Sharad Navratri 2026 Dates, Ghatasthapana and Day-wise Calendar
Sharad (Shardiya) Navratri 2026 ran from Sunday, 11 October to Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami were on Monday, 19 October.
Sharad Navratri 2026 dates
Sharad Navratri 2026: 11–20 October 2026 (observed)
Sharad Navratri begins on Ashwin Shukla Pratipada. In 2026 Pratipada ran from 9:19 PM on 10 October to 9:30 PM on 11 October (New Delhi), so Ghatasthapana was on Sunday, 11 October. Saptami tithi spanned two sunrises (17 and 18 October), which is why Navratri 2026 had ten days. Ashtami began at 8:28 AM on 18 October and Navami at 10:52 AM on 19 October, so Durga Ashtami and the start of Maha Navami (with Sandhi Puja) both fell on Monday, 19 October.
Ghatasthapana muhurat (New Delhi, 11 Oct)
| Window | Time (IST) |
|---|---|
| Ghatasthapana muhurat | 6:19 AM – 10:12 AM |
| Abhijit muhurat (alternative) | 11:44 AM – 12:31 PM |
| Sandhi Puja, 19 Oct | 10:27 AM – 11:15 AM |
Drik Panchang notes that the morning muhurat fell during Chitra nakshatra and Vaidhriti yoga, which some traditions avoid; families following that rule used the Abhijit muhurat.
Day-wise calendar
| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| Sun, 11 Oct | Ghatasthapana; Shailaputri |
| Mon, 12 Oct | Brahmacharini |
| Tue, 13 Oct | Chandraghanta |
| Wed, 14 Oct | Kushmanda |
| Thu, 15 Oct | Skandamata |
| Fri, 16 Oct | Katyayani; Saraswati Avahan; Durga Puja Shashthi (Bengal) |
| Sat, 17 Oct | Kalaratri; Saraswati Puja; Maha Saptami |
| Sun, 18 Oct | Saptami continues |
| Mon, 19 Oct | Durga Ashtami (Mahagauri), Kanya Puja, Sandhi Puja; Maha Navami begins |
| Tue, 20 Oct | Navami (Siddhidatri), Ayudha Puja, Navratri parana; Dussehra |
Which Navdurga form is worshipped on the repeated Saptami day varies by family; the Ashtami and Navami dates above are as listed by Drik Panchang and AstroSage.
Significance and rituals
Sharad Navratri celebrates the nine forms of Goddess Durga and her victory over Mahishasura. Devotees install the kalash, light an akhand jyoti, fast, recite the Durga Saptashati and perform Kanya Puja on Ashtami or Navami. Gujarat celebrates with garba and dandiya, Bengal with Durga Puja, South India with Golu (Bommai Kolu) and Ayudha Puja, and Mysuru with its Dasara procession.
Panchang for the day
Panchang for 11 October 2026 (New Delhi).
Sharad Navratri 2027
Sharad Navratri 2027 is listed from Thursday, 30 September 2027, with Dussehra on Saturday, 9 October 2027.
Related
All times are IST for New Delhi unless stated otherwise. Muhurat changes with your city’s sunrise, sunset and moonrise: check today’s Panchang for your location. Outside India the date can differ; use your local panchang. Sources: Drik Panchang (New Delhi), cross-checked with Free Panchang’s own calculation (Lahiri ayanamsa); AstroSage 2026 festival calendar.
Frequently asked questions
- Sharad Navratri 2026 kab se thi?
- Sharad Navratri 2026 began with Ghatasthapana on Sunday, 11 October and ended on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
- When was Durga Ashtami 2026?
- Durga Ashtami (Maha Ashtami) 2026 was on Monday, 19 October 2026; Maha Navami also began that morning, and Navami parana was on 20 October.
- Why did Navratri 2026 have ten days?
- Saptami tithi was present at sunrise on two consecutive days, 17 and 18 October 2026, adding a day to the festival.