Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October and runs through Monday, 19 October, with Vijayadashami (Dussehra) falling on Tuesday, 20 October. The nine-night festival honors the nine forms of Goddess Durga (the Navadurga) through daily worship, fasting, garba nights, and a fresh outfit color for every day. Here’s a quick, organized rundown of everything you need — dates, colors, rituals, food rules, and what to wear.
Navratri 2026 Dates at a Glance
| Day | Tithi | Goddess Worshipped | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pratipada (Ghatasthapana) | Maa Shailputri | Sun, 11 Oct |
| 2 | Dwitiya | Maa Brahmacharini | Mon, 12 Oct |
| 3 | Tritiya | Maa Chandraghanta | Tue, 13 Oct |
| 4 | Chaturthi | Maa Kushmanda | Wed, 14 Oct |
| 5 | Panchami | Maa Skandamata | Thu, 15 Oct |
| 6 | Shashthi | Maa Katyayani | Fri, 16 Oct |
| 7 | Saptami | Maa Kalaratri | Sat, 17 Oct |
| 8 | Durga Ashtami | Maa Mahagauri | Sun, 18 Oct |
| 9 | Maha Navami | Maa Siddhidatri | Mon, 19 Oct |
| 10 | Vijayadashami | Dussehra | Tue, 20 Oct |
Ghatasthapana Muhurat (11 Oct): roughly 6:22 AM–10:18 AM, with an alternate Abhijit window around 11:46 AM–12:32 PM. Timings shift slightly by city, so it’s worth checking a local panchang before the ritual.
Why Nine Nights?
The festival traces back to two intertwined legends: Goddess Durga’s nine-day battle against the buffalo demon Mahishasura, and Lord Rama’s nine days of prayer to Durga before defeating Ravana — which is why Dussehra marks both victories together. The nine nights are also split into three sets of three, invoking Durga for strength, Lakshmi for prosperity, and Saraswati for wisdom.
Navratri 2026 Colors — Day by Day
Since Navratri 2026 opens on a Sunday, the color sequence starts with orange. Coordinating outfits to the day’s color is one of the festival’s most-loved traditions, especially on garba grounds.
| Day | Date | Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 Oct | Orange | Energy & enthusiasm |
| 2 | 12 Oct | White | Peace & purity |
| 3 | 13 Oct | Red | Power & passion |
| 4 | 14 Oct | Royal Blue | Richness & divinity |
| 5 | 15 Oct | Yellow | Happiness & optimism |
| 6 | 16 Oct | Green | Growth & renewal |
| 7 | 17 Oct | Grey | Balance & quiet strength |
| 8 | 18 Oct | Purple | Ambition & royalty |
| 9 | 19 Oct | Peacock Green | Compassion & confidence |
Ghatasthapana & Daily Puja — The Basics
Ghatasthapana is the ritual that kicks off Navratri: a kalash is installed and Goddess Durga is invoked to reside in it for nine days. In short, the process involves sowing barley seeds in a clay pot, preparing a kalash with water, a coin, and mango leaves, placing it in the puja space, and performing the aavahan (invocation). Many households also light an akhand jyoti that stays lit for all nine days. Twice-daily aarti follows, along with the day’s bhog offering, and the festival closes with Kanya Pujan and visarjan on the final days.
Fasting Rules — What’s Allowed
Navratri fasting varies by household — some observe all nine days, others just the first and last two. Here’s the quick reference:
| Allowed | Avoided |
|---|---|
| Fruits, milk, curd, paneer, makhana | Wheat, regular rice, all lentils/pulses |
| Kuttu, singhara, rajgira flours | Onion, garlic, non-veg, eggs, alcohol |
| Samak rice, sabudana | Regular table salt (use sendha namak) |
| Potatoes, sweet potato, pumpkin | Turmeric, mustard, processed foods |
Garba, Dandiya & Regional Celebrations
Garba — dancing in circles around a lamp or the goddess’s image — symbolizes life revolving around the divine feminine, while dandiya raas with sticks later in the night echoes Durga’s battle. Beyond Gujarat’s garba grounds, Navratri takes different forms nationwide: Bengal’s Durga Puja brings elaborate pandals and idols culminating in Sindoor Khela; North India stages Ramlila performances ending in Ravan Dahan; South India sets up Golu doll displays and performs Ayudha Puja; and Mysore hosts its royal Dasara procession.
Fashion Guide — What to Wear for Every Occasion
| Occasion | Recommended Outfit |
|---|---|
| Garba/Dandiya nights | Chaniya choli or lehenga, breathable fabric, flat footwear |
| Home puja mornings | Cotton silk saree or salwar kameez in the day’s color |
| Kanya Pujan | Anarkali suit, comfortable and festive |
| Pandal hopping (Durga Puja) | Laal paar saree, georgette sarees for long evenings |
| Ashtami/Navami evenings | Statement lehenga, silk saree, or sharara set with full jewelry |
| Dussehra family outing | Indo-western outfit, gown, or crisp kurta set |
For men, the traditional Gujarati kediyu rules the garba ground, while a kurta pajama (paired with a Nehru jacket for evenings) works across puja days and Dussehra. On the jewelry front, oxidized silver — chunky necklaces, jhumkas, kamarbandh, and anklets — is Navratri’s signature, contrasting with the gold-tone and temple jewelry favored during Durga Puja.
For hair and makeup, braids hold up far better than open hair through hours of dancing, and a sweat-proof base with waterproof kajal is more practical for garba nights than heavy glam — save that for Ashtami evening and photographs.
Quick FAQs
When does Navratri 2026 end?
Maha Navami falls on 19 October, with Dussehra on 20 October.
What’s the difference between Navratri and Durga Puja?
Navratri is the broader nine-night worship observed with fasting and garba across North and West India; Durga Puja is Bengal’s version, centered on pandals and idols.
How far in advance should outfits be ordered?
Since garba starts on Day 1, it’s best to finalize festive outfits — especially custom-stitched ones — by mid-September.