Navratri 2026 Complete Guide: Dates, Puja Samagri, Vidhi & Fasting

Navratri is one of the most loved festivals in India. For nine nights, homes fill with the sound of aarti, the glow of diyas and the devotion of families worshipping Goddess Durga in her nine forms. It is a time for prayer, fasting, rangoli at the doorstep and gathering with loved ones, and it ends with the victory celebration of Dussehra.

If you are preparing for Navratri 2026, this guide covers everything you need: the dates, the nine forms of the Goddess, the Ghatasthapana puja vidhi, a complete samagri list, fasting rules and ideas for decorating your home.

Navratri 2026 Dates

Sharad Navratri, the autumn Navratri, is the biggest of the four Navratris in a year, and it is the one most people mean when they say "Navratri."

• Navratri begins (Ghatasthapana): Sunday, 11 October 2026

• Maha Navami: Monday, 19 October 2026

• Vijayadashami (Dussehra): Tuesday, 20 October 2026

The exact Ghatasthapana muhurat differs by city, so check your local panchang or ask your family pandit before you begin. Diwali follows on 8 November 2026.

What Is Navratri and Why Is It Celebrated?

Navratri means "nine nights." Over these nights, devotees worship Goddess Durga, the divine feminine power (Shakti), in nine forms. The festival remembers Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura, a symbol of good over evil.

In many North Indian traditions, Navratri is also linked to Lord Rama's victory over Ravana, which is celebrated on the tenth day as Dussehra. The festival looks different across India, with Garba and Dandiya in Gujarat, Durga Puja in Bengal, Golu displays in the South and Ram Leela in the North. The spirit stays the same: devotion, discipline and the triumph of righteousness.

The Nine Forms of Goddess Durga

Each night is dedicated to one form of the Goddess, known together as the Navadurga:

1. Shailaputri: The daughter of the mountains, worshipped on the first day with Ghatasthapana.

2. Brahmacharini: The form of penance and devotion.

3. Chandraghanta: The courageous warrior form, shown with a crescent moon on her forehead.

4. Kushmanda: The creator of the universe, with a gentle smile.

5. Skandamata: The mother of Lord Kartikeya (Skanda).

6. Katyayani: The warrior goddess who destroyed Mahishasura.

7. Kalaratri: The fierce form who removes fear and darkness.

8. Mahagauri: The pure and serene form, worshipped on Ashtami.

9. Siddhidatri: The giver of spiritual powers, worshipped on Navami.

The day assigned to each form can shift slightly when a tithi is repeated or skipped, so follow your panchang.

Ghatasthapana Puja Vidhi: How to Begin Navratri

Ghatasthapana (also called Kalash Sthapana) is the first and most important ritual. It means installing a sacred kalash that stays for all nine days. Perform it in the morning muhurat.

1. Prepare yourself and the space. Bathe, wear clean clothes and clean the puja area.

2. Sow the barley. Spread soil in a clean earthen pot or tray and sow barley (jau) seeds in it.

3. Prepare the kalash. Fill it with clean water (Ganga jal if you have it), and add a coin, a betel nut and a little rice. Place mango leaves around the mouth.

4. Top the kalash. Place a coconut wrapped in a red cloth (chunri) on top.

5. Place the kalash. Set it in the middle of the pot of soil.

6. Install the Goddess. Place an idol or picture of Goddess Durga on a red cloth beside the kalash.

7. Light the lamp. Many families keep an Akhand Jyot (a lamp that burns continuously) for nine days.

8. Make offerings. Offer kumkum, flowers, incense, fruits and sweets, then recite the Durga Chalisa or Durga Saptashati and perform aarti.

9. Care for the barley. Sprinkle a little water each day and watch the sprouts grow through the nine days.

Customs vary between families, so follow your own tradition and your pandit's guidance.

Navratri Puja Samagri List

Keep everything ready before the first morning so the puja is calm and unhurried.

For the kalash and altar

• Kalash (copper or brass)

• Mango leaves and a coconut

• Red cloth or chunri

• Barley (jau) seeds and an earthen pot or tray

• Idol or picture of Goddess Durga

For the puja

• Kumkum, roli, haldi and akshat (unbroken rice)

• Incense sticks, dhoop and camphor

• Diyas, cotton wicks and ghee or oil, plus an Akhand Jyot lamp

• Flowers and garlands (red hibiscus is considered dear to the Goddess)

• Fruits, sweets and betel leaves for bhog

• Pooja thali and a bell

• Sringar items such as bindi, bangles and sindoor, offered to the Goddess

For prayer

• Durga Chalisa or Durga Saptashati book

• A jap mala for chanting mantras

You can find pooja thalis, diyas and jap malas together at Satvik, so you can shop the whole list in one order.

Mantras to Chant During Navratri

Chanting on a mala is a popular way to deepen your Navratri practice. Two widely used mantras are:

• Navarna Mantra: Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Vichche, chanted 108 times a day.

• Devi Stuti: Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Shakti-Rupena Samsthita, Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah.

If your guru or family has given you a particular mantra, use that one. Beginners can start with a single round of 108 and add more over the nine days.

Navratri Fasting Rules and What to Eat

Many devotees fast for one, three or all nine days. Practices differ by family, but these foods are commonly eaten:

• Sabudana (tapioca), kuttu atta (buckwheat flour), singhara atta (water chestnut flour) and rajgira (amaranth)

• Samak rice (barnyard millet)

• Potatoes, sweet potatoes and seasonal vegetables

• Makhana (fox nuts), peanuts, fruits and dry fruits

• Milk, curd and paneer

• Sendha namak (rock salt) in place of regular salt

Many homes avoid onion, garlic, wheat, rice, regular salt, non-vegetarian food and alcohol during Navratri.

Kanya Pujan on Ashtami and Navami

On Ashtami or Navami, many families perform Kanya Pujan. Nine young girls, seen as forms of the Goddess, are invited home. Their feet are washed, a tilak is applied, and they are served a meal of halwa, puri and chana. Families then offer small gifts and seek their blessings. Some also invite a young boy to represent Batuk Bhairav. Many families break their fast after this ritual.

How to Decorate Your Home for Navratri

A welcoming, clean home is part of the celebration.

• Rangoli at the entrance: Colourful designs welcome the Goddess and your guests. Our rangoli colors and stencils make it easy to create a neat design.

• Toran and flowers: Hang a mango leaf or marigold toran on the main door.

• Diyas and lights: Place diyas at the entrance, in the puja corner and near the kalash.

• A dedicated puja corner: Keep the area clean and set up a pooja thali with all your samagri in one place.

Shop Navratri Essentials at Satvik

Navratri begins on 11 October, so order early to have everything before Ghatasthapana. Here is why devotees shop with Satvik:

• Complete Navratri Puja Essentials — Find thalis, diyas, kalash, kumkum, puja samagri, rangoli and more in one place.

• Traditional Puja Products — Carefully selected essentials for Navratri rituals, Durga Puja and festive worship.

• Wide Range of Puja Thalis & Accessories — Choose from different designs and styles for your Navratri celebrations.

• Trusted Since 2011 — SATVIK has been serving devotees with puja and spiritual products for years.

• GS1-Certified Products — Traceable products for a more reliable shopping experience.

FAQ’s

1. When does Navratri start in 2026?
Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October, with Ghatasthapana. It runs for nine days to 19 October, and Dussehra falls on 20 October.

2. What is Ghatasthapana?
Ghatasthapana is the installation of a kalash with sown barley on the first day of Navratri. It is done in the morning muhurat and marks the start of the nine days of worship.

3. What items are needed for Navratri puja?
You need a kalash, mango leaves, a coconut, a red cloth, barley seeds, an idol or picture of Goddess Durga, kumkum, haldi, rice, incense, diyas, flowers, fruits, sweets and a pooja thali.

4. Can I do Navratri puja at home without a pandit?
Yes. Many families perform the puja at home with a simple vidhi. For exact muhurat timings and detailed rituals, consult your family pandit or local panchang.

5. What can I eat during Navratri fasting?
Commonly eaten foods include sabudana, kuttu atta, singhara atta, samak rice, potatoes, makhana, fruits, milk and curd, with sendha namak instead of regular salt.

6. What is Kanya Pujan?
Kanya Pujan is a ritual on Ashtami or Navami in which nine young girls are worshipped as forms of the Goddess, served a meal and given gifts.

7. Which mantra should I chant during Navratri?
A popular choice is the Navarna Mantra, Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Vichche, chanted 108 times. Use the mantra given by your guru or family if you have one.

8. Where can I buy Navratri puja items online?
You can buy pooja thalis, diyas, jap malas, rangoli and other Navratri essentials from Satvik, India's Largest Pooja Accessories Brand, with delivery across India.