Navratri 2026: Date, Tithi, Puja Vidhi, Nine Days and Significance
Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, October 11, 2026, observed on Pratipada Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the Ashwin month. The word Navratri means nine nights, and across all nine days Goddess Durga is worshipped in her nine forms, known as Navadurga. This is one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals in India, observed with fasting, puja, Garba, Dandiya Raas, and Kanya Puja across different states. Navratri is celebrated four times a year, but the Sharad Navratri in Ashwin month is the most significant and widely observed. Below you will find the exact date, Tithi timing, the nine forms of Durga, day-wise colour significance, puja vidhi, fasting rules, and how Navratri is celebrated across India.
Navratri 2026 At a Glance
| Detail | Timing / Info |
|---|---|
| Festival | Navratri / Sharad Navratri |
| Start Date 2026 | Sunday, October 11, 2026 |
| Hindu Month | Ashwin |
| Paksha | Shukla Paksha |
| Tithi | Pratipada |
| Pratipada Tithi Begins | Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 9:19 PM |
| Pratipada Tithi Ends | Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 9:30 PM |
| Duration | Nine Days |
Navratri 2026 Date and Tithi
Sharad Navratri begins on Pratipada Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the Ashwin month and runs for nine days. Since the date follows the Hindu lunar calendar, it shifts every year. This year, the Pratipada Tithi begins at Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 9:19 PM and ends at Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 9:30 PM, with Navratri starting on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
The first day of Navratri is marked by Ghatasthapana, also known as Kalash Sthapana, where a sacred pot is installed and worshipped as a symbol of Goddess Durga. The Muhurat for Ghatasthapana is determined by the Panchang and varies each year. Performing Ghatasthapana during the auspicious window on the first day is considered the correct way to begin Navratri puja.
What Is Navratri
Navratri is a nine-day Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine forms. The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, particularly the defeat of the demon Mahishasura by Goddess Durga after nine days of battle. Each of the nine days is dedicated to one form of the goddess, and devotees worship each form with specific flowers, colours, and offerings.
There are four Navratris in a year — Chaitra Navratri in March-April, Ashadha Navratri, Sharad Navratri in September-October, and Paush Navratri. Of these, Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri are the most widely observed. Sharad Navratri, falling in Ashwin month, is the biggest of the four and ends with Vijayadashami, also called Dussehra, on the tenth day.
The Story Behind Navratri
The central story of Navratri comes from the Devi Mahatmya, also called Durga Saptashati or Chandi Path, a text within the Markandeya Purana. The demon king Mahishasura, after receiving a boon that no man or god could defeat him, began terrorising the heavens and the earth. The gods, unable to stop him, combined their powers and created Goddess Durga a divine warrior who embodied the collective strength of all the deities.
For nine days, Durga fought Mahishasura and his armies. Each day he changed forms to try to escape her, and each day she found a new way to counter him. On the tenth day, Vijayadashami, she finally killed him in his buffalo form. This victory is what Navratri commemorates, and the tenth day is celebrated as Dussehra — the day dharma triumphed.
A second story connects Navratri to Lord Rama, who worshipped Goddess Durga for nine days before going into battle against Ravana, seeking her blessings for victory. In many North Indian traditions, the nine days of Navratri are tied to Rama's puja, and Dussehra marks the day he finally defeated Ravana.
Nine Days of Navratri and Navadurga
Each day of Navratri is dedicated to one of the nine forms of Goddess Durga, collectively called Navadurga. Here is the day-wise breakdown:
Day 1 — Shailputri: Daughter of the Himalayas, depicted riding a bull and holding a trident and lotus. She represents the power of nature and is the first form worshipped on Pratipada.
Day 2 — Brahmacharini: The form of Parvati during her years of penance to win Shiva. She holds a rosary and water pot and represents devotion and austerity.
Day 3 — Chandraghanta: Wears a crescent moon on her forehead and is the warrior goddess ready for battle. She represents bravery and peace together.
Day 4 — Kushmanda: Believed to be the creator of the universe, she lives in the core of the sun and gives the world energy and light. Her name means the one who created the universe with a smile.
Day 5 — Skandamata: Mother of Lord Kartikeya (Skanda), depicted sitting on a lion with her son in her lap. She represents the power of a mother's love and protects her devotees like a mother protects her child.
Day 6 — Katyayani: The fierce warrior form of Durga, born from the anger of the three main gods to destroy Mahishasura. She rides a lion and carries weapons in all four hands.
Day 7 — Kalaratri: The most ferocious form, with dark skin, wild hair, and flames from her mouth and nose. She destroys darkness, ignorance, and evil forces, and though her appearance is frightening, she blesses her devotees with courage and fearlessness.
Day 8 — Mahagauri: The calm and pure form after Kalaratri. She is white or golden and represents peace, purity, and forgiveness. Devotees seek her blessings to wash away sins and start fresh.
Day 9 — Siddhidatri: Sits on a lotus and possesses all eight Siddhis. She fulfils all the desires of her devotees and is worshipped on Navami, the ninth and final day of Navratri.
Navratri Colours Day by Day
Each day of Navratri has a colour associated with it, and devotees traditionally wear that colour during the day's puja. The colours for the nine days are:
| Day | Goddess | Colour |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Shailputri | Yellow |
| Day 2 | Brahmacharini | Green |
| Day 3 | Chandraghanta | Grey |
| Day 4 | Kushmanda | Orange |
| Day 5 | Skandamata | White |
| Day 6 | Katyayani | Red |
| Day 7 | Kalaratri | Royal Blue |
| Day 8 | Mahagauri | Pink |
| Day 9 | Siddhidatri | Purple |
Ghatasthapana Puja Vidhi
Ghatasthapana is the most important ritual on the first day of Navratri and sets the tone for the next nine days. The Kalash — a copper or clay pot — is filled with water, mango leaves are placed around its mouth, and a coconut is placed on top. The pot represents the universe and the presence of Goddess Durga.
Place the Kalash on a bed of soil or sand in which barley seeds have been sown. This soil-and-seed combination is called Jwara or Navratri Jau and the sprouts that grow over the nine days are considered auspicious. The Ghatasthapana ritual begins with a prayer invoking the goddess into the Kalash, followed by recitation of the Devi Mahatmya or Durga Saptashati.
Throughout the nine days, the Kalash is worshipped daily with flowers, incense, and a fresh diya. The barley sprouts growing in the soil are considered a sign of the goddess's presence and the household's good fortune through the year.
Navratri Puja Vidhi
Start each day with a bath before sunrise, then light a diya and incense in front of the Durga idol or image. The puja thali should include Kumkum, Haldi, Akshat, red flowers preferably red hibiscus, a diya, incense, and sweets or fruits as Naivedya. On the first day, perform Ghatasthapana before beginning the main puja.
Recite the Durga Saptashati or at least one chapter from it each day. Many families also recite the Durga Chalisa or Devi Stotra. On Ashtami (eighth day) and Navami (ninth day), Kanya Puja is performed, where young girls are invited to the home, their feet are washed, they are offered food, and they are given gifts as a symbol of the goddess herself visiting the home.
The key mantras for Navratri puja are:
Om Dum Durgayei Namaha — the main Durga mantra recited throughout the nine days.
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Shakti Rupena Samsthita, Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah — a verse from the Devi Mahatmya recited in praise of the goddess.
Navratri Fasting Rules
Fasting during Navratri is one of the most widely observed practices of the festival. Most devotees avoid grains, non-vegetarian food, onion, garlic, and alcohol for the full nine days. Sendha Namak, also called rock salt, is the only salt used in Navratri fasting food, as regular table salt is avoided.
Common Navratri fasting foods include Sabudana Khichdi, Kuttu ki Puri, Singhara Atta dishes, Rajgira preparations, fruits, milk, curd, and Makhana. These ingredients are considered acceptable during the fast since they are not classified as grains in Navratri fasting tradition.
Some people observe a full fast without eating anything for all nine days, while others eat one meal a day. Some devotees fast only on the first day, Ashtami, and Navami, and eat normal food on the other days. There is no single rule — family tradition and regional practice guide how the fast is kept.
Kanya Puja on Ashtami and Navami
Kanya Puja, also called Kanjak Puja, is one of the most important rituals of Navratri. It is performed on the eighth or ninth day, depending on family and regional practice. Nine young girls, typically below the age of ten, are invited to the home. They represent the nine forms of Goddess Durga and are treated as the goddess herself visiting the household.
The girls' feet are washed with water and flower petals, tilak is applied on their foreheads, and they are served a full meal including Poori, Chana, and Halwa, which is the traditional Kanya Puja prasad. At the end of the meal, the girls are given gifts usually money, fruits, or new clothes before being seen off with respect.
Many families also include a young boy in the Kanya Puja, referred to as Langur or Batuk, who represents Lord Bhairav, the protector of Goddess Durga.
Navratri Celebrations Across India
In Gujarat, Navratri is synonymous with Garba and Dandiya Raas the traditional folk dances performed every evening during the nine nights. Massive outdoor Garba events draw thousands of participants dressed in traditional Chaniya Choli and Kediya, dancing in circles around a central lamp or Durga idol. Gujarat's Navratri celebration is among the most energetic in the country and has been recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.
In West Bengal, Navratri coincides with Durga Puja, the largest festival of the state. Enormous pandals displaying elaborate artistic depictions of Goddess Durga defeating Mahishasura are set up across Kolkata and all of West Bengal. The celebration runs from Saptami to Vijayadashami and includes Dhunuchi dance, Sindoor Khela on the final day, and large processions to immerse the Durga idol in the Ganges.
In Tamil Nadu, Navratri is celebrated as Golu, where households set up a stepped display of dolls and figurines depicting gods, goddesses, and scenes from Hindu mythology. Women visit each other's homes to see the Golu displays, exchange gifts, and sing devotional songs. The Golu tradition is one of the most unique regional expressions of Navratri in South India.
In Himachal Pradesh and Kullu, the Kullu Dussehra is a major celebration that brings together hundreds of local deities in a week-long fair on the Dhalpur ground. In Mysore, Karnataka, the Mysuru Dasara is one of the grandest state celebrations in the country, with a famous elephant procession carrying the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari through the city streets.
In North India, Ram Leela performances are dramatic enactments of the Ramayana run through the nine days of Navratri and culminate on Dussehra with the burning of giant effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad.
Vijayadashami and Dussehra
The tenth day of Navratri is Vijayadashami, celebrated as Dussehra across India. It marks Durga's victory over Mahishasura and also commemorates Rama's victory over Ravana. The word Vijayadashami means the tenth day of victory.
In North India, large effigies of Ravana are burned in open grounds as a symbolic end to evil and the triumph of good. In West Bengal and Odisha, the day marks the immersion of the Durga Puja idols. In Gujarat and Maharashtra, it is a day of worship and new beginnings; many people choose Vijayadashami to start new ventures, buy property, or take important decisions, since the day is considered highly auspicious.
Navratri Today
Navratri is observed at two distinct levels today the large public Garba events and Ram Leela performances that fill grounds and auditoriums across the country, and the quieter household puja where families set up the Kalash, fast, and recite the Durga Saptashati daily. Online streaming of Garba events from Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and Surat now draws global audiences, while Kolkata's Durga Puja pandal hopping has become a tourist attraction in its own right. The nine-day period draws more active participation than almost any other festival in the Hindu calendar, cutting across regions, languages, and community lines.
