Navratri

When is Navratri? — Dates

These are stored observance dates. Local timings and traditions can differ; each date includes its calendar references below.

Why is Navratri celebrated?

"Navratri" means "nine nights". Over these nine days the nine forms of the Goddess — Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri, together called the Navadurga — are worshipped one after another.

In the Puranic tradition, above all the Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmya) of the Markandeya Purana, the gods were tormented by the buffalo-demon Mahishasura. From their combined radiance the Goddess arose and slew him, restoring dharma. Navratri is therefore celebrated as the victory of righteousness over wrongdoing and of light over darkness.

The Vijayadashami that follows Sharad Navratri is also linked to Lord Rama's victory over Ravana; tradition holds that Rama worshipped the Goddess before the battle. Chaitra Navratri, in spring, culminates in Ram Navami and coincides with the start of the Hindu new year (Vikram Samvat).

Both Navratris fall at the junction of seasons, and fasting, restraint, japa and meditation during them are traditionally seen as a time of inner cleansing. The same season is Durga Puja in Bengal, Garba and Dandiya in Gujarat, and Golu (Bommai Kolu) in South India.

Puja Vidhi

1. Ghatasthapana (Day 1): Bathe early and clean the puja space. Sow barley in an earthen pot and set beside it a kalash filled with water, topped with mango leaves and a coconut wrapped in red cloth. Ghatasthapana is done on Pratipada tithi, usually in a morning muhurat — check your own city's timing in a local panchang.

2. Sankalpa and Akhand Jyoti: Install an image or idol of Goddess Durga and take a resolve (sankalpa) for the nine days of fasting or worship. Many homes keep an unbroken lamp (akhand jyoti) burning for all nine days.

3. Daily worship: Each day, meditate on that day's form of the Goddess and offer roli, akshat (unbroken rice), red flowers, incense, a lamp and naivedya. Recite the Durga Saptashati, the Durga Chalisa or Devi mantras, and sing the Durga aarti ("Jai Ambe Gauri") in the evening.

4. Fasting: Devotees fast according to their capacity — all nine days, only the first and last day, or on fruit and permitted foods (phalahar). Anyone with a health condition should consult a doctor before fasting.

5. Ashtami / Navami — Kanya Pujan: On Durga Ashtami or Maha Navami, nine young girls (and often one boy, seen as Langur or Bhairav) are honoured by washing their feet and serving halwa, puri and black chana, then offering dakshina and seeking their blessings. Sandhi Puja, at the junction of Ashtami and Navami, is especially important.

6. Havan and Parana: A havan is performed on Navami and the fast is broken (parana). On Dashami (Vijayadashami) the kalash and the sprouted barley (jayanti) are ceremonially immersed, and the sprouts are kept as prasad.

Rituals & Traditions

• Day 1 — Sunday, 11 October 2026 — Ghatasthapana, Maa Shailputri — colour: orange
• Day 2 — Monday, 12 October 2026 — Maa Brahmacharini — colour: white
• Day 3 — Tuesday, 13 October 2026 — Maa Chandraghanta — colour: red
• Day 4 — Wednesday, 14 October 2026 — Maa Kushmanda — colour: royal blue
• Day 5 — Thursday, 15 October 2026 — Maa Skandamata — colour: yellow
• Day 6 — Friday, 16 October 2026 — Maa Katyayani — colour: green
• Day 7 — Saturday, 17 October 2026 — Maa Kalaratri — colour: grey
• Day 8 — Sunday, 18 October 2026 — per Drik Panchang (New Delhi) Saptami tithi still prevails at sunrise (Ashtami begins about 8:27 AM); most popular calendars assign Maa Mahagauri to this day — colour: purple (lists vary)
• Day 9 — Monday, 19 October 2026 — Durga Ashtami (Maa Mahagauri), Sandhi Puja and Maha Navami (Maa Siddhidatri) fall on the same day; Kanya Pujan — colour: peacock green (lists vary)
• Tuesday, 20 October 2026 — Vijayadashami (Dussehra), Navratri parana and Durga Visarjan
• How the colours work: each Navratri colour follows the weekday — Sunday orange, Monday white, Tuesday red, Wednesday royal blue, Thursday yellow, Friday green, Saturday grey; the last two days vary between published lists. This is a modern popular custom that spread from Maharashtra, not a scriptural rule.