Navratri 2026: dates, the nine goddesses and the colour of each day
Sharad Navratri 2026 runs from Sunday 11 October to Tuesday 20 October. Here is every day's goddess, tithi and colour, with Durga Ashtami, Sandhi Puja and Dussehra.
Navratri begins in 8 days
Day 1 is Sun, 11 Oct: Ghatasthapana and Shailaputri puja.
Sharad Navratri, the autumn Navratri in the month of Ashwin, begins on Sunday 11 October 2026 with Ghatasthapana and ends on Tuesday 20 October with Navami and Vijayadashami (Dussehra). Each day honours one of the nine forms of Goddess Durga, the Navdurga.
Navratri 2026 calendar
| Day | Date | Tithi | Goddess | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, 11 Oct | Pratipada | Shailaputri | Orange |
| 2 | Mon, 12 Oct | Dwitiya | Brahmacharini | White |
| 3 | Tue, 13 Oct | Tritiya | Chandraghanta | Red |
| 4 | Wed, 14 Oct | Chaturthi | Kushmanda | Royal Blue |
| 5 | Thu, 15 Oct | Panchami | Skandamata | Yellow |
| 6 | Fri, 16 Oct | Shashthi | Katyayani | Green |
| 7 | Sat, 17 Oct | Saptami | Kalaratri | Grey |
| 7, continued | Sun, 18 Oct | Saptami (continues) | — | Purple |
| 8 | Mon, 19 Oct | Ashtami | Mahagauri | Peacock Green |
| 9 | Tue, 20 Oct | Navami | Siddhidatri | — |
Why Navratri has ten days this year
Navratri follows the lunar tithis, not the calendar. In 2026 the Saptami tithi lasts across two sunrises (17 and 18 October), so Durga Ashtami falls on Monday 19 October and Maha Navami on Tuesday 20 October, the same day as Vijayadashami. Many calendars that simply count nine days from the 11th get Ashtami and Navami wrong, so check with your family priest or local panchang if you are planning a fast or a havan.
The colour of each day
Wearing the colour of the day is a custom that started in Maharashtra and is now followed across India. The colours follow the weekday: orange on Sunday, white on Monday, red on Tuesday, royal blue on Wednesday, yellow on Thursday, green on Friday and grey on Saturday, with purple and peacock green for the last days. You will find this year's colour next to each date in the calendar above.
Mantras for the nine days
Each goddess has her own mantra. The full set, with Devanagari, transliteration and meaning, is on our Navratri mantra page. If you are planning a havan on Ashtami or Navami, see the Navratri havan mantra guide.
During Navratri, Mahakatha Radio plays each goddess's mantra on her day, at the top of every hour from 5 am to 11 pm India time, between other Devi mantras. It is free, without ads, and plays day and night: listen live.
Questions people ask
When does Navratri start in 2026?
Sharad Navratri 2026 starts on Sunday 11 October 2026 with Ghatasthapana and Shailaputri puja.
When is Durga Ashtami in 2026?
Durga Ashtami is on Monday 19 October 2026. Sandhi Puja, at the meeting of Ashtami and Navami, is from 10:27 to 11:15 AM in New Delhi.
When is Dussehra in 2026?
Vijayadashami (Dussehra) is on Tuesday 20 October 2026, the same day as Navami this year.
What are the nine goddesses of Navratri?
Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri, one for each day.
What are the Navratri colours for 2026?
Orange, white, red, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, purple and peacock green, from 11 to 19 October, as listed by Drik Panchang.