2026 date note: Standard 2026 Shardiya Navratri calendars list Day 1 on October 11, Maha Navami on October 19 and Vijayadashami on October 20. Tithi-sensitive clock times vary by location, so check a local panchang for exact muhurat times in your city. Reference calendar.
Navratri at a glance
Navratri means “nine nights” and refers to several Hindu observances dedicated to forms of the Goddess or Shakti. The autumn Sharad Navratri is the most widely visible, especially through home puja, fasting, Garba and Dandiya in western India, Durga Puja in Bengal, Golu in the south, and the progression toward Vijayadashami or Dussehra.
| 2026 milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Sharad Navratri Day 1 | October 11, 2026 |
| Maha Navami | October 19, 2026 |
| Vijayadashami / Dussehra | October 20, 2026 |
How people celebrate
- Ghatasthapana or another opening-day home ritual in many traditions.
- Daily worship of Navadurga or another family deity tradition.
- Fasting or dietary restrictions for some devotees.
- Garba and Dandiya community dancing, especially in Gujarati communities.
- Durga Puja, Golu, Bathukamma, Ayudha Puja, Ramlila and other regional observances.
- Kanya Pujan, Saraswati worship, Navami observances or Vijayadashami traditions as the festival closes.
Dates change because Navratri follows a lunar calendar
Sharad Navratri is tied to the lunar month of Ashwin rather than a fixed Gregorian date. That is why the festival moves between September and October. Tithi boundaries can cross civil dates differently across time zones, so diaspora communities may see slight calendar differences at the edges.