Navratri Durga Puja 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October 2026 with Ghatasthapana and ends on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 with Vijayadashami (Dussehra). Durga Ashtami is on Sunday, 18 October, and Maha Navami is on Monday, 19 October. These dates are for New Delhi. In other cities, a tithi can start or end at a different time, so the date may shift by one day.
What Is Navratri Durga Puja 2026?
Navratri means nine nights. During these nights, devotees worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga, known as the Navadurga. There are four Navratris in a year: Chaitra, Ashadha (Gupt), Sharad and Magha (Gupt). Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri are the most widely celebrated.
Navratri Durga Puja 2026 falls in the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) of the Ashwin month, which is why it is also called Sharad or Ashwin Navratri. In North and West India, people keep fasts, set up a kalash, read the Durga Saptashati and perform Kanya Pujan. In Bengal, Odisha, Assam and Tripura, the same festival is called Durga Puja. There, large pandals are built and the Goddess is worshipped from Shashthi to Dashami.
The customs look different, but the faith is the same. Both traditions honour Shakti, the divine feminine power.
Navratri Durga Puja 2026: Important Dates
| Festival | Date and Day |
|---|---|
| Ghatasthapana (Navratri begins) | Sunday, 11 October 2026 |
| Durga Ashtami and Sandhi Puja | Sunday, 18 October 2026 |
| Maha Navami and Navami Homa | Monday, 19 October 2026 |
| Vijayadashami (Dussehra) | Tuesday, 20 October 2026 |
Navratri 2026 Calendar: All Nine Nights
| Day | Date | Tithi | Devi | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Sun, 11 Oct | Pratipada, Ghatasthapana | Shailaputri | Orange |
| Day 2 | Mon, 12 Oct | Dwitiya | Brahmacharini | White |
| Day 3 | Tue, 13 Oct | Tritiya | Chandraghanta | Red |
| Day 4 | Wed, 14 Oct | Chaturthi | Kushmanda | Royal Blue |
| Day 5 | Thu, 15 Oct | Panchami | Skandamata | Yellow |
| Day 6 | Fri, 16 Oct | Shashthi | Katyayani | Green |
| Day 7 | Sat, 17 Oct | Saptami | Kalaratri | Grey |
| Day 8 | Sun, 18 Oct | Ashtami, Durga Ashtami, Sandhi Puja | Mahagauri | Purple |
| Day 9 | Mon, 19 Oct | Navami, Maha Navami, Navami Homa | Siddhidatri | Peacock Green |
| Day 10 | Tue, 20 Oct | Dashami | Vijayadashami, Dussehra | – |
The colour for each day can differ from family to family and region to region. Wearing the colour is a nice custom, but the most important thing is your devotion.
Ghatasthapana 2026: How Navratri Begins
Ghatasthapana, also called Kalash Sthapana, is the first ritual of Navratri. In this ritual, Goddess Durga is invited into a kalash (sacred pot). The kalash stays in the home for nine days as a symbol of the Devi’s presence. In 2026, Ghatasthapana is on 11 October, Sunday, on Pratipada tithi.
According to tradition, the morning hours of Pratipada, or the Abhijit Muhurat around midday, are considered good for Ghatasthapana. The exact time is different in every city. Please check a local panchang or ask your family pandit before you begin.
Puja Samagri for Ghatasthapana
- A clean earthen pot and clean soil
- Barley (jau) seeds
- A copper, brass or clay kalash
- Clean water and a little Ganga jal
- Five mango or ashoka leaves
- A coconut and a red cloth or chunri
- Betel nut (supari), a coin, akshat (rice grains) and durva grass
- Roli, kumkum, moli (sacred thread), flowers, incense and a lamp
- A picture or idol of Maa Durga
- Prasad such as fruits, sweets and halwa
Ghatasthapana Vidhi: Step by Step
- Take a bath, wear clean clothes and clean the puja area.
- Place a wooden platform in the north-east corner and cover it with a red or yellow cloth.
- Put soil in the earthen pot, sow the barley seeds and sprinkle a little water.
- Fill the kalash with water. Add a betel nut, a coin, akshat and durva.
- Place the mango leaves around the mouth of the kalash. Put the coconut wrapped in a red chunri on top.
- Set the kalash in the middle of the pot with the barley.
- Take the sankalp: hold water and rice in your hand and say your name and your wish.
- Invite Maa Durga, light the lamp and incense, and perform the aarti.
- Some families light an Akhand Jyoti that burns for nine days. This is optional and depends on family tradition.
Sprinkle a little water on the barley every morning and evening. The green shoots that grow are seen as a sign of happiness and prosperity.
The Nine Forms of Durga: Navadurga
Day 1 (11 October): Maa Shailaputri
Shailaputri means daughter of the mountain. She is the daughter of King Himalaya. She holds a trident in one hand and a lotus in the other, and she rides the bull Nandi. Worship on the first day is for stability, strength and firm resolve. The colour of the day is orange.
Day 2 (12 October): Maa Brahmacharini
Brahmacharini is the Goddess of penance and discipline. She walks barefoot and carries a kamandalu (water pot) and a japa mala (prayer beads). Her worship brings patience, self-control and focus. Students and seekers pray to her with special devotion. The colour is white.
Day 3 (13 October): Maa Chandraghanta
She has a half moon on her forehead shaped like a bell, which gives her the name Chandraghanta. She rides a tigress. Devotees pray to her to remove fear and to gain courage. The colour is red.
Day 4 (14 October): Maa Kushmanda
Kushmanda is believed to have created the universe with her gentle smile. She has eight arms, so she is also called Ashtabhuja. Devotees pray to her for good health and a long life. The colour is royal blue.
Day 5 (15 October): Maa Skandamata
Skandamata is the mother of Lord Kartikeya, also known as Skanda. She is shown holding her child in her lap, a symbol of motherly love. Devotees ask for peace at home and blessings for their children. The colour is yellow.
Day 6 (16 October): Maa Katyayani
Katyayani is believed to have appeared as the daughter of Sage Katyayan. She is the warrior form who defeated the demon Mahishasura. Many unmarried women pray to her for a good life partner. The colour is green. In Bengal, Maha Shashthi on this day marks the main start of Durga Puja.
Day 7 (17 October): Maa Kalaratri
Kalaratri is the fiercest form of the Goddess. Her skin is dark, and she destroys darkness and negative forces. Even though she looks fearsome, she is gentle with her devotees, so she is also called Shubhankari, the one who brings good. The colour is grey.
Day 8 (18 October): Maa Mahagauri
Mahagauri has a very fair and calm form. She wears white clothes and rides a white bull. It is believed that her worship washes away sins and sorrow. This day is Durga Ashtami. The colour is purple.
Day 9 (19 October): Maa Siddhidatri
Siddhidatri is the giver of all siddhis, or spiritual powers. She sits on a lotus. The last day of Navratri is dedicated to her. On Maha Navami, a homa (havan) is performed to complete nine days of worship. The colour is peacock green.
Durga Ashtami 2026 and Sandhi Puja
Durga Ashtami falls on Sunday, 18 October 2026. Many families break their fast and perform Kanya Pujan on this day. People worship Maa Mahagauri, read the Durga Saptashati and perform havan.
Sandhi Puja is done at the meeting point of Ashtami and Navami tithi. It lasts 48 minutes: the last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami. According to belief, Goddess Chamunda defeated the demons Chanda and Munda at this very moment. In many places, 108 lamps are lit and a special aarti is done. The exact Sandhi Puja time is different in each city, so please check your local panchang.
Maha Navami and Navami Homa 2026
Maha Navami is on Monday, 19 October 2026. On this day, devotees worship Maa Siddhidatri and perform the Navami Homa. Offerings of ghee, sesame seeds, barley and havan samagri are put into the sacred fire. This homa is seen as the final offering of the nine-day worship.
Kanya Pujan 2026: When and How
Kanya Pujan is done on Ashtami (18 October) or Navami (19 October). Choose the day that your family follows.
How to do Kanya Pujan:
- Invite nine girls, usually between 2 and 10 years old, to your home with respect. Many families also invite one boy, who is seen as Batuk Bhairav.
- Wash their feet and seat them on clean mats.
- Apply tilak, tie a sacred thread on their wrists and offer a chunri.
- Serve the traditional bhog: halwa, puri and black chickpeas (kala chana).
- After the meal, give gifts or a small offering, touch their feet and take their blessings.
The real meaning is to see the Goddess in every girl. So treat them with love and respect, not only on this day but always.
Vijayadashami (Dussehra) 2026: 20 October
After Navratri, Vijayadashami, or Dussehra, is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, on Dashami tithi. In North India, effigies of Ravana are burned to celebrate Lord Rama’s victory. It is also the day of Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura. Both stories carry the same message: truth and righteousness win in the end.
In Bengal, married women play Sindoor Khela on this day. They offer vermilion to the Goddess and then apply it to each other. After that, the idol is immersed in water in a ritual called bisarjan, and people greet each other with Shubho Bijoya.
Durga Puja 2026 in Bengal: Shashthi to Dashami
In Bengal, the festival mood starts with Mahalaya, which falls just before Navratri begins. People listen to the Mahishasura Mardini recitation to welcome the Goddess. The main days of worship in 2026 are:
- Shashthi (16 October): Bodhan of the Goddess and the opening of the pandal
- Saptami (17 October): Nabapatrika snan and Maha Saptami puja
- Ashtami (18 October): Pushpanjali, Kumari Puja and Sandhi Puja
- Navami (19 October): Maha Navami puja and homa
- Dashami (20 October): Sindoor Khela and bisarjan
The sound of the dhak drum, dhunuchi dance, pandal hopping and community bhog are the heart of this celebration.
Navratri Fasting Rules and Food
Many devotees fast for all nine days. Others fast only on the first and last day. During a Navratri fast, people usually eat:
- Buckwheat flour (kuttu), water chestnut flour (singhara) and amaranth (rajgira)
- Sabudana and barnyard millet (samak rice)
- Potato, pumpkin, bananas, apples and other fruits and vegetables
- Milk, curd, paneer, makhana and peanuts
- Rock salt (sendha namak) instead of regular salt
Most people avoid onion, garlic, grains, non-vegetarian food and alcohol during this period.
Take care of your health. If you have diabetes, blood pressure problems, or a heart condition, or if you are pregnant or elderly, please speak to your doctor before fasting. Drink plenty of water. A fast is not only about staying hungry. A calm mind and self-control are the real fast.
Do’s and Don’ts During Navratri
Do:
- Bathe and pray to Maa Durga every morning
- Keep your home and puja area clean
- Read the Durga Chalisa, aarti or Durga Saptashati
- Donate food or clothes to people in need
- Speak the truth and respect everyone
Avoid (as per tradition):
- Anger, lies and insulting others
- Intoxicants and heavy, spicy food
- Dirt or carelessness at the puja place
Some families also avoid cutting hair and nails for nine days. This is a local belief and not a rule from the scriptures.
Durga Saptashati and Popular Mantras
The Durga Saptashati, also known as Devi Mahatmya, is a part of the Markandeya Purana. It has 13 chapters and about 700 verses. It tells the stories of the Goddess defeating Madhu-Kaitabha, Mahishasura and Shumbha-Nishumbha. Many devotees read the whole text in nine days, or a few chapters each day. If that feels difficult, you can read the Durga Chalisa, the Devi Kavach or the Siddha Kunjika Stotram with a sincere heart.
Some popular mantras:
- Devi Stuti: Yā Devī sarvabhūteṣu śakti-rūpeṇa saṃsthitā, namas tasyai namas tasyai namas tasyai namo namaḥ.
- Navarna Mantra: Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundayai Vichche.
- Durga Beej Mantra: Om Dum Durgayai Namah.
Find a quiet place, sit on a clean seat and keep your mind focused. Regular practice and true feeling matter more than the number of chants.
How Navratri Is Celebrated Across India
- Gujarat and Maharashtra: Garba and Dandiya Raas nights
- Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar: Ramlila, Durga pandals and Ravan Dahan
- West Bengal, Odisha and Assam: Grand Durga Puja pandals and Sindoor Khela
- Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh: Bommai Golu and Ayudha Puja
- Karnataka (Mysuru): The royal Mysuru Dasara celebration
- Himachal Pradesh (Kullu): Kullu Dussehra, which begins on Vijayadashami
The styles are different, but the heart of every celebration is the worship of Shakti.
The Spiritual Message of Navratri
Mahishasura is not only a demon in a story. Many people also see him as a symbol of the ego, greed, anger and laziness inside us. Navratri reminds us that when we awaken our inner strength, we can overcome these. Nine days of prayer and fasting are a form of self-discipline. The good habits you build in these days can stay with you throughout the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When does Navratri Durga Puja 2026 start? Navratri Durga Puja 2026 starts on Sunday, 11 October 2026 with Ghatasthapana.
2. When does Navratri 2026 end? Navami is on 19 October 2026, and Vijayadashami (Dussehra) is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
3. When is Durga Ashtami 2026? Durga Ashtami is on Sunday, 18 October 2026. Sandhi Puja is also performed on this day.
4. When is Maha Navami 2026? Maha Navami is on Monday, 19 October 2026, and Navami Homa is performed on this day.
5. When should Kanya Pujan be done? Kanya Pujan is done on Ashtami (18 October) or Navami (19 October), as per your family tradition.
6. What is the difference between Navratri and Durga Puja? Navratri is a nine-night festival of fasting and worship, popular in North and West India. Durga Puja is the grand festival of Bengal and eastern India, where the Goddess is worshipped in pandals from Shashthi to Dashami. Both honour Maa Durga.
7. How many Navratris are there in a year? There are four: Chaitra, Ashadha (Gupt), Sharad and Magha (Gupt).
8. Are the dates and muhurat the same in every city? No. These dates are for New Delhi. Sunrise and tithi timings differ by place, so the date may shift by one day in some cities. Always check a local panchang for the exact muhurat.
9. Is Navratri nine days or ten? Navratri has nine nights of worship, from Pratipada to Navami. Vijayadashami is the tenth day, which marks the end of the festival.
Conclusion
Navratri Durga Puja 2026 runs from 11 October to 20 October. From Ghatasthapana to Vijayadashami, each day is dedicated to a different form of Maa Durga. You may fast, read the scriptures, perform Kanya Pujan, or simply chant her name. What matters most is a clean heart and sincere devotion. May Maa Durga bless you and your family with strength, peace and happiness.