Navratri 2026: Dates, Ghatasthapana Timing and Nine-Day Celebration Guide
Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October, and continues for nine days through 19 October, with Vijayadashami (Dussehra) falling on 20 October.
What Navratri celebrates
Navratri is dedicated to Shakti, the divine feminine power, and centres on the worship of nine forms of Goddess Durga, worshipped in sequence over the nine nights, from Shailputri on the first day to Siddhidatri on the ninth.
Regional celebrations
Celebrations vary by region — from Garba and Dandiya nights in Gujarat to elaborate Durga Puja pandals in Bengal and Kolkata, where Maha Navami falls on 20 October this year. Many households also observe Navratri fasts and set up Ghatasthapana (kalash installation) at home on the first day.
Dates can vary slightly by regional tradition and local panchang. Source: Daanyam, Andaaz Fashion, Wikipedia.
