Navratri 2026: Nine Nights of Devotion

Navratri 2026 Overview

Navratri ("nine nights") is celebrated four times a year, but the two most prominent are Chaitra Navratri (spring, March-April) and Sharad Navratri (autumn, September-October). Sharad Navratri is the grandest celebration, culminating in Vijayadashami (Dussehra). In 2026, check the panchang for the exact start date of Pratipad tithi in Ashwin month.

The Nine Forms of Goddess Durga

Each night of Navratri is dedicated to a specific form of the Goddess (Navadurga):

Day 1 - Shailaputri: Daughter of the mountains. Color: Yellow. She rides a bull and carries a trident.

Day 2 - Brahmacharini: The ascetic goddess. Color: Green. She represents penance and devotion.

Day 3 - Chandraghanta: The bell-shaped moon adorns her. Color: Grey. She embodies bravery and grace.

Day 4 - Kushmanda: Creator of the cosmic egg. Color: Orange. She brings light to the universe.

Day 5 - Skandamata: Mother of Kartikeya. Color: White. She represents maternal love and power.

Day 6 - Katyayani: The warrior goddess. Color: Red. She destroys evil with fierce determination.

Day 7 - Kalaratri: The dark night. Color: Royal Blue. She is the fiercest form, destroyer of darkness.

Day 8 - Mahagauri: The radiant one. Color: Pink. She grants wishes and purifies the soul.

Day 9 - Siddhidatri: Bestower of supernatural powers. Color: Purple. She grants all siddhis to her devotees.

Navratri Fasting Guidelines

Permitted foods: Fruits, milk products, buckwheat flour (kuttu), water chestnut flour (singhara), rock salt (sendha namak), potatoes, sweet potatoes, and sabudana.

Avoid: Grains (rice, wheat), regular salt, onion, garlic, meat, alcohol, and eggs.

Some devotees fast for all nine days, while others fast on specific days. Even partial fasting with a sattvic diet is beneficial.

How to Celebrate at Home

Set up a Navratri altar with Goddess Durga image and a lit akhand jyoti (perpetual flame). Plant barley seeds in a pot on Day 1 — their growth symbolizes prosperity. Chant the Durga Saptashati or Devi Kavach daily. Perform Kanya Puja on Ashtami or Navami — worship nine young girls as the nine forms of the Goddess.

Regional Celebrations

Gujarat celebrates with vibrant Garba and Dandiya Raas dances. Bengal hosts elaborate Durga Puja pandals. South India celebrates Golu (doll arrangements) and Saraswati Puja. For an authentic Navratri puja experience, book a purohit for home rituals. Explore your kundali to understand which form of the Goddess resonates most with your chart. Learn more about Shakti worship on our platform.