Navratri 2026: Dates, Ghatasthapana Muhurat, 9-Day Calendar, Colours, Puja Vidhi & Vrat Rules
Navratri 2026 starts on 11 October. See the Ghatasthapana muhurat, day-wise calendar, Ashtami and Navami on 19 October, colours, puja vidhi and vrat rules.
Navratri 2026: Dates, Ghatasthapana Muhurat, 9-Day Calendar, Colours, Puja Vidhi & Vrat Rules
Last updated: 5 October 2026 | By: Your Travel Partner
Every year the same three questions come up a week before Navratri: which day does it start, what time should the kalash be placed, and is Ashtami on one day or the next? In 2026 the third question matters more than usual, because Ashtami and Navami fall on the same date. This guide answers all three first and then walks you through the nine days step by step.
Quick Answer
Shardiya Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October 2026 and ends on Monday, 19 October 2026. Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. The Ghatasthapana muhurat on 11 October is from 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM, and the Abhijit muhurat is from 11:44 AM to 12:30 PM. In 2026, both Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami are observed on Monday, 19 October, because the Ashtami tithi ends at 10:51 AM that day and Navami begins immediately after.
| Navratri begins | Sunday, 11 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Navratri ends | Monday, 19 October 2026 |
| Ghatasthapana muhurat | 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM, 11 October |
| Abhijit muhurat | 11:44 AM to 12:30 PM, 11 October |
| Ashtami tithi | 8:27 AM on 18 October to 10:51 AM on 19 October |
| Durga Ashtami | Monday, 19 October 2026 |
| Sandhi Puja | About 10:27 AM to 11:15 AM, 19 October |
| Maha Navami | Monday, 19 October 2026 |
| Dussehra (Vijayadashami) | Tuesday, 20 October 2026 |
| Colour of Day 1 | Orange |
Muhurat and tithi timings depend on sunrise and change by a few minutes from city to city. The timings here are for New Delhi. Please confirm with your local panchang or family pandit.
Table of Contents
- Which Navratri Is This?
- Day-Wise Calendar: Date, Tithi, Devi, Colour and Bhog
- Why Ashtami and Navami Are on the Same Day
- Ghatasthapana: Muhurat and Step-by-Step Vidhi
- Daily Puja in Simple Steps
- Navratri 2026 Colours and How They Are Decided
- Vrat Rules: What to Eat and What to Avoid
- Kanya Pujan: Date and Method
- Mata Ki Sawari in 2026
- Dussehra 2026
- Devi Temples to Visit in Uttar Pradesh
- Festival Calendar After Navratri
- Frequently Asked Questions
Which Navratri Is This?
Navratri comes four times in a Hindu year. Two are widely celebrated and two are observed mainly by sadhaks.
| Navratri | Hindu month | When | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chaitra Navratri | Chaitra | March or April. In 2026 it began on 19 March | Hindu New Year; ends with Ram Navami |
| Ashadha Gupt Navratri | Ashadha | June or July | Private sadhana |
| Shardiya Navratri | Ashwin | 11 to 19 October 2026 | The main Navratri; Durga Puja, Garba, Ramlila; ends with Dussehra |
| Magh Gupt Navratri | Magh | January or February | Private sadhana |
When people search for Navratri 2026 in September and October, they mean Shardiya Navratri. That is the one covered in this guide.
Day-Wise Calendar: Date, Tithi, Devi, Colour and Bhog
| Day | Date | Tithi | Form of Maa Durga | Colour | Traditional bhog |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, 11 Oct | Pratipada | Maa Shailputri. Ghatasthapana | Orange | Ghee |
| 2 | Mon, 12 Oct | Dwitiya | Maa Brahmacharini | White | Sugar or mishri |
| 3 | Tue, 13 Oct | Tritiya | Maa Chandraghanta | Red | Milk or kheer |
| 4 | Wed, 14 Oct | Chaturthi | Maa Kushmanda | Royal blue | Malpua |
| 5 | Thu, 15 Oct | Panchami | Maa Skandamata | Yellow | Banana |
| 6 | Fri, 16 Oct | Shashthi | Maa Katyayani | Green | Honey |
| 7 | Sat, 17 Oct | Saptami | Maa Kalaratri | Grey | Jaggery |
| 8 | Sun, 18 Oct | Saptami till 8:27 AM, then Ashtami begins | See the note below | Purple | As per the Devi worshipped |
| 9 | Mon, 19 Oct | Ashtami till 10:51 AM, then Navami | Maa Mahagauri and Maa Siddhidatri. Durga Ashtami, Sandhi Puja, Maha Navami, Kanya Pujan | Peacock green | Coconut for Mahagauri; sesame for Siddhidatri |
| 10 | Tue, 20 Oct | Dashami | Vijayadashami (Dussehra), Durga Visarjan | None | None |
Note on 18 October: the Saptami tithi continues past sunrise on this day and Ashtami begins only at 8:27 AM. Because of this, panchangs do not all label this day the same way. Some list it as a second day of Saptami, and some households begin Maa Mahagauri's puja that evening. Follow your family tradition or your pandit. What all the Indian panchangs we checked agree on is that Durga Ashtami is observed on 19 October.
Why Ashtami and Navami Are on the Same Day in 2026
A festival is observed on the day its tithi is present at sunrise. Here is what happens in 2026:
- The Ashtami tithi begins at 8:27 AM on 18 October, after sunrise. So 18 October does not count as Ashtami.
- At sunrise on 19 October, Ashtami is present. So Durga Ashtami is on 19 October.
- Ashtami ends at 10:51 AM on 19 October and Navami begins.
- Navami rituals are therefore also performed on 19 October, and Dashami, the day of Dussehra, is on 20 October.
What this means for you
- If your family does Ashtami puja: complete it on 19 October before 10:51 AM.
- If your family does Navami puja: do it on 19 October after 10:51 AM.
- Sandhi Puja, performed at the meeting point of Ashtami and Navami, is from about 10:27 AM to 11:15 AM on 19 October.
- Kanya Pujan can be done on 19 October in either part of the day, according to your tradition.
Durga Puja in West Bengal and nearby regions follows the regional panjika, and dates there can differ by a day. Check your local puja committee's schedule.
Ghatasthapana: Muhurat and Step-by-Step Vidhi
Ghatasthapana, also called Kalash Sthapana, is the ritual that begins Navratri. It invites Maa Durga into the home for nine days.
| Muhurat | Time | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Main morning muhurat | 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM | About 3 hours 53 minutes |
| Abhijit muhurat | 11:44 AM to 12:30 PM | About 46 minutes |
The morning muhurat is preferred. If you cannot do it then, use the Abhijit muhurat. Ghatasthapana is not done in the afternoon, evening or night.
What you need
- A wide earthen pot, clean soil and barley (jau) seeds
- A kalash of clay, copper or brass, filled with clean water
- Ganga jal, a coin, supari, akshat (unbroken rice) and durva
- Five mango or ashoka leaves
- A coconut with its husk, a red cloth or chunri, and mauli (kalava)
- Roli, haldi, flowers, incense, a ghee lamp and fruits or sweets for bhog
- A picture or idol of Maa Durga and a clean wooden chowki
Steps
- Prepare. Bathe, wear clean clothes and clean the puja place. The north-east corner of the home is preferred.
- Set the chowki. Spread a red cloth on it and place the picture or idol of Maa Durga.
- Sow the barley. Spread soil in the earthen pot, sow the barley seeds and sprinkle water.
- Fill the kalash. Add water and a little Ganga jal. Put in the coin, supari, akshat and durva.
- Tie and mark. Tie mauli around the neck of the kalash and draw a swastik on it with roli.
- Place the leaves. Arrange the five leaves around the mouth of the kalash.
- Place the coconut. Wrap it in the red cloth, tie it with mauli and set it on the leaves.
- Install the kalash. Place it in the centre of the barley pot.
- Take the sankalp. With water, flowers and akshat in your hand, state your name and your vow for the nine days.
- Begin the puja. Worship Lord Ganesha first, then the kalash, then Maa Shailputri. Light the lamp, offer bhog and perform the aarti.
Akhand Jyoti: if you light a lamp that is to burn for all nine days, place it safely, keep it filled with ghee or oil and do not leave the house empty while it burns.
Daily Puja in Simple Steps
- Bathe and wear clean clothes. Many devotees wear the colour of the day.
- Sprinkle a little water on the barley each morning.
- Light the lamp and incense.
- Offer flowers, roli, akshat and the bhog of the day to the form of Maa Durga worshipped that day.
- Recite the Durga Chalisa or a chapter of the Durga Saptashati, or chant "Om Dum Durgayai Namah" 108 times.
- Perform the aarti in the morning and in the evening.
- Share the prasad with the family.
Navratri 2026 Colours and How They Are Decided
The colours are not chosen at random, and they change every year. Each weekday has a fixed colour, and the nine days follow from the weekday on which Navratri begins.
| Weekday | Colour |
|---|---|
| Sunday | Orange |
| Monday | White |
| Tuesday | Red |
| Wednesday | Royal blue |
| Thursday | Yellow |
| Friday | Green |
| Saturday | Grey |
Navratri 2026 begins on a Sunday, so the sequence is: Orange, White, Red, Royal Blue, Yellow, Green, Grey, Purple, Peacock Green. The last two colours fill the eighth and ninth days once the seven weekday colours are used.
You may find a different colour list on some websites. Lists that do not start with orange for Sunday, 11 October are usually copied from another year. Wearing the colour of the day is a popular custom, not a scriptural rule, so there is no fault in not following it.
Vrat Rules: What to Eat and What to Avoid
| Usually eaten | Usually avoided |
|---|---|
| Kuttu, singhara and rajgira flour | Wheat, rice, maida and besan |
| Sama rice (vrat ke chawal) and sabudana | Pulses and lentils |
| Potato, sweet potato, arbi, pumpkin, lauki and raw banana | Onion and garlic |
| All fruits, dry fruits and makhana | Non-vegetarian food and eggs |
| Milk, curd, paneer and ghee | Alcohol and tobacco |
| Sendha namak (rock salt) | Ordinary table salt |
| Cumin, black pepper, green chilli, ginger and coriander | Turmeric, hing, mustard and garam masala in many families |
Rules most families follow
- Take the sankalp on the first day for the kind of fast you will keep: all nine days, the first and last day, or one meal a day.
- Keep the home, the kitchen and the puja place clean.
- Eat sattvik food and avoid anger and harsh speech.
- Do not leave the Akhand Jyoti unattended.
- Many devotees do not cut hair or nails during the nine days.
- Break the fast only after the Navami puja and Kanya Pujan, or on Dashami, as your family does.
Health comes first. Pregnant women, people with diabetes, blood pressure or heart conditions, the elderly and anyone on regular medicine should speak to a doctor before fasting. A fruit-and-milk fast or a single-meal fast is fully accepted. Drink enough water.
Kanya Pujan: Date and Method
In 2026, Kanya Pujan falls on Monday, 19 October, since both Ashtami and Navami are on this day. Families who do it on Ashtami should complete it before 10:51 AM. Families who do it on Navami should do it after 10:51 AM.
- Invite nine girls, traditionally between two and ten years of age, and one boy, who is honoured as Bhairav or Langur.
- Welcome them and wash their feet.
- Seat them on a clean mat and apply a tilak of roli and akshat.
- Tie mauli on their wrists.
- Serve the prasad: puri, kala chana and halwa.
- Give a gift or dakshina according to your means, such as fruit, a chunri, stationery or money.
- Touch their feet and seek their blessings before they leave.
If nine girls are not available, the puja can be done with as many as you can invite. The feeling behind it matters more than the number.
Mata Ki Sawari in 2026
By tradition, the vehicle on which Maa Durga arrives is read from the weekday on which Navratri begins, and the vehicle on which she departs from the weekday of Vijayadashami.
| Day | Vehicle | Traditional meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival | Sunday, 11 October | Elephant (Gaj) | Good rainfall, good harvest and prosperity |
| Departure | Tuesday, 20 October | Rooster (Charanayudh) | A time to stay careful and alert |
This is a matter of traditional belief. It is shared here for those who follow it and is not a prediction.
Dussehra 2026
Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. It marks the victory of Shri Ram over Ravan and of Maa Durga over Mahishasur. On this day:
- The Navratri fast is completed and the kalash is respectfully removed.
- The barley shoots (jaware) are offered to Maa Durga and then immersed or placed in a clean spot.
- Durga idols are taken for visarjan.
- Ravan Dahan is held in the evening at Ramlila grounds.
- Shastra Puja and Shami Puja are performed in many regions.
Devi Temples to Visit in Uttar Pradesh During Navratri
Navratri is one of the best times to visit the Devi temples of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Expect long queues, especially on Saptami, Ashtami and Navami.
| Temple | City | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Badi Devkali Temple | Ayodhya | Revered as the kuldevi of Shri Ram's family |
| Chhoti Devkali Temple | Ayodhya | Associated by tradition with Mata Sita |
| Maa Vindhyavasini Temple | Vindhyachal, Mirzapur | A major Shakti Peeth; very large Navratri fair |
| Durga Kund Temple | Varanasi | The famous red temple of Maa Durga |
| Vishalakshi Temple | Varanasi | Shakti Peeth near Kashi Vishwanath |
| Alopi Devi Temple | Prayagraj | Shakti Peeth near the Sangam |
| Devipatan Temple | Tulsipur, Balrampur | Shakti Peeth with a large Navratri fair |
In Ayodhya, Navratri also brings Ramlila performances and special decorations at temples across the city. Ram Mandir darshan remains free, and Sugam Darshan and Aarti passes are free on the official Trust portal, online.srjbtkshetra.org.
Plan your Navratri darshan trip
- Ayodhya, Prayagraj and Varanasi tour packages
- Cab service for Ayodhya, Vindhyachal, Varanasi and Prayagraj
- E-rickshaw for temple visits within Ayodhya
- Railway station and airport pickup
Call or WhatsApp +91 78811 55800 for a Navratri darshan plan with hotel and transport.
Festival Calendar After Navratri
| Festival | Date | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Dussehra | 20 October 2026 | See above |
| Ayodhya Deepotsav | 7 November 2026 | Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026 guide |
| Diwali | 8 November 2026 | Ayodhya Diwali world record diyas |
| Dev Deepawali, Varanasi | 24 November 2026 | Dev Deepawali Varanasi 2026 guide |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When does Navratri 2026 start?
Shardiya Navratri 2026 starts on Sunday, 11 October 2026 and ends on Monday, 19 October 2026.
2. What is the Ghatasthapana muhurat for Navratri 2026?
On 11 October 2026, the main muhurat is from 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM and the Abhijit muhurat is from 11:44 AM to 12:30 PM, as per New Delhi timings.
3. When is Durga Ashtami in 2026?
Durga Ashtami is on Monday, 19 October 2026. The Ashtami tithi runs from 8:27 AM on 18 October to 10:51 AM on 19 October.
4. When is Maha Navami in 2026?
Maha Navami is also observed on Monday, 19 October 2026, after the Ashtami tithi ends at 10:51 AM.
5. Why are Ashtami and Navami on the same day in 2026?
Ashtami is present at sunrise on 19 October and ends at 10:51 AM, after which Navami begins. So both are observed on the same date.
6. When is Dussehra in 2026?
Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
7. What are the nine colours of Navratri 2026?
Orange, White, Red, Royal Blue, Yellow, Green, Grey, Purple and Peacock Green, from 11 to 19 October.
8. When is Kanya Pujan in 2026?
On Monday, 19 October 2026. Do it before 10:51 AM if your family follows Ashtami, or after 10:51 AM if your family follows Navami.
9. What time is Sandhi Puja in 2026?
From about 10:27 AM to 11:15 AM on 19 October 2026, around the moment Ashtami ends and Navami begins.
10. On what vehicle is Maa Durga arriving in 2026?
As per tradition, Navratri begins on a Sunday, so Maa Durga arrives on an elephant, which is considered a sign of good rains and prosperity.
11. Can I do Ghatasthapana in the evening?
No. Ghatasthapana is done in the morning muhurat or in the Abhijit muhurat around midday. It is not done in the afternoon, evening or night.
12. What can I eat during the Navratri fast?
Fruits, milk, curd, sabudana, kuttu, singhara and rajgira flour, sama rice, potato, makhana and dry fruits, cooked with sendha namak.
13. Who should not keep a strict fast?
Pregnant women, people with diabetes, blood pressure or heart conditions, the elderly and anyone on regular medicine should consult a doctor first. A light fruit fast is accepted.
14. Is Navratri 2026 nine days long?
Yes. It runs for nine days, from 11 to 19 October, with Dussehra on the tenth day, 20 October.
15. When was Chaitra Navratri in 2026?
Chaitra Navratri 2026 began on 19 March 2026.
16. Which Devi temple should I visit in Ayodhya during Navratri?
Badi Devkali Temple, revered as the kuldevi of Shri Ram's family, and Chhoti Devkali Temple are the main Devi temples in Ayodhya.
Conclusion
Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October, with Ghatasthapana between 6:19 AM and 10:12 AM, and ends on Monday, 19 October, when both Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami are observed. Dussehra follows on 20 October. Keep the fast that suits your health, do the puja with a calm mind, and confirm the timings for your city with a local panchang.
May Maa Durga bless your home with health, strength and peace. Jai Mata Di!
For Navratri darshan trips to Ayodhya, Vindhyachal, Varanasi and Prayagraj, call or WhatsApp +91 78811 55800 or see our tour packages.
Note: Timings in this guide are for New Delhi and are taken from published panchang data. Tithi and muhurat timings differ slightly by city and by panchang. Customs differ by region and family. Please follow your family tradition and confirm with your local pandit. Health information here is general and is not medical advice.
