Sharad Navratri 2026
Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026
51
days until the first night
Start and end dates are from our verified table. No ticking clock: nights are counted in nights.
The nine nights, night by night
The traditional Navadurga sequence is below. In 2026 the window runs ten civil days (October 11 to 20) because a tithi repeats; the exact night-to-date mapping is pending panchang verification, so we anchor only the start and Vijayadashami.
Night 1: Shailaputri
Daughter of the mountain. The festival opens with ghatasthapana, setting the kalash.
Night 2: Brahmacharini
The ascetic: a night for discipline, and for starting the fast you actually intend to keep.
Night 3: Chandraghanta
The bell-crowned: courage in the household; a good garba night for beginners.
Night 4: Kushmanda
She who smiled the cosmos into being: warmth, light, and cooking together.
Night 5: Skandamata
Mother of Skanda: a night that honors mothers; call yours.
Night 6: Katyayani
The warrior: traditionally the height of the garba nights.
Night 7: Kalaratri
The fierce night: fear examined and set down.
Night 8: Mahagauri
The radiant: Ashtami, when many families hold kanya puja.
Night 9: Siddhidatri
Giver of attainment: Navami closes the nine nights; some families keep kanya puja today.
Keeping Navratri in a US household
Set the altar on day one
A picture or murti of the Devi, a kalash if your tradition keeps one, a lamp lit morning and evening. Some families also plant barley (khetri) in a small dish and watch it sprout across the nine days; children love being its gardeners.
Choose a fast you can keep
Nine days of full fasting is not the assignment for a US school-and-work week. Common household patterns: no grains with one fruit-and-milk meal, vegetarian-only for the stretch, or fasting on just the first and last days. Consistency beats severity.
Find your garba
Nearly every US metro has weekend garba and dandiya nights run by Gujarati associations and temples; they are the diaspora's best-attended Hindu events for a reason. Go at least once; take the kids; dress them up.
Kanya puja on Ashtami or Navami
Young girls are honored as forms of the Goddess: feet washed, a small meal served (puri, chana, halwa is the classic), a gift given. Invite the neighborhood kids; it translates perfectly.
Close with Vijayadashami
October 20 is the day of victory. Honor the tools of your work and study (laptops, instruments, textbooks) and let a child begin something new: first letters, first lesson, first shloka.
Nine nights of the Mother: one blessing offered in her name
For a daughter dancing her first garba, a mother far away, or a student facing exams after the festival, send a personalized blessing, cited to a named source.
Keeping the nine nights with children at home? Nine Nights Together is our free evening-by-evening family challenge.
More dates: Navratri on the festival calendar · Dussehra 2026 · all panchang tools