Sharad Navratri 2026 शारदीय नवरात्रि

Why Sharad Navratri is celebrated

Navratri means "nine nights". During these nights Hindus worship the Goddess in her many forms, with Durga at the centre as the power that protects the world and destroys evil. Devotees see the festival as a time for inner cleansing: they eat simple food, avoid alcohol and non vegetarian meals, pray more and try to control anger and greed.

The festival comes four times a year, but Sharad Navratri in autumn is the most widely celebrated. It arrives after the monsoon, when the kharif crop is being gathered and the weather turns pleasant. Each of the nine days is dedicated to one form of Durga, known together as the Navadurga: Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.

The nine forms are often read as one journey of the soul. Shailaputri, daughter of the mountain king, stands for a steady beginning. Brahmacharini, who did long penance to win Shiva, stands for discipline. Chandraghanta, with a bell shaped half moon on her forehead, gives courage, and Kushmanda, who devotees believe created the universe with her smile, gives energy. Skandamata, mother of Kartikeya, shows a mother's love, while Katyayani is the warrior who rose against Mahishasura. Kalaratri, dark and fierce, removes fear. Mahagauri, calm and fair, stands for purity, and Siddhidatri grants wisdom and fulfilment on the last day.

The festival also honours women and girls as living forms of the Goddess. On Ashtami or Navami, families invite young girls home for Kanya Puja, wash their feet and serve them a meal, which carries a strong social message about respecting daughters.

History and story of Sharad Navratri

The main scripture behind Navratri is the Devi Mahatmya, a part of the Markandeya Purana, which is recited in homes and temples as the Durga Saptashati. It tells how the buffalo demon Mahishasura gained a boon and drove the gods out of heaven. The combined energies of the gods took the form of Durga, armed with their weapons and riding a lion. She fought Mahishasura for nine days and killed him on the tenth, which is why she is called Mahishasuramardini.

A second story ties the festival to the Ramayana. According to tradition, Lord Rama worshipped Durga before his battle with Ravana to seek her blessings. Bengali retellings describe this autumn worship as Akal Bodhan, an untimely awakening of the Goddess, since her worship was earlier done in spring. Rama's victory on the tenth day is celebrated as Dussehra.

The Navratri of spring, Chaitra Navratri, ends with Ram Navami. The two lesser known Gupt Navratris fall in Ashadha and Magha and are observed mainly by those following tantric practices.

How Sharad Navratri is celebrated

On the first day, families perform Ghatasthapana. A clay or metal pot filled with water is placed on a bed of soil, topped with mango leaves and a coconut wrapped in red cloth, and worshipped as a form of the Goddess. Barley seeds are sown in the soil around it. The green shoots that grow over nine days are seen as a sign of prosperity. Many homes also keep an akhand jyoti, a lamp that burns without stopping through all nine days.

Fasting styles vary. Some people eat only fruit and milk, some eat one meal a day, and many follow a vrat diet of kuttu or singhara flour, sabudana, potatoes and rock salt, without onion, garlic or grains. Recitation of the Durga Saptashati, aarti in the morning and evening, and visits to Devi temples fill the days. After dark, people gather in housing societies, grounds and temple courtyards for garba and dandiya raas. Garba is danced in widening circles around a lit earthen pot or an image of the Goddess, while dandiya pairs strike decorated sticks in time with the dhol.

Ashtami and Navami are the high points. Kanya Puja is held with puri, black chana and halwa served to young girls, who also receive small gifts. Many families perform a havan before breaking the fast. Sandhi Puja, held at the meeting point of Ashtami and Navami, is especially important in Durga Puja. On the tenth day, the barley shoots are offered and the Ghat is ceremonially moved, and in Bengal the idols are immersed.

Symbols, food and customs of Sharad Navratri

The kalash, or ghat, is the heart of the home altar. Set up at Ghatasthapana, the pot of water stands for the Goddess herself and for the fullness of life, with mango leaves for freshness and a coconut in red cloth for the Devi's head. The barley sown around it, called jaware or jayanti, sprouts green within days, and families read a good harvest in healthy shoots.

The akhand jyoti is a ghee or oil lamp kept burning day and night for all nine days. Family members take turns to add oil and guard the wick, as the steady flame stands for unbroken faith. Durga's lion, her trident and the red chunri offered to her are other familiar signs.

In Gujarat, the garbo, a perforated clay pot with a lamp inside, gives garba its name. Dandiya sticks are said to recall the Goddess's weapons, or Krishna's playful dance in Vrindavan.

Fasting food has its own menu: kuttu ki puri, sabudana khichdi, singhara halwa, samak rice, makhana kheer and potatoes cooked with rock salt. Kanya Puja brings the classic plate of puri, black chana and suji halwa, and Bengal shares khichuri bhog in pandals. Many cities also follow a colour for each day.

Sharad Navratri across India

In West Bengal, Assam, Odisha and Tripura the festival becomes Durga Puja, with grand pandals and idols worshipped from Shashthi to Dashami; Kolkata's Durga Puja is on the UNESCO intangible heritage list. Gujarat dances garba and dandiya every night. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh set up Golu displays of dolls, Mysuru holds its royal Dasara, Telangana women celebrate Bathukamma and Kerala begins children's learning with Vidyarambham on Vijayadashami. Across North India, Ramlila plays run through the nine nights.

In Uttarakhand, crowds visit Devi temples such as Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi in Haridwar, Kunjapuri and Surkanda Devi in Tehri, Dhari Devi near Srinagar Garhwal and Naina Devi in Nainital. In Dehradun, the Daat Kali temple sees long queues. Many hill families sow barley at home on the first day and wear the green shoots on Dussehra as a blessing. Kumaon is known for its Ramlila sung in classical style, a tradition more than a century old.

Offices, banks, markets and travel during Sharad Navratri

Navratri itself is not a public holiday. Dussehra on 20 October 2026 is a compulsory central holiday, central staff can choose the Durga Puja days from the restricted list, and Bihar closes its offices for Durga Puja.

Navratri itself is not a public holiday, so offices, banks and markets work as usual for most of the nine days. Holidays come at the end, around Durga Ashtami, Maha Navami and Dussehra.

In Bihar, Kalash Sthapana on Sunday, 11 October 2026 is a restricted holiday for state staff and a school holiday. Bihar government offices close on 17 October for Durga Puja Saptami and again from 18 to 20 October. Central government staff can pick Dussehra Saptami (18 October), Mahashtami (19 October) or Mahanavami (20 October) from the restricted holiday list, while Dussehra on Tuesday, 20 October is a compulsory central holiday.

Banks close on 20 October in Dehradun, Lucknow, Kanpur, New Delhi and Patna, and Patna banks also close on 19 October. The Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi governments close their offices on 20 October, and the NSE and BSE do not trade that day. Delhi government schools start their autumn break from 17 October.

Expect busy evenings near Devi temples, garba venues and Ramlila grounds, and crowded trains to Bengal and Bihar in the last days.