Navratri 2026नवरात्रि
Sharad Navratri 2026 runs from Sunday, October 11, 2026 to Dussehra on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Ashtami, Navami, kanya pujan, the nine forms of Durga and the katha of Mahishasura.
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Navratri 2026: all the dates
| Day | Date |
|---|---|
| Sharad Navratri begins (Ghatasthapana) | Sunday, October 11, 2026 |
| Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami | Monday, October 19, 2026 |
| Dussehra (Vijayadashami) | Tuesday, October 20, 2026 |
The story of Navratri
Navratri is nine nights of the Mother. When the buffalo demon Mahishasura, unslayable by god or man, had driven the devas from heaven, their gathered radiance took the form of Ma Durga: ten-armed, lion-mounted, bearing a weapon from every god. For nine nights she fought him through all his shifting forms, and on the tenth day she ended him; that day is Vijayadashami. The full katha of Durga and Mahishasura is the heart of the festival.
Each night honours one of the Navadurga, from Shailaputri to Siddhidatri, and the days build through fasting and the Durga Saptashati to Ashtami and Navami with kanya pujan, when nine girls are worshipped as the goddess herself. On the same Dashami, Lord Rama felled Ravana, which is why effigies burn across North India as Bengal immerses Ma Durga with wet eyes and drumbeats.
How Navratri is celebrated
| Ghatasthapana | the kalash is installed on day one and barley is sown, the still center of the nine nights. |
| Vrat and path | many keep a nine-day fast and read the Durga Saptashati or do daily Devi japa. |
| Kanya pujan | on Ashtami or Navami, nine girls are fed and honoured as the Navadurga. |
| Garba and Dussehra | nights of garba and dandiya, closing with Ravana dahan on Vijayadashami. |
Gujarat dances garba around the lit ghat; Bengal builds pandals for Durga Puja from Shashthi; Tamil Nadu and Karnataka arrange golu dolls; Mysuru holds its royal Dasara; and in the spring the same nine nights return as Chaitra Navratri, ending in Ram Navami.
Navratri checklist: what to arrange in advance
The non-perishable samagri you can order ahead of the day. Each link opens an Amazon search for that item in your own country’s store.
Fresh items, flowers, fruit, sweets and leaves, are best bought from your local market on the day.
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Frequently asked questions
When does Navratri begin in 2026?
Sharad Navratri begins with Ghatasthapana on Sunday, October 11, 2026 and ends with Dussehra on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
When are Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami in 2026?
In 2026 Ashtami and Navami fall together on Monday, October 19, 2026.
Is there a Navratri in spring too?
Yes. Chaitra Navratri begins on Thursday, March 19, 2026 and ends with Ram Navami, the birth of Lord Rama.
Who are the nine forms of Durga?
Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri, one honoured on each of the nine nights.
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Dates are verified against authoritative Panchang sources (Drik Panchang, New Delhi). Traditions vary by family and region; for muhurat and puja vidhi please also consult your family panditji.