campaign template banner

Navratri is one of the most sacred Hindu festivals celebrated with devotion, fasting, prayers, and acts of kindness. It is believed that charity during Navratri multiplies spiritual merit and brings divine blessings.

In 2026, devotees across India and the world will celebrate Chaitra Navratri in March and Sharad Navratri in October. This is an auspicious opportunity to support food donation initiatives and help underprivileged children and families.

At Akshaya Chaitanya, you can make Navratri more meaningful by contributing to Annadan (food donation) and ensuring that no child sleeps hungry.

Why Donation (Daan) in Navratri Matters?

Navratri means nine nights dedicated to Goddess Durga, each day honoring a form of Shakti. Worship is not complete without compassion. Scriptures say that daan during these days — especially feeding the hungry — brings peace, prosperity, and the blessings of the Divine Mother.

When you give food (annadaan), you not only honor the Goddess, but also ensure no child or patient sleeps hungry during these holy days.

Navratri 2026 Dates

Chaitra Navratri 2026 Dates

  • Day 1 – March 19, 2026 (Thursday) – Ghatasthapana
  • Day 2 – March 20, 2026
  • Day 3 – March 21, 2026
  • Day 4 – March 22, 2026
  • Day 5 – March 23, 2026
  • Day 6 – March 24, 2026
  • Day 7 – March 25, 2026
  • Day 8 – March 26, 2026 – Durga Ashtami
  • Day 9 – March 27, 2026 – Ram Navami (Navratri ends)

Sharad Navratri 2026 Dates

  • Day 1 – October 8, 2026 (Thursday) – Ghatasthapana
  • Day 2 – October 9, 2026
  • Day 3 – October 10, 2026
  • Day 4 – October 11, 2026
  • Day 5 – October 12, 2026
  • Day 6 – October 13, 2026
  • Day 7 – October 14, 2026
  • Day 8 – October 15, 2026 – Durga Ashtami
  • Day 9 – October 16, 2026 – Mahanavami
  • October 17, 2026 – Dussehra / Vijayadashami

How You Can Donate with Akshaya Chaitanya

  1. Visit Our Navratri Campaign Page
  2. Choose Your Seva – school meals, hospital meals, orphanage meals.
  3. Dedicate Your Donation – in memory of loved ones, on your birthday, anniversary, or simply as Navratri seva.
  4. Make a Secure Online Donation – through UPI, cards, or net banking.

  5. Receive 80G Tax Benefit – your donation is not only spiritual, but also financially rewarding.

  6. See the Impact – we share updates, photos, and reports of the meals you supported.

How You Can Donate During Navratri 2026

You can participate in Navratri charity in several ways:

1. Sponsor Meals for Children

Support mid-day meal programs and ensure nutritious meals reach school-going children.

2. Donate on Ashtami or Navami

Many devotees perform Kanya Pujan. You can extend this tradition by feeding underprivileged children.

3. Celebrate Special Occasions with Charity

Donate food on birthdays, anniversaries, or religious milestones during Navratri.

4. Monthly Donation Commitment

Become a regular donor and create long-term impact.

Impact of Your Navratri Donation

With your support:

  • Thousands of children receive daily meals
  • School attendance improves
  • Malnutrition levels reduce
  • Families experience hope and dignity

Every contribution helps build a hunger-free and educated India.



Spiritual Benefits of Donating During Navratri

Devotees believe that charity during Navratri brings:

  • Prosperity and abundance
  • Removal of obstacles
  • Peace and happiness
  • Blessings for family wellbeing
  • Inner spiritual growth

Acts of kindness performed during sacred festivals create lifelong positive karma.

Celebrate Navratri 2026 with Compassion

Navratri is not just about rituals — it is about serving humanity.

This Navratri, take a step beyond fasting and prayers.
Support food donation initiatives and bring smiles to countless children.

Our Impact

counter img
21.3 M +
Meals Served
counter img
3.7 M +
Beneficiaries Served
counter img
172 +
Municipal Schools
counter img
31 +
Govt Hospitals
Updated as on: 24/03/2026

Our feeding Initiatives

Bal Shiksha Ahara
Municipal School Meals Programme

48,04,484 meals across 102 municipal Birthday schools improved classroom attendance by up to 24% in 2024-2026.

Initiative image

Swasthya Ahara
Government Hospital Feeding Programme

Served 3,94,957 families of patients across 32 Govt. Hospitals and Cancer Center to help save over 47 Cr. towards treatment.

Initiative image

Paushtik Ahara
Meals on Wheels Programme

Serving to support informal education for 450 underprivileged children in 5 slums.

Initiative image

Beneficiary Diaries

Why Donate for the New Year?

  • Celebrate with Purpose:A New Year donation helps feed those who need it most, spreading true joy and hope as we step into the year ahead.
  • Trusted Impact:As a leading NGO in Mumbai, we serve hot, nutritious meals to children, families, and hospital patients every day.
  • Light Up Lives:Every meal donated brings warmth, happiness, and relief to underprivileged communities, making the New Year truly special for those in need.

Why Donate Food on Makar Sankranti?

  • Make an Impact: By donating food on Makar Sankranti, you help feed thousands of underprivileged families, children, and hospital patients across Mumbai.
  • Celebrate Abundance: Sankranti and Pongal are about sharing the harvest of prosperity—charitable giving spreads joy and blessings.
  • Join a Trusted NGO: Akshaya Chaitanya is a leading NGO in Mumbai, delivering hot, nutritious meals daily to the poor and underserved

How Your Donation Makes an Impact

  • Donate on New Year 2024: Start the New Year with compassion by supporting patients in hospitals who struggle to afford food.
  • Make a Difference:Your New Year donation enables us to serve over 16,000+ meals daily across Mumbai, nourishing children, families, and hospital patients in need.
  • Transform Lives: Charitable giving this New Year isn’t just a donation – it’s hope shared and lives transformed.

How Your Makar Sankranti Donation Helps

  • Donate to Children: Your contributions help feed children in municipal schools who rely on us for their daily nourishment.
  • Donate to Hospitals: Support patients in government hospitals who often skip meals to save for medical costs.
  • Donate to the Poor: Every food donation brings relief to families struggling with hunger during this festive season.
    • Join hands with us this Makar Sankranti and Pongal to ensure no one sleeps hungry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, at Akshaya Chaitanya, we serve 18,000+ meals every day across 104 municipal schools, 29+ government hospitals, cancer care centers, and 4 schools on wheels. Whether you donate on Navratri or Dussehra, you are welcome to visit any of our distribution sites to see how your donation is making a difference. Experience the joy of giving and witness how your contribution helps feed and uplift the needy.

Yes, you can make your Navratri and Dussehra celebrations even more meaningful by donating on behalf of a loved one. Honor someone special by helping the needy, and spread the blessings of the festival.

At Akshaya Chaitanya, we work closely with nutritionists and food safety experts to provide not just meals, but wholesome, nutritious food to the underprivileged. Especially during Navratri, when health and well-being are prioritized, we ensure that the meals we serve promote good health for all.

Ashtami and Navami are generally considered the most sacred days for daana, especially when it involves feeding the needy, offering to girls (Kanya Puja), or helping orphans/patients.

Yes, you can make dana online via Akshaya Chaitanya. There are specific online Navratri donation campaigns for food donations, orphanages, patient welfare, etc.

Prefer sattvic / prasadam food: fruits, sweets (prasad), cooked vegetarian meals, dry ration items. Avoid foods with onion, garlic or non-vegetarian items during fast days if you plan to observe traditional fasts.

Both are possible. You can donate once or set up recurring support. Many people also donate in memory of loved ones (death anniversary) or on birthdays/marriage anniversaries.

Funds are used to prepare and distribute meals to children in government schools, feed families of hospital patients, orphanages, and underprivileged communities. You also get updates and impact reports from Akshaya Chaitanya.

Yes. Akshaya Chaitanya is a registered NGO, all payment gateways are secure, and donations are transparent. Receipts and tax certificates are issued.

You can organize group donations, encourage others to contribute, or use the occasion of birthdays, anniversaries, or festivals to raise funds. Collaborate via our website campaigns, share via social media, or sponsor community food drives.

1. Spiritual Power: This year’s Navratri carries special auspiciousness, and charity is highly rewarded. 2. Charity amplifies fasting & puja: When you fast, observe rituals, then reinforce with daan, the spiritual synergy is believed to increase blessings. 3. Helping communities in need: Many daily wage earners, patients' families, orphanages rely heavily on community support during festivals. 4. 80G Tax Benefit: As with all our donations, those given during Navratri qualify for tax exemption, encouraging more generous giving.

Chaitra Navratri will be celebrated from March 19 to March 27, 2026.

Sharad Navratri will be celebrated from October 8 to October 16, 2026, followed by Dussehra on October 17, 2026.

Make This New Year a Celebration of Giving

The promise of New Year 2024 is best celebrated through compassion and kindness. Your New Year donations help us serve meals to thousands, ensuring no one goes hungry as we welcome the year ahead.

Click Here to Donate Now and Share the Joy!

Make This Makar Sankranti and Pongal a Festival of Giving

This festive season, let’s go beyond celebrations. Donate food, spread happiness, and transform lives. Akshaya Chaitanya is your trusted partner in charitable giving, ensuring your generosity reaches the people who need it most.

Donate Now to Make a Difference!

Please select your donation amount (*1 Meal | ₹ 25/-)

Please Enter amount Minimum donation amount is INR . Please select a valid currency for foreign donations.

You Pledge to serve 0 nutritious meals.

Donations are tax exempted under 80G

For Bank Transactions

Please Enter valid Pan No

Required to claim tax exemption.
Please provide full address to claim 80G.

Please Enter Address

I agree to the terms and privacy policy.

Confirm Your Contribution

Please attach a screenshot of your bank transfer to help us verify your generous donation

Please find our bank details below:
Name

HKM Charitable Foundation

Bank Name

Kotak Bank

A/c Type

Savings account

Account No

6645753806

MICR

500485006

IFSC/RTGS Code

KKBK0000553

Bank Address

Ilyas Mohammed Khan Estate, Road no.1, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad - 500034