Shardiya Navratri 2026: Date, Muhurat & Puja Vidhi

Shardiya Navratri 2026 starts on Sunday, 11 October 2026 and ends on Monday, 19 October 2026. Vijayadashami follows on Tuesday, 20 October. If you want the exact Navratri 2026 start date and end date, the Ghatasthapana muhurat, the colour for each day and a simple puja vidhi you can follow at home, this guide has all of it in one place.

The timings below follow the Delhi panchang. Muhurat times shift a little from city to city, so check your local panchang before you begin the puja.

Shardiya Navratri 2026 at a Glance

What Is Shardiya Navratri?

Meaning of Shardiya Navratri

Shardiya Navratri is the nine-night festival of Goddess Durga that falls in the month of Ashwin, at the start of autumn. Navratri simply means nine nights. Each day is linked with one form of the Goddess, and the nine forms together are called Navdurga. Of all the Navratris in a year, this one is the most widely celebrated, which is why many families call it Maha Navratri.

Why Is Shardiya Navratri Celebrated?

Devotees remember the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. Many families also link the festival with Lord Rama, who is said to have prayed to the Goddess before his battle with Ravana. The tenth day, Vijayadashami or Dussehra, marks the win of good over evil.

Navratri 2026 Date: Start Date and End Date

Navratri 2026 Date in October

The Navratri 2026 date in October is decided by Pratipada tithi. This tithi begins at 9:19 pm on 10 October and ends at 9:30 pm on 11 October. Because the sunrise-based calendar counts 11 October as the first day, Shardiya Navratri 2026 starts on Sunday, 11 October. The nine days run from 11 October to 19 October.

Navratri End Date and Navami Date

The Navratri end date is Monday, 19 October 2026. This is also the Navratri 2026 Navami date. On this day Maa Siddhidatri is worshipped, and many families break their nine-day fast after Kanya Pujan. Dussehra comes the next day, on Tuesday, 20 October.

Why Ashtami and Navami Fall on the Same Day in 2026

In 2026, Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami are both observed on 19 October because the two tithis overlap. Maa Mahagauri is still worshipped on the eighth day, 18 October. If you keep Kanya Pujan, 19 October is the day to plan it. Your family priest or local panchang can confirm the exact hour.

Navratri Sthapna 2026: Ghatasthapana Muhurat

Navratri Sthapna 2026, also called Ghatasthapana or Kalash Sthapana, is the first and most important ritual of the festival. It invites the Goddess into the home and begins nine days of worship.

Ghatasthapana Muhurat for Delhi and North India

The main Ghatasthapana muhurat on 11 October 2026 is from 6:19 am to 10:12 am. If you miss this slot, the Abhijit Muhurat from 11:44 am to 12:31 pm is the backup. Other cities will see slightly different timings, so look up your own city before you plan.

Rules to Remember for Kalash Sthapana

Do the sthapana in the morning hours or in Abhijit Muhurat, never at night. Clean the puja area first. Place the kalash in the north-east corner of the home if you can, and keep it undisturbed until Navami.

Navratri 2026 Colours with Date

Many devotees, especially in Gujarat and Maharashtra, wear a fixed colour on each day of Navratri. The first colour depends on the weekday on which the festival begins. In 2026 Day 1 falls on a Sunday, so the Navratri 2026 colour list starts with orange.

Navratri Garba 2026 Date

Garba and Dandiya nights follow the nine nights of Navratri. The Navratri Garba 2026 dates run from 11 October to 19 October. Big events in Gujarat, Mumbai and Delhi usually start in the evening and go late into the night. Timings and passes depend on the venue, so confirm with the organiser before you go.

How to Perform Shardiya Navratri Puja Vidhi at Home

You do not need a large setup to do the Navratri puja at home. A clean corner, the right samagri and a calm mind are enough. Here is what to keep ready and how to go about it.

Navratri Puja Samagri List

• Kalash made of copper, brass or clay, with clean water and a few drops of Ganga jal

• One coconut, a red chunri, moli and five mango leaves

• Barley (jau) seeds, a wide earthen pot and clean soil

• Idol or photo of Goddess Durga, a chowki and a red or yellow cloth

• Roli, kumkum, akshat, supari, a coin and flowers

• Diya, ghee or oil, cotton wicks, incense sticks and camphor

• Fruits, sweets and a simple bhog for the Goddess

Step-by-Step Ghatasthapana Puja Vidhi

Follow these steps on 11 October during the muhurat. The order matters more than the size of the setup.

Before You Begin

1. Wake up early, take a bath and wear clean clothes. Clean the puja area and spread a red or yellow cloth on a chowki.

2. Spread a layer of clean soil in the earthen pot, sow the barley seeds and sprinkle a little water.

Setting Up the Kalash

3. Fill the kalash with clean water. Add a few drops of Ganga jal, a coin, a supari and a pinch of akshat.

4. Tie moli around the neck of the kalash and place five mango leaves at its mouth.

5. Wrap the coconut in the red chunri and set it on the mango leaves.

6. Place the kalash in the middle of the soil, next to the barley.

Invoking the Goddess

7. Keep the idol or photo of Goddess Durga beside the kalash. Light a diya. If you plan an akhand jyot, keep it burning for all nine days.

8. Take a sankalp. Say your name and your wish for the nine days, and invoke Lord Ganesha first.

9. Offer roli, kumkum, flowers, fruits and sweets to the Goddess. Chant a Durga mantra or read the Durga Chalisa.

10. Finish with aarti and share the prasad with the family.

Daily Puja Routine for Nine Days

Each morning, sprinkle a little water on the barley, change the flowers and light the diya. Offer the day's bhog and do a short aarti in the morning and evening. If you have time, read the Durga Saptashati or the Chalisa. Within a few days the barley starts to sprout, and many families take this as a good sign.

Kanya Pujan on Ashtami or Navami

On Ashtami or Navami, invite nine young girls home. Wash their feet, apply tilak, and serve puri, halwa and chana. Give a small gift before they leave. In 2026, both days fall on 19 October.

Navratri Fasting Rules

Most people keep a sattvik fast. Fruits, milk, sabudana, kuttu atta and sendha namak are common. Onion, garlic and regular grains are avoided. If you have a health condition, speak to your doctor before you fast.

Where to Buy Navratri Puja Samagri

Where to Buy Kalash, Coconut and Other Puja Items

Local puja shops and mandir markets are the easiest option, and you can pick fresh flowers and mango leaves on the same trip. Online stores and grocery apps also sell ready Navratri puja kits with a kalash, moli, roli, supari and diya. Order two or three days before 11 October, because delivery slows down in festival week.

What to Check Before You Buy

Choose a coconut that is full and heavy with water. Buy mango leaves fresh, not dried. Pick pure ghee for the diya and fresh barley seeds so they sprout well. If you buy a kit, open it and check every item against your samagri list.

Expert Guidance for Your Puja

Suggestion: If you want personal muhurat guidance or help with Vedic astrology and numerology during Navratri, VedicShruti is a good place to start.

Important Dates After Navratri 2026 and Next Year

Dates to Note This Year

After Navami on 19 October, Vijayadashami falls on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Many families do Ravan Dahan and Shastra Puja on this day.

Shardiya Navratri 2027 Date

Shardiya Navratri in 2027 is expected to begin around 30 September. Navratri dates move every year because the festival follows the lunar calendar. The 2026 festival is also later than usual, as an extra lunar month was added earlier this year. Check a panchang closer to the date to confirm the exact day and muhurat.

FAQs on Shardiya Navratri 2026

What are the exact dates and muhurats for Shardiya Navratri 2026?

Shardiya Navratri 2026 runs from Sunday, 11 October to Monday, 19 October. For Delhi, the Ghatasthapana muhurat on 11 October is 6:19 am to 10:12 am, and the Abhijit Muhurat is 11:44 am to 12:31 pm. Dussehra is on 20 October.

What are the important dates for Shardiya Navratri next year?

Shardiya Navratri 2027 is expected to start around 30 September 2027. Since the date follows the lunar calendar, confirm it with a panchang closer to the festival.

How can I perform the puja vidhi for Shardiya Navratri at home?

Clean the puja area, set up the kalash with a coconut and mango leaves, sow barley seeds, place the idol of Goddess Durga, light a diya, take a sankalp and offer flowers, fruits and sweets. Then do the aarti. Repeat a short puja every morning and evening for nine days.

What is the detailed step-by-step guide for Ghatasthapana puja?

Take a bath, spread a cloth on the chowki, sow barley in soil, fill the kalash with water, tie moli, place mango leaves and the coconut, set the kalash in the soil, install the Goddess, light the diya, take the sankalp, offer samagri, chant and finish with aarti. All of this should be done inside the muhurat.

What is the Navratri 2026 colour for each day?

The colours are orange, white, red, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, purple and peacock green, from Day 1 on 11 October to Day 9 on 19 October.

What is the Navratri 2026 Navami date?

Maha Navami falls on Monday, 19 October 2026. It is also the Navratri end date.

What is the Navratri Garba 2026 date?

Garba nights run through the nine days of Navratri, from 11 October to 19 October 2026.

Shardiya Navratri 2026 gives you nine days to pray, fast and spend time with family. Keep your samagri ready a day before 11 October, note the muhurat for your city, and begin the Ghatasthapana with a calm mind.