels)

Benefits Of Lighting Akhand Jyot During Navratri

According to Hindu traditions, the Akhand Jyoti brings many benefits:

1. Lighting an Akhand Jyot is believed to invite prosperity and wealth into the household.
2. The flames of the diya are believed to dispel negative energies.
3. The flame of the Navratri akhand diya also symbolically represents knowledge. By lighting it, a devotee is symbolically moving away from ignorance.
4. It is also believed to bring positivity and auspiciousness in the home.

ALSO READ: Navratri Vastu: 7 Things To Remove From Your Home Before Ghatasthapana

How To Light The Akhand Jyot For Navratri?

According to Sri Sri Ravi Shanker, these are a few things one must do to light the Akhand Jyot:

  • Use a brass, silver, or earthen lamp for Akhand Jyoti.
  • After this, use a long and thick baati (cotton wick) or make one using a moli (kalawa)
  • Then fill the lamp with pure sesame, mustard oil, or ghee.
  • Arrange a chowki (a small table) on which the lamp will be installed.
  • Then draw an ashtadal (an eight-petalled lotus) with gulal or raw rice on the chowki. It symbolises purity, enlightenment, prosperity, and harmony with the self and the cosmos.
  • Then, at an auspicious time (refer to the Vikram Samvat), place the Akhand deep (lamp) in the centre of the ashtadal.
  • Place a ghee diya (lamp) on the right side of the Goddess and an oil diya on the left side.
  • Then perform pooja of the Akhand deep (lamp).
  • Apply kumkum (roli) bindi or dot on the lamp, symbolising enthusiasm and offer rice (akshat), the symbol of prosperity.
  • Light the diya reciting the following Sanskrit shloka, शुभं करोति कल्याणमारोग्यं धनसंपदा । शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तुते

Meaning: ‘I bow to the light of the lamp, the source of goodness, health, and abundance, which dispels negativity and ill-will. Salutations to the sacred light of this lamp.’

Use a brass, silver, or earthen lamp for Akhand Jyoti (Image: Pexels)

Things To Do To Keep The Akhand Jyot

According to Shri Shri Ravi Shankar, these are a few things one must do to keep the eternal flame:

  • Devotees should keep a sufficient length of wick to help it remain ignited until the end of the ninth day of the festival.
  • Make sure to keep an eye on the holy flame to ensure it is lit.
  • Fill the Akhand lamp with ghee (or oil) at regular intervals.
  • Always keep the Akhand lamp covered with a glass or metallic cover.
  • If you choose an earthen lamp, keep it soaked in water overnight to prevent it from absorbing excess oil or ghee while burning the holy flame.
  • To ensure the lamp keeps burning while you are adjusting its wick, light another lamp and then adjust the holy wick.
  • Let the holy flame extinguish itself after Navratri.

Things To Avoid While Keeping The Akhand Jyot

  • Never light the lamp near toilets or bathrooms.
  • Never leave the Akhand Jyoti unattended while it’s burning.
  • Avoid using sunflower oil in the lamp. Use ghee, sesame, or mustard oil instead.
  • Don't move the lamp. Assign a place for it and let it burn for all nine days of Navratri.
  • Never light other lamps using the akhand diya for Navratri, as it is considered inauspicious.
  • Follow a light and vegetarian diet during the festival to maintain purity.

ALSO READ: What To Keep In A Navratri Kalash And The Sacred Meaning Behind Each Item

Thus, by lighting the eternal flame, a devotee honours the Goddess's presence in their life and also invites her blessings into their home.

FAQs

1. What if Akhand Jyot extinguishes by mistake?

You must ensure that Akhand Jyoti doesn’t go out. Keep a spare lamp lit while you are adjusting the Akhand wick and ghee/oil. Still, if it goes off, light it with a prayer to the Almighty and connect with the eternal light within your consciousness.

2. Where can I keep Akhand Diya during Navratri?

Place the Akhand Diya or Deepam in the centre of the Ashtadal to the right of the Mother Divine on the chowki or altar. Some devotees put a fistful of wheat under the Akhand Diya instead of the Ashtadal.