Navratri 2026 Date: Full Calendar, Ghatasthapana Muhurat, 9 Colours and Dussehra Date
Updated: 5 October 2026
Shardiya Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October 2026 and the nine days of Durga puja run until Monday, 19 October. Dussehra (Vijayadashami) falls on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Ghatasthapana, or Kalash Sthapana, is done on the morning of 11 October, and the main muhurat in Delhi is from 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM.
The one date that is confusing people this year is Ashtami. Because of how the tithis fall, most north Indian panchangs place both Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami on 19 October. We explain why below, along with the full day-wise calendar, the nine colours, and the Durga Puja dates for Bengal.
Navratri 2026 at a Glance
| Event | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Pratipada tithi begins | 10 October, 9:19 PM | Saturday |
| Navratri begins / Ghatasthapana | 11 October 2026 | Sunday |
| Pratipada tithi ends | 11 October, 9:30 PM | Sunday |
| Durga Ashtami (most north Indian calendars) | 19 October 2026 | Monday |
| Maha Navami | 19 October 2026 | Monday |
| Dussehra / Vijayadashami | 20 October 2026 | Tuesday |
Why Navratri Starts on 11 October, Not 10 October
Pratipada, the first lunar day of the bright half of Ashwin, begins at 9:19 PM on 10 October. Hindu festivals usually follow the udaya tithi rule, which means the tithi present at sunrise decides the day. At sunrise on 10 October, Pratipada has not started yet. At sunrise on 11 October, it is running, and it continues until 9:30 PM that night.
So the first day of Navratri, and Ghatasthapana, falls on Sunday, 11 October. The evening of 10 October is still Sarva Pitru Amavasya and Mahalaya, the end of Pitru Paksha.
Ghatasthapana Muhurat 2026
| Muhurat | Time (New Delhi) |
|---|---|
| Ghatasthapana muhurat | 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM, 11 October |
| Abhijit muhurat (alternative) | 11:44 AM to 12:31 PM, 11 October |
Timings shift by a few minutes from city to city because sunrise is different. For example, published timings for Ahmedabad are 6:35 AM to 10:29 AM, and for Bengaluru 6:09 AM to 10:07 AM. If you are not in Delhi, check your local panchang or ask your family pandit for the exact window.
If you miss the morning window, the Abhijit muhurat around midday is the commonly accepted alternative. Since Pratipada lasts until 9:30 PM, the whole of 11 October falls within the correct tithi.
Simple Kalash Sthapana Steps
- Clean the puja space and place a wooden chowki covered with a red cloth.
- Spread clean soil in a wide earthen pot and sow barley (jau) seeds in it.
- Fill a copper or brass kalash with water, add a coin, a supari, rice and a few mango leaves around the mouth.
- Place a coconut wrapped in red cloth with mauli on top of the kalash.
- Set up the idol or picture of Maa Durga, light the akhand jyoti if your family keeps one, and offer flowers, roli, rice and sweets.
- Begin the nine-day puja with Maa Shailputri’s mantra and aarti.
Family customs vary a lot here. Some households do not sow jau, some do not keep an akhand jyoti, and that is fine. Follow what your family has always done.
Navratri 2026 Calendar: Day-Wise Goddess and Colours
Each day of Navratri is dedicated to one of the nine forms of Durga, known as Navadurga. The day-wise colour tradition, popular in Maharashtra and Gujarat and now followed across India, is linked to the weekday on which Navratri starts. Because Navratri 2026 starts on a Sunday, the sequence begins with orange.
| Day | Date | Tithi | Goddess | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 11 Oct (Sun) | Pratipada | Maa Shailputri | Orange |
| Day 2 | 12 Oct (Mon) | Dwitiya | Maa Brahmacharini | White |
| Day 3 | 13 Oct (Tue) | Tritiya | Maa Chandraghanta | Red |
| Day 4 | 14 Oct (Wed) | Chaturthi | Maa Kushmanda | Royal Blue |
| Day 5 | 15 Oct (Thu) | Panchami | Maa Skandamata | Yellow |
| Day 6 | 16 Oct (Fri) | Shashthi | Maa Katyayani | Green |
| Day 7 | 17 Oct (Sat) | Saptami | Maa Kalaratri | Grey |
| Day 8 | 18 Oct (Sun) | Ashtami begins | Maa Mahagauri | Purple |
| Day 9 | 19 Oct (Mon) | Ashtami / Navami | Maa Siddhidatri | Peacock Green |
| Dussehra | 20 Oct (Tue) | Dashami | Vijayadashami | — |
Quick tip: If you are planning outfits for office or garba nights, save this table. The colours are a tradition, not a religious rule, so nobody will mind if you skip a day.
What Each Day of Navratri Means
Day 1, Maa Shailputri: The daughter of the Himalayas and the first form of Durga. Devotees pray for stability and strength. Ghee is a common offering.
Day 2, Maa Brahmacharini: The form of Parvati in deep penance. She stands for discipline and devotion. Sugar and fruits are offered.
Day 3, Maa Chandraghanta: She wears a half moon shaped like a bell on her forehead and represents courage. Milk and kheer are traditional offerings.
Day 4, Maa Kushmanda: Believed to have created the universe with her smile. Malpua is a popular bhog.
Day 5, Maa Skandamata: The mother of Kartikeya (Skanda), worshipped for the wellbeing of children. Bananas are offered.
Day 6, Maa Katyayani: The warrior form who defeated Mahishasura. Unmarried girls often pray to her for a good life partner. Honey is offered.
Day 7, Maa Kalaratri: The fierce form who destroys darkness and fear. Jaggery is the traditional bhog.
Day 8, Maa Mahagauri: The calm, radiant form linked with purity and peace. Coconut is offered.
Day 9, Maa Siddhidatri: The giver of siddhis or spiritual powers. Navami puja ends with havan and kanya pujan in many homes.
Durga Ashtami 2026: 18 or 19 October?
This is the most searched question about Navratri this year, so here is a straight answer.
The Ashtami tithi starts during the day on 18 October and ends late on the morning of 19 October. Because it is not present at sunrise on 18 October, most north Indian panchangs mark Durga Ashtami on Monday, 19 October. Navami begins later the same morning, so Maha Navami is also observed on 19 October. In simple terms, Ashtami and Navami overlap on one day in 2026.
A few calendars list Ashtami on 18 October, so you may see both dates online. If your family does kanya pujan on Ashtami, the common practice this year is to do it on the morning of 19 October, before the Ashtami tithi ends. Families that do kanya pujan on Navami can do it on 19 October after the tithi changes, or follow their usual custom.
Because these timings differ by city and tradition, confirm the exact time with your local panchang or family priest.
Kanya Pujan Tips
- Invite nine girls (traditionally between 2 and 10 years old) and one young boy, who represents Langur or Bhairav.
- Wash their feet, apply tilak and tie mauli before serving the meal.
- The traditional bhog is halwa, puri and black chana.
- Give a small gift such as a bangle set, stationery or a token amount, and touch their feet for blessings.
Durga Puja 2026 Dates in West Bengal
Bengal follows its own calendar rules for Durga Puja, so its dates move one day later than the north Indian Navratri calendar this year.
| Ritual | Date |
|---|---|
| Mahalaya | 10 October (Saturday) |
| Maha Shashthi | 17 October (Saturday) |
| Maha Saptami | 18 October (Sunday) |
| Maha Ashtami | 19 October (Monday) |
| Sandhi Puja | 19 October, approx. 10:27 AM to 11:15 AM |
| Maha Navami | 20 October (Tuesday) |
| Bijoya Dashami | 21 October (Wednesday) |
Kolkata pandal hopping usually peaks from Saptami to Navami, so 18 to 20 October will be the busiest days this year.
Navratri Fasting Rules: What to Eat and What to Avoid
Many people keep all nine fasts, while others fast only on the first and last days. There is no single rule, but these are the common practices.
Usually allowed:
- Kuttu (buckwheat) and singhare (water chestnut) flour
- Sabudana, samak rice (barnyard millet) and rajgira (amaranth)
- Potatoes, sweet potatoes, arbi and raw banana
- Fruits, dry fruits, milk, curd, paneer and makhana
- Sendha namak (rock salt) instead of regular salt
Usually avoided:
- Wheat, rice, regular salt and pulses
- Onion and garlic
- Non-vegetarian food, eggs and alcohol
Practical advice: Drink enough water, and avoid eating only fried kuttu puris and sabudana vada for nine days. If you have diabetes, are pregnant, or take regular medicine, speak to your doctor before keeping a strict fast.
Navratri Do’s and Don’ts
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Keep the puja space clean every day | Leave the akhand jyoti unattended near curtains or cloth |
| Offer the day’s bhog to the goddess | Cut hair or nails, if your family follows this custom |
| Read Durga Saptashati or Durga Chalisa if you can | Force children or elders into strict fasts |
| Donate food or clothes during the nine days | Waste prasad |
How to Plan the Nine Days
If you work full time, Navratri 2026 is fairly easy to plan around. It starts on a Sunday, so Ghatasthapana can be done without rushing to office. The second weekend (17 and 18 October) covers Saptami and the start of Ashtami, which suits garba nights and pandal visits. Ashtami, Navami and Dussehra fall on Monday and Tuesday, so many people may want to take one or both days off. Check your company’s holiday list early.
Key Takeaways
- Navratri 2026: 11 October (Sunday) to 19 October (Monday).
- Ghatasthapana: 11 October, 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM in Delhi; Abhijit muhurat 11:44 AM to 12:31 PM.
- Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami: both on 19 October in most north Indian calendars.
- Dussehra: 20 October (Tuesday).
- Bengal Durga Puja: Shashthi on 17 October to Bijoya Dashami on 21 October.
- Day 1 colour: Orange, because Navratri starts on a Sunday.
Final Word
Navratri 2026 gives you a clean start on a Sunday and a long Dussehra stretch at the end. Save the day-wise calendar, note the Ghatasthapana window for 11 October, and confirm your Ashtami time with your local panchang a day before.
Jai Mata Di, and a very happy Navratri to you and your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Navratri in 2026?
Shardiya Navratri 2026 starts on Sunday, 11 October and ends on Monday, 19 October. Dussehra is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
What is the Ghatasthapana muhurat for Navratri 2026?
In New Delhi, the Ghatasthapana muhurat is 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM on 11 October 2026. The Abhijit muhurat, from 11:44 AM to 12:31 PM, is an alternative if you miss the morning slot.
Is Navratri on 10 October or 11 October 2026?
Navratri starts on 11 October. Pratipada tithi begins at 9:19 PM on 10 October, but since it is not present at sunrise that day, the first day of Navratri is counted from 11 October.
When is Durga Ashtami in 2026?
Most north Indian calendars mark Durga Ashtami on Monday, 19 October 2026. Some calendars list 18 October, so confirm with your local panchang.
When is Maha Navami in 2026?
Maha Navami falls on Monday, 19 October 2026, the same day as Durga Ashtami in most calendars. In Bengal, Maha Navami is on 20 October.
What is the colour for Day 1 of Navratri 2026?
Orange. Because Navratri 2026 starts on a Sunday, the colour sequence begins with orange and ends with peacock green on Day 9.
When is Dussehra 2026?
Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
When does Durga Puja start in 2026?
In West Bengal, Durga Puja runs from Maha Shashthi on 17 October to Bijoya Dashami on 21 October 2026. Mahalaya is on 10 October.
Can I drink tea or coffee during the Navratri fast?
Most people who keep a phalahar fast do drink tea or coffee with milk. Those keeping a nirjala (waterless) fast avoid all food and drink. Follow your family’s tradition.
