Navratri 2026 Date: Ghatasthapana Muhurat, 9 Colours, Vrat Food and Durga Puja Guide

Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on October 11 and continues through October 19, with Dussehra falling on October 20, according to the festival sources reviewed for this guide. Ghatasthapana will also be observed on October 11, while the nine-day celebration will bring the traditional sequence of colours, fasting foods, puja and evening garba and dandiya celebrations.

For readers planning their Navratri calendar, the key searches this year include “Navratri 2026 date”, “Ghatasthapana muhurat”, “Navratri 9 colours 2026”, “Navratri vrat recipes”, “garba outfits”, “dandiya night near me” and “Durga Puja 2026 pandal”. Here is the confirmed information available for each.

When is Navratri 2026?

Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, October 11, and the nine-day festival runs through Monday, October 19. Vijayadashami or Dussehra will be observed on Tuesday, October 20, according to the Times of India festival guide.

Navratri is associated with worship of the nine forms of Goddess Durga, known as the Navadurga. The festival also includes fasting or special vegetarian meals for many devotees, while evenings are associated with garba and dandiya in many parts of India.

What is the Ghatasthapana muhurat for Navratri 2026?

For New Delhi, Drik Panchang lists Ghatasthapana on Sunday, October 11, 2026. The main Ghatasthapana muhurat is listed from 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM, with an Abhijit Muhurat from 11:44 AM to 12:31 PM.

The source specifically notes that these timings are calculated for New Delhi and that local factors such as sunrise, sunset and midday are considered when determining the muhurat. Therefore, readers in other cities should not automatically apply the New Delhi timing to their own location.

Ghatasthapana, also called Kalash Sthapana, marks the beginning of the Navratri observance. Drik Panchang says the ritual is performed while Pratipada is prevailing and before Hindu midday.

What are the 9 Navratri colours in 2026?

The 2026 colour sequence begins with orange on October 11 and ends with peacock green on October 19. The colours published by Loksatta are linked to the dates and weekdays of this year's Navratri.

Loksatta notes that wearing the day's colour is a matter of personal choice, while the practice is also associated with showing unity during the festival.

What can you eat during the Navratri vrat?

Navratri fasting food varies according to household and regional practice. Sources covering Navratri vrat food list ingredients such as sabudana, buckwheat or kuttu flour, water chestnut or singhara flour, barnyard millet or sama rice, amaranth, potatoes, fruits, dairy products and rock salt among fasting-friendly options.

One detailed Navratri fasting guide lists kuttu flour for dishes such as khichdi, paratha, pakoras, puri and halwa. It also lists singhara flour, rajgira and sama rice preparations among vrat-friendly choices.

Because fasting rules differ between families and traditions, a single food list should not be treated as a universal rule for every devotee.

Which Navratri vrat recipes can you try?

A recent Navratri food guide highlights five preparations: sabudana khichdi, kuttu ki puri, makhana kheer, sama rice khichdi and aloo tamatar sabzi.

Sabudana khichdi

The dish uses soaked sabudana with potato, roasted peanuts and rock salt. The source also includes cumin, green chilli, ghee, lemon and coriander in the preparation.

Kuttu ki puri

Kuttu, or buckwheat flour, is combined with boiled potatoes and rock salt to make the dough. The puris are then rolled and fried, with the source suggesting a simple potato curry as an accompaniment.

Makhana kheer

Makhana is roasted before being combined with milk, almonds, cashews and cardamom. The recipe also includes sugar or jaggery and saffron.

Sama rice khichdi

Sama, also called barnyard millet, is used to make a soft khichdi with potato, cumin, ginger, green chilli, rock salt and ghee. The source suggests serving it with plain curd.

Aloo tamatar sabzi

The potato-tomato preparation described in the source is made without onion and garlic and uses ingredients including cumin, ginger, green chilli, turmeric, red chilli powder, coriander powder and rock salt.

What should you wear for Navratri garba and dandiya nights?

The 2026 colour list provides a simple way to plan outfits around each Navratri day. People who follow the colour tradition can coordinate their garba or dandiya-night outfits with the published sequence, from orange on October 11 to peacock green on October 19.

A separate 2026 fashion report highlights minimal-look chaniya cholis, mirror-work designs, denim-jacket combinations and coordinated lehenga sets among the year's Navratri outfit trends.

The available sources do not provide a verified nationwide list of “dandiya night near me” events. Local event availability depends on the city and organiser, so a specific event should be checked against its organiser's current announcement before being treated as confirmed.

Where can you find Durga Puja 2026 pandals?

Durga Puja dates and local pandal schedules can differ from the broader Navratri calendar, particularly because Bengali Panchang-based observances have their own sequence.

For example, the Gurgaon Bengalee Association has published a 2026 Durga Puja programme at HUDA Community Centre, Sector 9, Gurugram, listed for October 15–21. The organisation describes it as its 45th year and says the pandal will be open to visitors throughout the festival period.

However, the association explicitly says its dates are based on the Bengali Panchang and are subject to final confirmation closer to the festival. That means the listing should be treated as the organiser's current schedule rather than an immutable nationwide Durga Puja calendar.

The published Gurugram schedule lists Maha Panchami on October 15, Maha Shashthi on October 16, Maha Saptami on October 17–18, Maha Ashtami on October 19, Maha Navami on October 20 and Vijaya Dashami on October 21.

Why are Navratri and Durga Puja dates sometimes different?

The sources show why readers should be careful when searching for a single festival date. The Sharad Navratri sources place the nine-day Navratri period from October 11 to October 19, followed by Dussehra on October 20.

Meanwhile, the Gurugram Bengali association's own programme runs from October 15 to October 21 and follows the Bengali Panchang. Its page also states that those dates are subject to final confirmation.

So, “Navratri 2026 date” and “Durga Puja 2026 pandal” should not automatically be treated as searches for the same calendar schedule. The exact dates can depend on the tradition and location being followed.

Navratri 2026: Quick Guide

FAQ

When does Navratri start in 2026?

Sharad Navratri begins on October 11, 2026, and the nine-day festival continues through October 19. Dussehra falls on October 20.

What is the Ghatasthapana muhurat in Delhi?

For New Delhi, Drik Panchang lists the main Ghatasthapana muhurat as 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM on October 11, 2026. An Abhijit Muhurat is listed from 11:44 AM to 12:31 PM.

What is the first Navratri colour in 2026?

The published 2026 colour list begins with orange on October 11.

What food can be eaten during Navratri fasting?

Common vrat options in the sources include sabudana, kuttu, singhara, sama rice, rajgira, fruits and dairy-based preparations. Specific fasting rules can differ by household and tradition.