Hindu Festival · 2026 · All Years Guide
Navratri (Sharad) 2026
Nine nights honoring the goddess Durga in her nine forms.
In 2026, Navratri (Sharad) falls on Sunday, October 11, 2026. Regional panchang authorities — including the Vakya, Drik, and Surya Siddhanta traditions — may calculate the precise tithi differently, with some communities observing the festival one day earlier or later than the date shown.
Significance of Navratri (Sharad)
Navratri, literally meaning "nine nights," is among the most revered festivals in the Hindu calendar and is dedicated to the worship of the divine feminine in the form of the goddess Durga and her nine manifestations. The most widely observed Navratri is Sharad Navratri, falling in the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin (typically September or October), and culminates on the tenth day with Vijayadashami or Dussehra — the day Durga slew the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Each of the nine nights is dedicated to one of Durga's nine forms: Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri. The festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil, the protective and creative power of feminine divinity, and the renewal of community bonds through music, dance, and shared worship.
Traditions and Observances
Devotees observe partial fasts during the nine days, abstaining from grains, meat, alcohol, and onion or garlic, instead consuming vrat-friendly foods such as singhara atta puris, sabudana khichdi, and kuttu pakoras. Daily aarti and chanting of the Devi Mahatmya scripture take place at home altars and temples. Each evening features Garba and Dandiya Raas circle dances performed in colorful traditional attire, with women in chaniya cholis and men in kediyu kurtas accompanied by dhol drumming and devotional songs. Many homes plant barley seeds called jowar in clay pots on the first day, with the sprouted grass distributed as prasad on the tenth.
Navratri (Sharad) 2026 — At a Glance
If you are planning travel, scheduling community events, requesting time off work, or simply marking your family calendar for 2026, the table below summarises every key detail for Navratri (Sharad) this year, alongside the surrounding observances on either side of the festival in the Hindu lunar calendar.
| Detail | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Gregorian date | October 11, 2026 |
| Day of week | Sunday |
| Panchang reference | Ashwin Shukla Pratipada to Navami |
| Tradition | Hinduism (regional variations across panchang traditions) |
Regional Observance
Gujarat hosts the world's largest Garba and Dandiya gatherings, particularly in Vadodara and Ahmedabad, where commercial pandals draw crowds of fifty thousand or more. West Bengal observes the corresponding Durga Puja from the sixth to tenth day with elaborate pandals featuring artistic and increasingly conceptual themes, immersion processions called bisarjan, and the cultural festival of pandal hopping. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka mark Golu — a stepped display of dolls representing gods, gurus, and historical figures, with families inviting neighbors to visit each home's display. Northern India observes Ramlila theatrical reenactments of the Ramayana culminating in the burning of giant effigies of Ravana, Meghnath, and Kumbhakarna on Dussehra night.
Navratri (Sharad) Across the Years 2024–2030
The Islamic Hijri calendar is a purely lunar calendar of approximately 354 days, so its observances drift forward by roughly 10–11 days each Gregorian year. The Hindu lunar calendar uses periodic intercalary months (adhik maas) that keep festivals broadly anchored to the seasons. The table below shows the Gregorian date of Navratri (Sharad) across every year HijriHub covers, allowing you to plan multi-year commemorations, anniversaries, or research at a glance.
| Year | Gregorian date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | October 3, 2024 | Thursday |
| 2025 | September 22, 2025 | Monday |
| 2026 | October 11, 2026 | Sunday |
| 2027 | September 30, 2027 | Thursday |
| 2028 | September 19, 2028 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | October 8, 2029 | Monday |
| 2030 | September 27, 2030 | Friday |
How HijriHub calculates Navratri (Sharad) 2026
Our Hindu festival dates are compiled from the Drik Panchang almanac authority, cross-checked against regional panchang publications including the Mahesh Dharmik Panchang and the Indian government's National Calendar. For festivals tied to specific tithis, nakshatras, or yogas, the date listed corresponds to the day on which the festival is most widely observed in North India under the Drik tradition. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and parts of Karnataka follow the Vakya tradition that may shift the observance by a day. Bengal's Vishuddha Siddhanta and the lunisolar calendars of Maharashtra and Gujarat occasionally differ. Always confirm with your family priest or local temple before finalising ritual plans.
Other Years
- Navratri (Sharad) 2024 Oct 3, 2024
- Navratri (Sharad) 2025 Sep 22, 2025
- Navratri (Sharad) 2027 Sep 30, 2027
- Navratri (Sharad) 2028 Sep 19, 2028
- Navratri (Sharad) 2029 Oct 8, 2029
- Navratri (Sharad) 2030 Sep 27, 2030
Other Holidays in October 2026
- Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 Oct 20, 2026
- Karva Chauth 2026 Oct 29, 2026