Navratri 2026: frequently asked questions

Shardiya Navratri 2026 starts on Sunday, 11 October with Ghatasthapana and ends on Monday, 19 October. Vijayadashami (Dussehra) is on Tuesday, 20 October.

In New Delhi the Ghatasthapana muhurat on 11 October is 6:19 AM to 10:11 AM. The Abhijit muhurat, 11:44 AM to 12:30 PM, can be used if you miss the morning window.

Most North Indian calendars keep Durga Ashtami on Monday, 19 October. Ashtami tithi ends at 10:52 AM that day and Navami begins, so Maha Navami and Kanya Pujan are on the same day. In Bengal, Maha Ashtami is also 19 October.

Sandhi Puja is on 19 October from 10:28 AM to 11:16 AM IST, the 48 minutes around the change from Ashtami to Navami. Because it depends on the tithi, the time is the same across India.

In 2026 Saptami tithi is present at sunrise on both 17 and 18 October, but Ashtami and Navami both fall on 19 October: Ashtami is running at sunrise and Navami begins at 10:52 AM. The extra Saptami and the shared Ashtami-Navami day balance out, so Navratri still runs for nine days, from 11 to 19 October. Some panchangs place the last forms of the Goddess a day differently.

Vijayadashami (Dussehra) is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. In New Delhi the Vijay Muhurat is 1:59 PM to 2:44 PM and the Aparahna puja time is 1:13 PM to 3:30 PM.

In Bengal, Bijoya Dashami and Durga Visarjan are on Wednesday, 21 October. In North India the household kalash and idols are usually given farewell on 20 October.

Orange, white, red, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, purple and peacock green, from Day 1 to Day 9.

Fruit, milk, curd, paneer, potatoes, sweet potatoes, makhana, nuts, and flours like kuttu, singhara and rajgira. Use sendha namak and avoid grains, pulses, onion and garlic.

Tithi times are the same across India. Sunrise, moonrise, Rahu Kaal and muhurats are calculated for New Delhi and change slightly in other cities, so please check a local panchang.