Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday 11 October and ends with Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October. This guide gives the date, Goddess and offering for each of the nine days, links to the full page for every Navadurga, the Ghatasthapana guide, fasting rules and what makes Navratri sacred.
Navratri 2026: Ghatasthapana on Sunday 11 October. Nine days end Monday 19 October. Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October. Durga Ashtami is 18 October, Maha Navami is 19 October.
Last verified: 25 September 2026. Dates are for India, checked against Drik Panchang (Delhi). Muhurat timings change by city. Please confirm with your local panchang.
The nine days of Navratri
नवदुर्गा
One form of Maa Durga for each day. Tap a name to read her story, mantra and puja vidhi.
| Date | Goddess | Bhog (offering) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 OctSun | Day 1: Maa Shailaputri | Pure cow's ghee |
| 12 OctMon | Day 2: Maa Brahmacharini | Sugar (shakkar) |
| 13 OctTue | Day 3: Maa Chandraghanta | Milk |
| 14 OctWed | Day 4: Maa Kushmanda | Malpua |
| 15 OctThu | Day 5: Maa Skandamata | Bananas (kela) |
| 16 OctFri | Day 6: Maa Katyayani | Honey (shahad) |
| 17 OctSat | Day 7: Maa Kalaratri | Jaggery (gud) |
| 18 OctSun | Day 8: Maa Mahagauri | Coconut (nariyal) |
| 19 OctMon | Day 9: Maa Siddhidatri | Sesame seeds (til) |
| 20 OctTue | Dussehra (Vijayadashami) | Shami leaves |
Start here: Ghatasthapana
First ritual on the first morning of Navratri
Navratri begins by inviting Maa Durga into the home with a sacred kalash and barley seeds.
What to do: Read our step-by-step Ghatasthapana guide with the samagri list and the opening mantra.
What is Navratri?
Navratri means "nine nights." It is nine nights of worship of Maa Durga, the Divine Mother, in her nine forms called the Navadurga. The festival is rooted in the Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati), 700 verses from the Markandeya Purana that describe the Goddess's great battles and victories over evil. The nine forms of the Goddess are named in the Devi Kavacham. Sharad Navratri, in the autumn month of Ashwin, is the largest Navratri of the year.
How Navratri is celebrated across India
| Region | How Navratri is observed |
|---|---|
| North India | Fasting, Ghatasthapana at home, Kanya Puja on Ashtami or Navami, Ramlila performances, and Ravana Dahan on Dussehra |
| Gujarat | Nine nights of Garba and Dandiya Raas - the world's largest folk dance celebration |
| West Bengal, Assam, Odisha | Durga Puja pandals, Sandhi Puja at the junction of Ashtami and Navami, Sindoor Khela and idol immersion on Vijayadashami |
| South India | Golu display of traditional dolls, Saraswati Puja and Ayudha Puja on Navami |
| Karnataka | Mysuru Dasara royal elephant procession on Vijayadashami |
| Maharashtra | Home Ghatasthapana, visits to Devi temples - Tulja Bhavani (Tuljapur), Mahalakshmi (Kolhapur), Saptashringi (Nashik) |
Navratri fasting: what to eat and avoid
| Avoid during the vrat | Allowed during the vrat |
|---|---|
| Wheat and rice | Kuttu (buckwheat) flour, singhara (water chestnut) flour, rajgira (amaranth) flour |
| Lentils and pulses | Sabudana (tapioca), makhana (fox nuts) |
| Onion and garlic | All fresh fruits, coconut, dry fruits and nuts |
| Regular table salt | Sendha namak (rock salt) |
| Non-vegetarian food | Milk, paneer, dahi (yogurt), ghee |
| Alcohol | Potatoes, sweet potatoes, all vegetables except onion and garlic |
The fasting rules follow the tradition of keeping a sattvik (pure) diet during the nine days. The specific foods have been observed across generations of Navratri vrat practice. Elderly people and those with health conditions may keep a lighter phalahar fast with fruits and milk. Always speak to your doctor if you have diabetes, blood pressure or take regular medicines.
Scriptural basis: The Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati, Markandeya Purana). The nine forms: Devi Kavacham. Navratri worship described in the Devi Bhagavata Purana.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions
When does Navratri 2026 start and end?
Sharad Navratri 2026 begins with Ghatasthapana on Sunday 11 October and the nine days end on Monday 19 October. Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is on Tuesday 20 October 2026.
When are Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami in 2026?
Durga Ashtami (the eighth day, Maa Mahagauri) is on Sunday 18 October. Maha Navami (the ninth day, Maa Siddhidatri) is on Monday 19 October. In 2026, as per Drik Panchang (Delhi), the Ashtami tithi extends until the morning of 19 October, so the Kanya Puja and Sandhi Puja may fall on 19 October.
Who are the nine forms of Maa Durga worshipped in Navratri?
The nine forms, called Navadurga, are: Shailaputri (Day 1), Brahmacharini (Day 2), Chandraghanta (Day 3), Kushmanda (Day 4), Skandamata (Day 5), Katyayani (Day 6), Kalaratri (Day 7), Mahagauri (Day 8) and Siddhidatri (Day 9). They are named in this order in the Devi Kavacham, recited with the Durga Saptashati.
Which scripture tells the story of Navratri?
The primary scripture is the Devi Mahatmya, also called the Durga Saptashati, found within the Markandeya Purana (Chapters 81 to 93). It has 700 verses and narrates the Goddess's battles and victories. The names of the nine forms are given in the Devi Kavacham. The Devi Bhagavata Purana also contains extensive teachings on Shakti worship.
What is Kanya Puja and when should I do it?
Kanya Puja is the worship of young girls as living forms of the nine Navadurgas. Nine girls (or as many as you can invite), aged 2 to 10, are honoured as the Goddess. Their feet are washed, tilak is applied, and they are fed puri, halwa and kala chana and given a small gift. It is traditionally done on Ashtami (18 October) or Navami (19 October 2026).
Is Navratri right after Pitru Paksha?
Yes. Pitru Paksha ends with Sarva Pitru Amavasya on Saturday 10 October 2026. Navratri begins the very next morning, Sunday 11 October. The transition from ancestor worship to Devi worship happens overnight.
What does Vijayadashami celebrate?
Vijayadashami on 20 October 2026 celebrates two victories: the Goddess's victory over the Asura Mahishasura (as told in the Devi Mahatmya) and Lord Rama's victory over Ravana (as told in the Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda). It is the day of the triumph of Dharma over Adharma.
Can elderly people or those with health problems keep the Navratri fast?
Yes. Our tradition has always allowed a lighter phalahar fast (fruits, milk and sattvik foods) for the elderly, the unwell and pregnant women. The Devi Bhagavata Purana says the Goddess values sincere devotion above physical austerity. If you have diabetes, blood pressure or take regular medicines, please speak to your doctor before keeping a strict fast. Devotion of the heart is what reaches the Goddess.
What foods are avoided during the Navratri vrat?
The vrat tradition, as observed across India, avoids wheat, rice, lentils, onion, garlic, non-vegetarian food and regular table salt. Allowed foods include fruits, milk, paneer, ghee, sendha namak (rock salt), kuttu (buckwheat) flour, singhara (water chestnut) flour, rajgira (amaranth) flour, sabudana, potatoes and all fresh fruits and nuts.
Do I need a pandit to do Navratri puja at home?
No. The Navratri puja at home can be done simply and sincerely by any member of the family. Light a lamp, offer flowers and bhog, chant the Goddess's mantra or read from the Durga Saptashati, and do the aarti. The Devi Bhagavata Purana says the Goddess herself comes to homes where she is invited with a pure heart.
Navratri 2026 series
- Navratri 2026: complete guide and dates
- Ghatasthapana: kalash sthapana at home
- Day 1 (Orange): Maa Shailaputri
- Day 2 (White): Maa Brahmacharini
- Day 3 (Red): Maa Chandraghanta
- Day 4 (Royal Blue): Maa Kushmanda
- Day 5 (Yellow): Maa Skandamata
- Day 6 (Green): Maa Katyayani
- Day 7 (Grey): Maa Kalaratri
- Day 8 (Purple): Maa Mahagauri
- Day 9 (Peacock Green): Maa Siddhidatri
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Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Shakti-Rupena Samsthita. Namastasyai. Jai Mata Di.