Navratri 2026: Date, Ghatasthapana Muhurat, 9-Day Color Guide & Complete Puja Vidhi

Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, October 11 and runs through Maha Navami on Monday, October 19, with Vijayadashami (Dussehra) on Tuesday, October 20. The Ghatasthapana muhurat for 2026 is 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM on October 11, with an Abhijit Muhurat fallback from 11:44 AM to 12:31 PM if the morning window is missed. Nine nights, nine forms of Goddess Durga, nine colours to wear  here is everything in one place.

Quick Answer (TL;DR)

• Navratri 2026 Start: Sunday, October 11, 2026

• Navratri 2026 End: Monday, October 19, 2026 (Maha Navami)

• Vijayadashami / Dussehra: Tuesday, October 20, 2026

• Ghatasthapana Muhurat: 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM on October 11

• Abhijit Muhurat (fallback): 11:44 AM to 12:31 PM on October 11

• Durga Ashtami: Sunday, October 18, 2026

• Maha Navami: Monday, October 19, 2026

• Kanya Pujan: October 18 (Ashtami) or October 19 (Navami)

• Special note 2026: Saptami tithi extends across two days  making this a 10-day observance in some regions

9-Day Color Guide  Navratri 2026

Why Navratri Is Celebrated

Navratri literally means nine nights  Nav (nine) and Ratri (nights). It is the nine-night celebration of Shakti, the divine feminine energy, in her most powerful forms as the Navadurga. The central legend tells of Mahishasura, the shape-shifting buffalo demon who won a boon that no man or god could kill him, and then unleashed terror across the three worlds. The gods combined their energies to create Goddess Durga  a warrior goddess with ten arms, each carrying a weapon gifted by a different deity. Over nine days and nights, Durga fought Mahishasura and finally slew him on the tenth day, which is celebrated as Vijayadashami.

Ghatasthapana (Kalash Sthapana)  Step by Step

Ghatasthapana is the ritual that formally opens Navratri by installing a sacred kalash (pot) filled with water, symbolising the presence of Goddess Durga for the nine days.

• Wake up early and bathe before the muhurat window opens

• Clean the puja space and spread a red cloth on the wooden chowki

• Place a small mound of sand or soil on the chowki

• Sow barley (jau) seeds in the soil  they grow visibly over 9 days as an auspicious sign

• Place the kalash filled with clean water on the soil. Add 5 mango leaves, a coconut, mauli thread, coin and supari inside

• Place a Durga idol or framed image behind the kalash

• During the muhurat (6:19 AM to 10:12 AM), light a diya, offer red flowers, kumkum and rice

• Light the Akhand Jyot  a continuous flame that must burn unbroken for all 9 days

• Begin the first day puja with Shailaputri Vandana

Daily Navratri Puja Routine

Morning: Wake up, bathe, wear the day's colour. Light the Akhand Jyot diya and incense. Offer fresh red flowers, red chunni, sindoor, and kumkum to the Goddess. Recite the Durga Saptashati or chant Jai Mata Di. Offer bhog  seasonal fruits, kheer, halwa, or panchamrit.

Evening: Perform the sandhya aarti with camphor and diya. Sing Durga aarti. If you have set up Garba, this is when the evening celebration begins.

Kanya Pujan  October 18 or 19

Kanya Pujan is performed on Ashtami (October 18) or Navami (October 19). Nine young girls are invited home, their feet are washed, they are seated and worshipped as the nine forms of the Goddess, and offered prasad of halwa, puri, and chana. Each girl receives a small gift  typically cash, a coconut, or sindoor-roli-chawal.

Akhand Jyot Rules  9 Days of Continuous Flame

The Akhand Jyot is a continuously burning flame kept alive for all nine days. The rules are simple: the flame must never go out, must never be moved, and must be monitored constantly. A designated family member should always be home during the nine days. If the flame goes out accidentally, relight it immediately from a new match and resume puja with a brief prayer of seeking forgiveness.

Navratri Fasting Rules  What to Eat and Avoid

Allowed: fruits, milk, curd, sabudana, kuttu atta, singhare atta, rajgira, potatoes, sweet potatoes, sendha namak (rock salt), dry fruits, and coconut.

Not allowed: wheat, rice, regular salt, onion, garlic, non-vegetarian food, grains of any kind, and alcohol.

Navratri Puja Samagri List

FAQs

1. When is Navratri 2026?

Navratri 2026 starts on Sunday, October 11 and ends on Monday, October 19, with Dussehra on October 20.

2. What is the Ghatasthapana muhurat for Navratri 2026?

The muhurat is 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM on October 11. The Abhijit Muhurat fallback is 11:44 AM to 12:31 PM.

3. When is Durga Ashtami in 2026?

Durga Ashtami is on Sunday, October 18, 2026.

4. When is Kanya Pujan in Navratri 2026?

Kanya Pujan is performed on Ashtami (October 18) or Navami (October 19) depending on your family tradition.

5. What are the 9 colours of Navratri 2026?

Day 1 Orange, Day 2 White, Day 3 Red, Day 4 Royal Blue, Day 5 Yellow, Day 6 Green, Day 7 Grey, Day 8 Purple, Day 9 Peacock Green.

6. What is Akhand Jyot?

Akhand Jyot is a continuously burning diya flame kept alight from Ghatasthapana on Day 1 through Navami on Day 9, symbolising the unbroken presence of the Goddess.

7. Can I do Navratri puja without setting up a full kalash?

Yes. A simple home puja with a Durga idol, diya, flowers, and daily aarti is a valid Navratri observance.

8. What is the significance of sowing barley at Ghatasthapana?

Barley seeds sown at Ghatasthapana grow visibly over the 9 days  a living indicator that the Goddess's blessings are taking root in the home.

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