Navratri 2026: Dates, Ghatasthapana Muhurat, Nine Colours & Puja Vidhi

Quick answer: Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday 11 October 2026 and is observed over nine days from 11 to 19 October, with Ghatasthapana on the first day. Vijayadashami (Dussehra) falls on Tuesday 20 October 2026, marking the tenth day.

Navratri is one of the most widely observed festivals in the Hindu calendar, dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine forms known as the Navadurga. Sharad Navratri, the autumn observance, is the best known of the four Navratris and leads into Vijayadashami (Dussehra). In 2026 it begins on Sunday 11 October and is celebrated across nine nights and days.

Navratri 2026 dates at a glance

Sharad Navratri 2026 spans nine days from 11 to 19 October 2026. The festival concludes with Vijayadashami on 20 October 2026. The exact tithi window and any muhurat times depend on your location and the panchang your family or temple follows, so treat the day-wise mapping below as a guide and confirm locally.

• FestivalSharad Navratri 2026
• DeityGoddess Durga (Navadurga)
• BeginsSunday, 11 October 2026
• EndsMonday, 19 October 2026
• VijayadashamiTuesday, 20 October 2026
• GhatasthapanaDay 1 — 11 October 2026
• RegionObserved across India and the diaspora

Ghatasthapana (Kalash Sthapana) muhurat

Ghatasthapana, also called Kalash Sthapana, marks the ceremonial beginning of Navratri and is performed on the first day, 11 October 2026. Tradition holds that it should be done during the Pratipada tithi, ideally in the first one-third of the day and avoiding the inauspicious periods of Rahu Kaal and the Chitra Nakshatra/Vaidhriti Yoga windows where applicable.

The precise Ghatasthapana muhurat clock times vary by city and by panchang. [VERIFY] the exact abhijit or morning muhurat for your location with your family priest or local temple before fixing a time; specific clock times should not be assumed from any single source.

Amanta and Purnimanta reckoning

Sharad Navratri falls in the lunar month of Ashwin. In the Amanta system (followed in much of western and southern India) and the Purnimanta system (common in the north), the naming of months can differ, but both traditions place Sharad Navratri in the same Ashwin Shukla Paksha window beginning on Pratipada. For 2026 this means both reckonings point to the same 11-19 October observance. Neither is more correct than the other; follow the panchang your family and temple use.

The nine colours of Navratri 2026

Many devotees, especially in western India, associate each day of Navratri with a colour and dress accordingly for puja and garba. Colour sequences vary by regional tradition and by which panchang is followed, so treat the list below as one popular convention rather than a fixed rule. Confirm the sequence your community observes.

The Navadurga: nine forms worshipped

Each of the nine days is traditionally dedicated to one form of the Navadurga. Devotees recite the name and, where they wish, the associated dhyana shloka for that day.

1. Day 1 — Shailaputri, daughter of the mountains
2. Day 2 — Brahmacharini, the ascetic form
3. Day 3 — Chandraghanta, bearing the crescent moon
4. Day 4 — Kushmanda, the cosmic creator
5. Day 5 — Skandamata, mother of Skanda (Kartikeya)
6. Day 6 — Katyayani, born to sage Katyayana
7. Day 7 — Kaalratri, the fierce protector
8. Day 8 — Mahagauri, the radiant form worshipped on Ashtami
9. Day 9 — Siddhidatri, giver of siddhis, worshipped on Navami

Puja vidhi: step by step

The following is a simple, widely followed sequence for home Navratri puja. Regional and family customs vary; adapt to your own parampara and, where possible, follow guidance from your family priest.

1. Clean the puja space and set up a wooden platform or altar for the deity and the kalash.
2. On Day 1, perform Ghatasthapana: fill a kalash with water, place mango leaves and a coconot on top, and, where customary, sow barley seeds (jav) in a bed of soil around it.
3. Invoke Goddess Durga and light the akhand jyoti (continuous lamp) if your family observes it, keeping fire safety in mind.
4. Offer flowers, kumkum, haldi, akshata, incense and a naivedya (bhog) appropriate to each day.
5. Recite the Durga stotras your family follows, such as verses from the Durga Saptashati, and the day's Navadurga dhyana.
6. On Ashtami or Navami, some families perform Kanya Pujan (Kanjak), honouring young girls as manifestations of the Goddess.
7. On the tenth day, Vijayadashami, conclude with visarjan or udyapan as per your tradition and, where sown, harvest the barley shoots as prasad.

Fasting rules and food

Fasting during Navratri ranges from a strict nirjala or fruit-only vrat to a lighter regimen of one sattvik meal a day. Common practice is to avoid grains, lentils, onion, garlic and non-vegetarian food, and to use permitted ingredients such as kuttu (buckwheat), singhara flour, samak rice, sabudana, potatoes and sendha namak (rock salt). The exact rules differ by family and region, so follow the practice you have grown up with.

Anyone who is pregnant, elderly, unwell or living with a medical condition such as diabetes should consult a doctor before undertaking any fast, and should not feel obliged to fast strictly. Fasting is a matter of devotion and personal capacity, not compulsion.

Who observes Navratri and how

Navratri is observed across communities. Traditionally it is kept by women and men, married and unmarried, and by families as a household observance. Different regions and families hold different views on who takes the strictest vrat; contemporary practice is broad and inclusive. There is no single rule that excludes anyone, and no requirement to prescribe one form over another — follow your family and temple practice, and observe according to your own devotion and ability.

• Home worship with daily puja, kalash and akhand jyoti
• Fasting or a sattvik diet for some or all nine days
• Attending garba and dandiya, especially in Gujarat and among the diaspora
• Kanya Pujan on Ashtami or Navami
• Visiting Durga temples and pandals, particularly during Durga Puja in the east

Regional variations

Navratri is celebrated differently across India while sharing the same core of Goddess worship. In Bengal, Odisha, Assam and the east, the last days coincide with Durga Puja, with elaborate pandals and idol immersion. In Gujarat and Maharashtra, garba and dandiya-raas fill the nights. In the south — Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana — homes display the Golu / Bommai Kolu of dolls and figurines, and Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Puja are observed near the end. In the north, Ramlila performances lead to Dussehra and the burning of Ravana effigies on Vijayadashami. Where fireworks or effigy-burning are involved, local law governs their use and must be checked; never use them unlawfully or unsafely.

Vijayadashami 2026

Vijayadashami, or Dussehra, falls on Tuesday 20 October 2026, the day after Navratri concludes. It marks the victory of good over evil — Durga over Mahishasura and Rama over Ravana — and is considered an auspicious day for new beginnings in many traditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Navratri 2026 begin?

Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday 11 October 2026 with Ghatasthapana on the first day, and is observed over nine days until 19 October 2026.

When is Vijayadashami (Dussehra) in 2026?

Vijayadashami falls on Tuesday 20 October 2026, the tenth day, immediately after the nine days of Navratri conclude on 19 October 2026.

What is Ghatasthapana and when is it in 2026?

Ghatasthapana, or Kalash Sthapana, is the ceremonial installation of the sacred pot that begins Navratri. In 2026 it is performed on Day 1, 11 October, during the Pratipada tithi. Confirm the exact muhurat with your local panchang or priest.

What are the nine colours of Navratri 2026?

One popular convention is Yellow, Green, Grey, Orange, White, Red, Royal Blue, Pink and Purple across the nine days. Colour sequences vary by region and panchang, so follow the order your community observes.

Who are the Navadurga worshipped during Navratri?

The nine forms are Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri, one honoured on each of the nine days.

What can I eat during Navratri fasting?

Common vrat foods include kuttu and singhara flour, samak rice, sabudana, potatoes, fruit, dairy and sendha namak, while grains, lentils, onion and garlic are usually avoided. Rules vary by family, so follow your own tradition.

Do the Amanta and Purnimanta panchangs give different Navratri dates in 2026?

Both reckonings place Sharad Navratri in Ashwin Shukla Paksha, and for 2026 both point to the same 11-19 October window. Neither is more correct; follow the panchang your family and temple use.

Is fasting during Navratri compulsory, and is it safe for everyone?

Fasting is a matter of devotion and personal capacity, not compulsion, and practice varies widely. Anyone who is pregnant, elderly, unwell or living with a medical condition should consult a doctor before fasting.