Nine nights of Goddess Durga

Sharad Navratri 2026

Sunday, 11 October 2026 to Monday, 19 October 2026

Nine nights and days of worship of the nine forms of Durga, 11 to 19 October 2026, followed by Dussehra on 20 October.

Sharad Navratri is the most widely celebrated Navratri. It begins on Pratipada with Ghatasthapana (kalash sthapana) on Sunday 11 October 2026 and runs for nine days: Durga Ashtami falls on 18 October and Maha Navami on 19 October, and Vijayadashami (Dussehra) follows on 20 October.

Each day is dedicated to one of the nine forms of the Goddess (Navadurga), with its own colour, bhog (food offering) and mantra. Many people fast, some only on the first and last days. The nine forms are listed day by day on the Navratri colour pages.

Rituals

Ghatasthapana on day 1 and sowing barley in the kalash.
Daily puja, aarti and the Durga Saptashati or Chalisa.
Fasting on fruit, milk, sabudana, kuttu and sendha namak (rock salt).
Kanya pujan on Ashtami or Navami: feeding nine girls and a boy.

Do

Keep the home and puja space clean.
Wear the colour of the day if you follow that custom.
Offer the day's bhog and eat sattvik food.

Avoid

By custom, avoid onion, garlic, meat, alcohol and grains during the fast.
Avoid cutting hair and nails, and avoid leather items for the nine days if your family observes it.

Nine days, nine colours

Day 1
Orange Day 2
White Day 3
Red Day 4
Royal blue Day 5
Yellow Day 6
Green Day 7
Grey Day 8
Pink Day 9
Purple

Goddess, bhog and mantra for each day →

Frequently asked questions

When does Navratri start in 2026?

Sharad Navratri starts on Sunday 11 October 2026 and ends on Monday 19 October. Dussehra is on 20 October.

What are the nine Navratri colours?

A common weekday scheme for 2026 is orange, white, red, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, pink and purple, one for each day. See each day's page for the goddess, bhog and mantra.

Which day is Durga Ashtami 2026?

Sunday 18 October 2026.

Festival dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar (tithi) and can differ by a day between regions and panchangs. Times are computed for each city from NASA JPL planetary data. Confirm with your local temple or priest for religious observances.

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Sharad Navratri 2026

Rituals

Do

Avoid

Nine days, nine colours

Frequently asked questions

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