Sharad Navratri is nine days of devotion to Maa Durga, and in 2026 it runs from Sunday, 11 October to Monday, 19 October, with Dussehra on Tuesday, 20 October.

“Navratri” means “nine nights.” During these nine nights, we worship the nine forms of Maa Durga, called the Navadurga. Each day is dedicated to one form of the Goddess, and each form blesses us with a different quality, such as strength, peace, courage or wisdom.

The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil. Maa Durga fought the demon Mahishasura for nine days and defeated him on the tenth. That tenth day is celebrated as Vijayadashami, also called Dussehra.

Sharad Navratri falls in the month of Ashwin, when the season changes from monsoon to autumn. This is why the nine days of fasting and simple food also give the body a gentle reset.

Key dates for Sharad Navratri 2026

Event                                                           Date

Navratri begins (Ghatasthapana)    Sunday, 11 October 2026

Durga Ashtami                              Sunday, 18 October 2026

Maha Navami                               Monday, 19 October 2026

Vijayadashami (Dussehra)             Tuesday, 20 October 2026

Ghatasthapana muhurat on 11 October: In Delhi, the auspicious time is 6:19 am to 10:12 am, and the Abhijit muhurat is 11:44 am to 12:31 pm. Timings differ slightly from city to city, so check your local panchang.

The 9 forms of Maa Durga and the colours to wear

Each day of Navratri honours one form of Maa Durga, and in 2026 the colours begin with orange because Navratri starts on a Sunday.

Day          Date         Form of Maa Durga Colour to wear         Bhog (offering)

1       Sun, 11 Oct       Shailputri                   Orange               Pure ghee

2       Mon, 12 Oct      Brahmacharini           White                Sugar and fruits

3       Tue, 13 Oct       Chandraghanta           Red                    Milk or kheer

4       Wed, 14 Oct      Kushmanda                Royal blue          Malpua

5       Thu, 15 Oct       Skandamata               Yellow              Banana

6       Fri, 16 Oct         Katyayani                  Green                 Honey

7       Sat, 17 Oct         Kalaratri                    Grey                  Jaggery

8       Sun, 18 Oct       Mahagauri                 Purple                Coconut

9       Mon, 19 Oct      Siddhidatri                 Peacock green         Sesame (til)

Day 1: Maa Shailputri

Shailputri means “daughter of the mountain.” She is the daughter of King Himalaya and rides a bull, holding a trident and a lotus. She gives stability and strength. Worship her to begin Navratri with a strong, steady mind.

Day 2: Maa Brahmacharini

She walks barefoot, holding a rosary and a water pot. She stands for tapasya, the power of discipline and self-control. Worship her for patience and focus.

Day 3: Maa Chandraghanta

She wears a half-moon shaped like a bell on her forehead and rides a lion. She removes fear and negativity. Worship her for courage and peace of mind.

Day 4: Maa Kushmanda

She is believed to have created the universe with her gentle smile. She lives in the Sun, gives energy and good health. Worship her for vitality and well being.

Day 5: Maa Skandamata

She is the mother of Lord Kartikeya (Skanda) and holds him on her lap. She blesses us with a mother’s love and care. Worship her for the happiness of children and family.

Day 6: Maa Katyayani

She is the warrior form who defeated Mahishasura. Young women traditionally pray to her for a good life partner. Worship her for courage and success in relationships.

Day 7: Maa Kalaratri

She is the fierce, dark form of the Goddess who destroys evil and darkness. Though she looks fearsome, she always protects her devotees. Worship her to remove fear and negative energy.

Day 8: Maa Mahagauri

She is fair, calm and dressed in white, riding a bull. She represents purity and forgiveness. Worship her to wash away past mistakes and bring peace to the home.

Day 9: Maa Siddhidatri

She sits on a lotus and grants siddhis, or spiritual powers and wisdom. Worship her to complete the nine days and receive her blessings for success.

How to do Navratri puja at home?

Navratri puja starts with Ghatasthapana on the first morning and continues with a simple daily puja for all nine days.

Things you will need: A clay or copper kalash, a wide clay pot, clean soil, barley (jau) seeds, a coconut with its husk, mango leaves, a red cloth, a red chunri for Maa, roli, rice (akshat), turmeric, flowers, a ghee diya, incense, fruits, and a picture or idol of Maa Durga.

Ghatasthapana: step by step (11 October)

1. Wake up early, take a bath and wear clean clothes, ideally orange for Day 1.
2. Clean the puja space, preferably in the North-East or East of your home. Sprinkle a little Gangajal.
3. Place a wooden chowki and cover it with a red cloth. Place Maa Durga’s picture or idol on it.
4. Sow the barley. Spread soil in the wide clay pot and sow the barley seeds in it. Sprinkle a little water.
5. Prepare the kalash. Fill it with clean water. Add a coin, a betel nut, akshat and a little turmeric.
6. Place the mango leaves around the mouth of the kalash.
7. Wrap the coconut in red cloth or chunri and tie it with mauli (red thread). Place it on top of the kalash.
8. Place the kalash on the soil in the middle of the barley pot, or beside it.
9. Light the diya, offer flowers, roli and akshat, and pray to Maa to stay in your home for nine days.
10. Do the aarti and offer the day’s bhog.

Daily puja (Day 1 to Day 9)

• Bathe early and wear the colour of the day.
• Light a ghee diya and incense before Maa.
• Offer fresh flowers, especially red ones such as hibiscus or roses.
• Offer the day’s bhog.
• Chant the mantra “Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Vichche” 108 times, or read a chapter of the Durga Saptashati.
• Do the aarti in the morning and evening.
• Water the barley daily.

Simple mantra for beginners

If you cannot do a long puja, simply sit before Maa for ten minutes each day, light a diya, and chant “Om Dum Durgaye Namah” 108 times with a calm mind. Maa values devotion more than ritual.

Navratri do’s and don’ts

A few simple rules help keep the home, body and mind pure during the nine days.

 Do’s

• Keep the home clean, especially the puja area and the entrance. Clean before Ghatasthapana and keep it tidy all nine days.
• Eat sattvic food. Fruits, milk, curd, sabudana, makhana, kuttu, singhara flour, potatoes and sendha namak are commonly eaten during the fast.
• Drink plenty of water, coconut water and buttermilk. The season is changing, and staying hydrated keeps you healthy.
• Light a diya in the morning and evening.
• Speak kindly and keep calm. Navratri is as much about a pure mind as a pure diet.
• Wear clean, fresh clothes, ideally in the colour of the day.
• Respect women and girls. Maa lives in every woman.
• Sleep on time. Rest helps the body during fasting.
• Water the barley daily and watch it grow as a sign of blessings.

 Don’ts

• Avoid onion, garlic, meat, eggs and alcohol in the home during the nine days.
• Do not eat regular salt if you are fasting; use sendha namak instead.
• Avoid grains such as wheat and rice if you are keeping a fast.
• Do not leave the home empty if an akhand jyoti is lit; someone should always be there to look after it.
• Avoid cutting hair, shaving and cutting nails, as many families follow this tradition.
• Do not sleep during the day if you are fasting, as tradition advises staying alert and devoted.
• Avoid anger, arguments and gossip.
• Do not keep broken idols or torn pictures of the Goddess in the puja area.
• Do not wear black for puja, especially during Ghatasthapana.

A note on health

If you are pregnant, diabetic, elderly, or on regular medicines, speak to your doctor before keeping a strict fast. You can also keep a partial fast with fruits and milk. Maa sees your devotion, not how hungry you are.

Auspicious things to do during Navratri

Beyond the daily puja, a few special practices are believed to bring Maa Durga’s blessings into the home.

1. Akhand Jyoti

An akhand jyoti is a diya that burns without stopping for all nine days. Use a large brass or clay lamp with pure ghee or sesame oil, and place it on the right side of Maa’s picture. Make sure someone is home at all times and keep it safely away from curtains. If you cannot keep it lit for nine days, a morning and evening diya is perfectly fine.

2. Durga Saptashati path

Reading the Durga Saptashati, a collection of 700 verses praising Maa, is one of the most powerful Navratri practices. You can read one or two chapters each day so that you complete it in nine days. If Sanskrit is hard, read a simple Hindi or English version, or listen to it.

3. Kanya Pujan

On Ashtami (18 October) or Navami (19 October), invite nine young girls and one young boy (as Langur, a form of Bhairav) home. Wash their feet, apply tilak, tie mauli, and serve them halwa, puri and black chana. Give them a small gift and touch their feet for blessings. This honours the Goddess in the form of young girls.

4. Daan (charity)

Give food, clothes or money to those in need, especially women and girls. Donating red chunri, bangles or sindoor to married women on Ashtami is considered very auspicious.

5. Buy something new

Navratri is a good time to start new things: buying gold or silver, a new vehicle, or beginning a new business or home. Many people plan such purchases for these nine days.

6. Hawan on the last day

On Navami, perform a small hawan with mango wood, ghee and samagri, offering ahutis with Maa’s mantra. This completes the nine-day worship.

7. Visarjan and Dussehra

On Vijayadashami (20 October), do a final puja and gently move the kalash. Keep a few of the grown barley shoots in your wallet, locker or cash box as a sign of prosperity. Sprinkle the kalash water around the home. Then celebrate Dussehra, the victory of good over evil.

Final words

Navratri is not only about rituals. It is a time to clean your home, rest your body, calm your mind and connect with the divine mother within you. Even if you cannot follow every rule, light a diya with love, chant Maa’s name, and treat every woman with respect. That is the true spirit of Navratri.

Jai Mata Di!