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Shardiya Navratri Calendar 2026

Day-by-day Shardiya Navratri calendar with the nine forms of Goddess Durga, Ghatasthapana muhurat and Vijayadashami date.

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Shardiya Navratri 2026 starts on

Sunday, 11 October

This is the day of Ghatasthapana, when the kalash is set up. Pratipada lasts from 09:20 PM, Oct 10 to 09:31 PM, Oct 11. The nine days end with Vijayadashami (Dussehra) on Tuesday, 20 October.

How to read the dates: festivals follow the tithi (lunar day). A tithi can begin in the middle of one day and end in the middle of the next, so the date can change from city to city. Everything on this page is worked out for New Delhi. If your family or temple follows a different day, go with theirs.

Ashtami and Navami this year: Ashtami begins 08:28 AM, Oct 18, the day before the date listed; Navami begins 10:52 AM, Oct 19, the day before the date listed. Navami and Dussehra land on the same day here. Many news sites end Navratri a day before Dussehra, while this page follows the tithi timings. For Durga Ashtami, Sandhi Puja, Kanya Puja and havan, follow your local panchang or temple. Ashtami and Navami dates and timings

Ghatasthapana muhurat 2026

On Sunday, 11 October in New Delhi. Ghatasthapana (also called Kalash Sthapana) opens Navratri.

Best time to set up the kalashBest time

06:19 AM to 10:11 AM

The first part of the morning, while Pratipada is still running.

Backup time (Abhijit Muhurat)

11:44 AM to 12:30 PM

A good midday window. Use it if you miss the morning time.

The kalash is set up while Pratipada is running, before midday. Some families also avoid Chitra Nakshatra and Vaidhriti Yoga; this page does not check those, so look at your panchang if your family follows that advice. Times change from city to city, so see the Abhijit Muhurat page for your own city.

Shardiya Navratri day by day

Each of the nine nights is for one form of the Goddess, together called the Navadurga.

Shardiya Navratri 2026 calendar with dates, tithis and goddesses
DayDateTithiGoddess
1Sun, 11 OctPratipadaShailaputri
2Mon, 12 OctDwitiyaBrahmacharini
3Tue, 13 OctTritiyaChandraghanta
4Wed, 14 OctChaturthiKushmanda
5Thu, 15 OctPanchamiSkandamata
6Fri, 16 OctShashthiKatyayani
7Sat, 17 Oct & Sun, 18 OctSaptamiKalaratri
8Mon, 19 OctAshtamiMahagauri
9Tue, 20 OctNavamiSiddhidatri

Colour of the day (2026)

Many people wear the colour of the day. It is a popular custom, not a rule. Colour of the day is a modern custom, not a scriptural rule. Each of the first seven days takes the colour of its weekday, and days 8 and 9 take a second-round colour; some publishers use different shades for those last two days, and wearing the colour is optional.

  • 11 Oct (Sun): Orange
  • 12 Oct (Mon): White
  • 13 Oct (Tue): Red
  • 14 Oct (Wed): Royal blue
  • 15 Oct (Thu): Yellow
  • 16 Oct (Fri): Green
  • 17 Oct (Sat): Grey
  • 18 Oct (Sun): Purple
  • 19 Oct (Mon): Peacock green
Day 111Oct · Sun

Shailaputri शैलपुत्री

Daughter of the mountain · Pratipada

Pratipada lasts from 09:20 PM, Oct 10 to 09:31 PM, Oct 11.

What she stands for: A steady, grounded start to the nine nights.

Shaila means mountain: she is Parvati born as the daughter of Himavat, the Himalaya. In the traditional telling she is the reborn Sati, who gave up her life after her father Daksha insulted Shiva at a sacrifice, and returned to win him again.

  • How she looks: Rides a bull (Nandi); a trident in one hand and a lotus in the other.
  • Favourite offering: Pure ghee
  • Mantra: Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah
  • On this day: The day of Ghatasthapana: the kalash is installed and the nine-day worship is formally begun.
Day 212Oct · Mon

Brahmacharini ब्रह्मचारिणी

The ascetic · Dwitiya

Dwitiya lasts from 09:31 PM, Oct 11 to 10:13 PM, Oct 12.

What she stands for: Discipline, patience and devotion that does not waver.

Parvati in her years of austerity, performing severe tapasya to be united with Shiva. The name joins brahma (sacred austerity) and charini (one who practises it).

  • How she looks: Dressed in white, a japa mala in one hand and a kamandalu (water pot) in the other; no mount.
  • Favourite offering: Sugar (and fruit)
  • Mantra: Om Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah
  • On this day: A day many devotees keep especially quiet and disciplined, in keeping with her form.
Day 313Oct · Tue

Chandraghanta चन्द्रघण्टा

She who wears the moon like a bell · Tritiya

Tritiya lasts from 10:13 PM, Oct 12 to 11:28 PM, Oct 13.

What she stands for: Courage joined to calm — fierce toward evil, gentle toward devotees.

After her marriage to Shiva, Parvati is shown with a crescent moon on her forehead shaped like a temple bell (ghanta). Tradition holds that the sound of the bell drives away fear and negative forces.

  • How she looks: Golden-hued, ten arms carrying weapons, riding a tiger; the half-moon on her brow.
  • Favourite offering: Kheer or other milk sweets
  • Mantra: Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah
  • On this day: Bells and conch are rung during aarti; milk-based offerings are made.
Day 414Oct · Wed

Kushmanda कूष्माण्डा

Creator of the cosmos with a smile · Chaturthi

Chaturthi lasts from 11:28 PM, Oct 13 to 01:13 AM, Oct 15.

What she stands for: Creative energy, warmth and good health.

Her name is read as ku (a little), ushma (warmth or energy) and anda (egg): the goddess whose gentle smile brought the universe out of darkness, when nothing else existed. She is said to dwell in the region of the Sun.

  • How she looks: Eight arms holding a bow, arrow, discus, mace, lotus, nectar pot, rosary and water pot; rides a lion.
  • Favourite offering: Malpua
  • Mantra: Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah
  • On this day: Devotees offer white flowers and sweet malpua; the pumpkin (kushmanda) is also associated with her.
Day 515Oct · Thu

Skandamata स्कन्दमाता

Mother of Skanda · Panchami

Panchami lasts from 01:13 AM, Oct 15 to 03:25 AM, Oct 16.

What she stands for: Motherly love and protection of the family.

Parvati as the mother of Skanda (Kartikeya), the commander of the gods' army. She is worshipped in the tender form of a mother who carries her child.

  • How she looks: Seated on a lotus, which is why she is also called Padmasana Devi; holds the infant Skanda in her lap; four arms, a lion nearby.
  • Favourite offering: Banana
  • Mantra: Om Devi Skandamatre Namah
  • On this day: Bananas and yellow flowers are commonly offered; families pray for their children's wellbeing.
Day 616Oct · Fri

Katyayani कात्यायनी

The warrior goddess · Shashthi

Shashthi lasts from 03:25 AM, Oct 16 to 05:54 AM, Oct 17.

What she stands for: Strength, resolve and victory over what is wrong.

In tradition she took birth as the daughter of the sage Katyayana and is the form who fought and slew the buffalo demon Mahishasura. The Bhagavata Purana describes the young women of Vraja worshipping Katyayani to be united with Krishna, which is why unmarried women pray to her for a good marriage.

  • How she looks: Four arms with a sword and a lotus; rides a lion.
  • Favourite offering: Honey
  • Mantra: Om Devi Katyayanyai Namah
  • On this day: In Bengal this is the day the Durga Puja celebrations begin (Shashthi).
Day 717Oct · Sat

Kalaratri कालरात्रि

The night that ends fear · Saptami

Saptami lasts from 05:54 AM, Oct 17 to 08:28 AM, Oct 18. This tithi touches two sunrises (Sat, 17 Oct and Sun, 18 Oct), so follow your local panchang.

What she stands for: Fearlessness — the fierce form that destroys darkness and dread.

The darkest and most terrifying form, who in tradition is linked with the fight against the demon Raktabija. Despite her appearance she is called Shubhankari, the one who does good, because she removes fear from her devotees.

  • How she looks: Dark complexion, wild hair, three eyes, rides a donkey; carries a sword and an iron hook, with one hand raised in blessing.
  • Favourite offering: Jaggery (gud)
  • Mantra: Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah
  • On this day: Many families stay up late for the evening aarti; in eastern India Saptami is the day the goddess is formally invoked in her pandal.
Day 819Oct · Mon

Mahagauri महागौरी

The radiant, fair one · Ashtami

Ashtami lasts from 08:28 AM, Oct 18 to 10:52 AM, Oct 19. It begins the day before, so some calendars keep it on that day.

What she stands for: Purity, peace and the washing away of past faults.

After years of penance Parvati's body was said to have turned dark with dust and hardship. Shiva cleansed her with the waters of the Ganga and she shone brilliantly white — Mahagauri, 'the great fair one'.

  • How she looks: White clothes and jewels, four arms with a trident and a damaru, rides a bull.
  • Favourite offering: Coconut
  • Mantra: Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah
  • On this day: Durga Ashtami: the peak day for Kanya Puja (feeding young girls) in North and West India; in Bengal, Sandhi Puja is performed at the moment Ashtami turns into Navami.
Day 920Oct · Tue

Siddhidatri सिद्धिदात्री

Giver of accomplishments · Navami

Navami lasts from 10:52 AM, Oct 19 to 12:50 PM, Oct 20. It begins the day before, so some calendars keep it on that day.

What she stands for: Fulfilment — the completion of the nine nights' effort.

Siddhi means accomplishment or perfection. Tradition says even Shiva received all the siddhis by worshipping her, and that half his form became the goddess (Ardhanarishvara). She is honoured as the giver of the eight classical siddhis.

  • How she looks: Seated on a lotus (or a lion), four arms holding a discus, conch, mace and lotus.
  • Favourite offering: Sesame seeds (til)
  • Mantra: Om Devi Siddhidatryai Namah
  • On this day: Maha Navami: havan, Kanya Puja for those who did not do it on Ashtami, and in the south Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Puja.

Ashtami, Navami and Dussehra 2026: which day?

When a tithi spreads over two days, different traditions pick different days, so both days are listed here. Bengal’s Durga Puja calendar often goes by the tithi at sunrise, while many north Indian calendars go by the tithi during the daytime. Follow your family, temple or regional panchang.

Days on which Ashtami, Navami and Dashami can be observed in 2026
TithiDayTithi lastsWhy this day
AshtamiSun, 18 Octfrom 08:28 AM, Oct 18 to 10:52 AM, Oct 19Starts this day and covers the daytime.
AshtamiMon, 19 Octfrom 08:28 AM, Oct 18 to 10:52 AM, Oct 19Already running at sunrise.
NavamiMon, 19 Octfrom 10:52 AM, Oct 19 to 12:50 PM, Oct 20Starts this day and covers the daytime.
NavamiTue, 20 Octfrom 10:52 AM, Oct 19 to 12:50 PM, Oct 20Already running at sunrise.
Dashami (Dussehra)Tue, 20 Octfrom 12:50 PM, Oct 20 to 02:12 PM, Oct 21Starts this day and covers the afternoon, when the Dussehra puja is done.
Dashami (Dussehra)Wed, 21 Octfrom 12:50 PM, Oct 20 to 02:12 PM, Oct 21Already running at sunrise.

Worked out for New Delhi. See also Durga Ashtami / Navami and Vijayadashami (Dussehra).

Offerings and descriptions follow the common tradition, and families and regions do things differently. Related pages: Navdurga, Abhijit Muhurat and Choghadiya.

Why is Shardiya Navratri celebrated?

The victory over Mahishasura

The best-known reason is the story told in the Devi Mahatmya (also called the Durga Saptashati, part of the Markandeya Purana). The buffalo demon Mahishasura had won a boon that made him nearly unconquerable and used it to drive the gods out of heaven. The gods pooled their energies, and from that combined radiance the goddess Durga took form, armed by each of them.

In the popular telling she fought him over nine nights and killed him on the tenth day, which is why the nine nights of worship end with Vijayadashami, the 'day of victory'. The festival's central idea is that shakti — divine feminine power — is what restores order when it is threatened.

Rama, Ravana and the 'untimely' worship

Another tradition links the autumn Navratri to the Ramayana. Before the final battle with Ravana, Rama is said to have worshipped Durga to seek her blessing. Because the goddess's regular season of worship was spring, this autumn invocation is remembered in Bengal as Akal Bodhan — the 'untimely awakening' of the goddess.

That is why the nine nights lead straight into Dussehra, when Rama's victory over Ravana is celebrated with Ram Lila and the burning of effigies in north India.

A change of season

Navratri falls twice a year, in Chaitra (spring) and Ashwin (autumn) — the two times when the season turns. The traditional explanation is that these junctions are when the body and mind are most unsettled, so they are treated as a time for restraint, lighter food, prayer and cleansing rather than indulgence. Shardiya (autumn) Navratri is the larger of the two festivals.

Three nights each for three powers

A common way of dividing the nine nights, especially in western and southern India, is into three sets of three: the first three to Durga (removing negativity and fear), the next three to Lakshmi (prosperity and wellbeing), and the last three to Saraswati (knowledge and the arts). It is one traditional lens on the nine nights, not the only one, and it is why books, tools and instruments are worshipped on the last days in some regions.

How is Shardiya Navratri celebrated?

Setting up: Ghatasthapana

On the first day, a kalash (pot) of water topped with a coconut and mango leaves is installed at the puja space as the seat of the goddess. Barley or wheat is sown in a shallow tray beside it and watered daily; the green shoots that grow through the nine days are taken as a sign of a prosperous year. Many households also light a lamp that is kept burning through the nine days (akhand jyoti). The kalash is best installed in the morning during Pratipada; if that window is awkward, the Abhijit Muhurat around midday is the commonly used alternative — see the Abhijit Muhurat page for your city.

Daily worship

Each day begins with a bath and a resolve (sankalp), followed by worship of that day's form of the goddess with flowers, incense, a lamp, her mantra and her favourite offering (bhog). Many people read or listen to the Durga Saptashati, the Durga Chalisa or the Devi Kavach, and finish the evening with aarti.

Fasting and food

Some devotees fast for all nine days, some only on the first and last, and some on Ashtami alone. A typical fasting diet avoids grains, onion, garlic, meat and alcohol and uses fruit, milk, potatoes, sabudana, kuttu (buckwheat) flour, singhara flour, samak rice and rock salt. Fasting is a personal choice: people who are unwell, pregnant, elderly or on medication should adapt it and speak to their doctor.

Ashtami, Navami and Kanya Puja

On Ashtami or Navami many families invite young girls — seen as embodiments of the goddess — wash their feet, feed them puri, halwa and black chickpeas, and give small gifts. In many homes a boy is included as well, representing a guardian of the goddess. In Bengal the moment Ashtami turns into Navami is marked by Sandhi Puja, sometimes with 108 lamps.

How different regions celebrate

Gujarat: nine nights of Garba and Dandiya Raas around a lit lamp or image of the goddess.

West Bengal, Odisha, Assam: Durga Puja from Shashthi to Dashami, with large pandals, the Sindoor Khela on Dashami and immersion of the idols.

North India: Ram Lila plays through the nine nights, ending in the burning of Ravana on Dussehra.

Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh: displays of dolls (Golu/Bommai Kolu), Ayudha Puja on Navami, and the grand Mysuru Dasara in Karnataka.

Telangana: Bathukamma, a festival of stacked flower arrangements, is celebrated in these days.

Kerala: Vidyarambham, the first writing of letters by children, on Vijayadashami.

Shardiya Navratri 2026: questions people ask

When does Shardiya Navratri start in 2026?

Shardiya Navratri 2026 starts on Sunday, 11 Oct, the day of Ghatasthapana (Pratipada). Pratipada lasts from 09:20 PM, Oct 10 to 09:31 PM, Oct 11 in New Delhi. The nine days run up to Navami, which lasts from 10:52 AM, Oct 19 to 12:50 PM, Oct 20, and Vijayadashami (Dussehra) is on Tue, 20 Oct. This year Navami and Dashami fall on the same day, and some calendars end Navratri a day earlier. Check your local panchang for Ashtami and Navami puja.

How many days is Shardiya Navratri in 2026?

Nine nights, one for each tithi from Pratipada to Navami. A tithi does not match a calendar day exactly, so in 2026 the nine tithis fall over 10 calendar days, from Sun, 11 Oct to Tue, 20 Oct. Saptami touches two sunrises (Sat, 17 Oct and Sun, 18 Oct). Calendars count such a day differently, so follow your family or local panchang.

What are the Navratri colours for 2026?

The usual colour for each day of Shardiya Navratri 2026: 11 Oct Orange, 12 Oct White, 13 Oct Red, 14 Oct Royal blue, 15 Oct Yellow, 16 Oct Green, 17 Oct Grey, 18 Oct Purple, 19 Oct Peacock green. Wearing a colour each day is a popular custom, not a rule, and some publishers use different shades for the last two days.

Which goddess is worshipped on each day of Navratri?

Day 1: Shailaputri; Day 2: Brahmacharini; Day 3: Chandraghanta; Day 4: Kushmanda; Day 5: Skandamata; Day 6: Katyayani; Day 7: Kalaratri; Day 8: Mahagauri; Day 9: Siddhidatri.

What is Ghatasthapana (Kalash Sthapana)?

It is the opening ritual of Navratri, performed on the first day (Pratipada). A water-filled kalash is installed as the seat of the goddess and barley or wheat is sown beside it. It is best done in the morning; the Abhijit Muhurat is the usual fallback.

What can you eat during a Navratri fast?

A common Navratri fast uses fruit, milk, potatoes, sabudana, kuttu (buckwheat) and singhara flour, samak rice and rock salt, and avoids ordinary grains, onion, garlic, meat and alcohol. Practice varies by family and region, and fasting is optional.

Are the nine Navratri colours compulsory?

No. Wearing a colour for each day is a modern popular custom rather than a scriptural rule, and published colour lists differ between sites.

Why do Navratri, Ashtami and Dussehra dates differ between calendars?

The festival follows lunar days (tithis), which are not exactly 24 hours long. A tithi can cover two sunrises or none, and almanacs apply extra rules for Ashtami, Navami and Dashami. Dates can also differ by a day between cities. Check the tithi start and end times shown for each day and follow your local panchang or priest.

October 2026

Nine nights of the Goddess · Ashwin Shukla Paksha

Loading the month's panchang…

Festivals of 2026 — Month by Month

Every festival, Ekadashi, Sankashti, Purnima and Amavasya date for the year — tap a month to expand it.

October 2026THIS MONTH· 4 dates⌄
🎉

Shardiya Navratri Begins

October 11, 2026

Festival · Ashwin, Shukla Paksha, Pratipada · Sunday

🎉

Durga Ashtami / Navami

October 19, 2026

Festival · Ashwin, Shukla Paksha, Ashtami · Monday

🎉

Durga Ashtami / Navami

October 20, 2026

Festival · Ashwin, Shukla Paksha, Navami · Tuesday

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Vijayadashami / Dussehra

October 20, 2026

Festival · Ashwin, Shukla Paksha, Dashami · Tuesday