Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday 11 October and the nine nights run to 19 October, with Vijayadashami on Tuesday 20 October in most of India. This page sets out the 2026 dates, then goes temple by temple through twelve major Devi shrines: what happens there, the main days, any timing change the temple or press has announced, and one crowd tip for each. Two regions keep a different calendar this year: Bengal and Assam observe Navami on 20 October and Bijoya Dashami on 21 October, and Mysuru holds its Jamboo Savari on 21 October.
Use the comparison table near the end if you are still choosing where to go. For the meaning of each day, see our guide to the nine forms of Navadurga.
Navratri 2026 Dates at a Glance
| Day | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mahalaya (Bengal) | Sat 10 Oct | Observed in Bengal ahead of Durga Puja |
| Ghatasthapana, Day 1 | Sun 11 Oct | New Delhi muhurat 6:19 am to 10:12 am; Abhijit muhurat 11:44 am to 12:31 pm |
| Navratri nine days | 11 to 19 Oct | Ashwin Shukla Pratipada to Navami |
| Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami | Mon 19 Oct | Both fall on the same day by the standard rule used in most states |
| Vijayadashami (Dussehra) | Tue 20 Oct | Navratri parana is also on 20 Oct; Pune Vijaya muhurat 2:16 pm to 3:02 pm |
| Bengal and Assam | 16 to 21 Oct | Bilva Nimantran 16 Oct, Shashthi 17 Oct, Saptami 18 Oct, Ashtami and Sandhi Puja 19 Oct, Navami 20 Oct, Bijoya Dashami 21 Oct |
| Mysuru Dasara | 11 to 21 Oct | Vijayadashami and Jamboo Savari on Wed 21 Oct |
Ashtami tithi ends at about 10:51 am on 19 October, and Navami tithi then runs until 12:50 pm on 20 October (New Delhi). That is why Ashtami and Navami pujas, including Kanya Pujan, fall on one civil day this year. Dashami tithi runs from 12:50 pm on 20 October to 2:11 pm on 21 October, so places that follow the afternoon (Aparahna) rule, such as Mysuru and Bengal, mark Vijayadashami on 21 October.
Muhurat times shift by city. Tuljapur, for example, has a Ghatasthapana window of 6:18 am to 10:14 am. Drik Panchang notes that 11 October falls in Chitra Nakshatra and Vaidhriti Yoga, and recommends the first third of the day while Pratipada lasts. Check your own city before you set up the kalash, and see the Navratri 2026 colours for each day.
Sources: Drik Panchang: Ghatasthapana 2026 (New Delhi), Drik Panchang: Ghatasthapana 2026 (Tuljapur), Drik Panchang: Maha Navami 2026, Drik Panchang: Bengal Maha Navami 2026, Drik Panchang: Vijayadashami 2026 (Pune), Drik Panchang: Durga Puja 2026 Kolkata, Drik Panchang: Mysore Dasara 2026, Pune Pulse: Ashtami and Navami on the same day, Asianet News Bangla: Durga Puja 2026 schedule.
1. Chamundeshwari Temple and Mysuru Dasara
Mysuru Dasara 2026 is an 11-day state festival from 11 to 21 October. It opens on 11 October with a puja to Goddess Chamundeshwari at the temple on Chamundi Hill, in Dhanur Lagna between 11:50 am and 12:13 pm. Sri Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji of Koppal Gavimath is to inaugurate it. The palace illumination is switched on the same evening at 6:30 pm.
The Jamboo Savari is on Wednesday 21 October. Under the state's published plan, the Pushparchane (flower offering) starts after 4:10 pm, and the procession then carries the Goddess in the golden howdah from the Palace to Bannimantap. The Rathotsava at Chamundi Hill is listed for 24 October.
Timings: the palace lights run every evening until 9 pm, extended to midnight on 21 October. The temple's regular darshan hours are 7:30 am to 2 pm, 3:30 pm to 6 pm and 7:30 pm to 9 pm; no Dasara change to these had been announced at the start of October. Crowd tip: tickets for the Gold Card, procession, parade and drone show are sold only on the official Dasara website, so book there rather than through agents. The hill temple is a no-plastic zone and serves free meals (Dasoha) daily in three time slots. Read the full Chamundeshwari Temple guide.
Sources: Mysuru Dasara (Government of Karnataka): official site, Sri Chamundeshwari Temple: official site, The Hans India: Mysuru Dasara 2026 roadmap, Newskarnataka: Gavimath seer to inaugurate Dasara, Drik Panchang: Mysore Dasara 2026.
2. Kanaka Durga Temple, Vijayawada
The Dasara Mahotsavams on Indrakeeladri dress the Goddess in a different alankaram each day. Most published schedules run from 11 to 20 October (one report gives 10 October as the start). The temple's list marks Durga Ashtami on 18 October and Maha Navami on 19 October, a day earlier than the all-India Ashtami.
| Date | Alankaram |
|---|---|
| Sun 11 Oct | Sri Bala Tripura Sundari Devi |
| Mon 12 Oct | Sri Gayatri Devi |
| Tue 13 Oct | Sri Annapurna Devi |
| Wed 14 Oct | Sri Maha Chandi Devi |
| Thu 15 Oct | Sri Lalita Tripura Sundari Devi |
| Fri 16 Oct (Moola Nakshatram) | Sri Saraswati Devi |
| Sat 17 Oct | Sri Maha Lakshmi Devi |
| Sun 18 Oct (Durga Ashtami) | Sri Durga Devi |
| Mon 19 Oct (Maha Navami) | Sri Mahishasura Mardhini Devi |
| Tue 20 Oct (Vijayadashami) | Sri Raja Rajeswari Devi |
Moola Nakshatram (16 October) and Vijayadashami (20 October) are the peak days. The Chief Minister is reported to present silk robes to the Goddess on Moola Nakshatram, and on the evening of Vijayadashami the Teppotsavam takes the deities on the Hamsa Vahana boat on the Krishna river. For the story behind the 19 October form, see Mahishasura Mardini and Durga Puja 2026.
Crowd tip: VIP tickets at Rs 1,000 are sold on regular Navaratri days only; none will be sold on Moola Nakshatram or Vijayadashami. Arrangements are planned for about 20 to 25 lakh devotees, with separate queues for elderly and disabled devotees, a 24-hour command centre using CCTV and drones, and a police QR-code tag system for tracking children. Daily darshan hours for the festival had not been officially published at the start of October. Read the full Kanaka Durga Temple guide.
Sources: Deccan Chronicle: Dasara at Indrakeeladri, The Hans India: AI to strengthen Dasara arrangements, ETV Bharat Telugu: Indrakeeladri alankarams, Zee News Telugu: Dasara 2026 schedule, OneIndia Telugu: Dasara 2026 schedule.
3. Kolkata Durga Puja (Kalighat and Dakshineswar)
Durga Puja in Kolkata is a city-wide festival held mainly in community pandals and family homes, not a programme at one temple. Kalighat and Dakshineswar stay open as usual through the puja days; neither has announced a separate Navratri schedule, so the regular timings in our guide apply, though you should expect the city's festival traffic on the way.
The Bengal calendar for 2026: Mahalaya on Saturday 10 October; Bilva Nimantran on 16 October; Kalparambha, Akal Bodhon and Adhivas on 17 October (Shashthi); Saptami and Kolabou Puja on 18 October; Ashtami, Kumari Puja and Sandhi Puja on 19 October; Navami, Balidan and Navami Homa on 20 October; Bijoya Dashami, Sindoor Utsav and immersion on 21 October. Two panjikas are in use this year, and in one of them Saptami spans 17 and 18 October.
Crowd tip: the Ashtami anjali window on 19 October is early and depends on your pandal's panjika. By the Gupta Press reckoning, anjali is until 7:03 am and Sandhi Puja is 7:26 am to 8:14 am; by the Bishuddha Siddhanta reckoning, anjali is until 10:27 am and Sandhi Puja is 10:27 am to 11:15 am. Ask your pandal committee which one it follows. Read the full Kalighat and Dakshineswar guide.
Sources: Drik Panchang: Durga Puja 2026 Kolkata, Asianet News Bangla: Durga Puja 2026 schedule.
4. Mata Vaishno Devi, Katra
The Navratra Festival 2026 at Katra runs 11 to 19 October. The Jammu divisional administration's review lists a Shobha Yatra, Prabhat Pheris, an all-India devotional song competition, Bhagwat Katha, a wrestling competition, a Kavi Sammelan and cultural programmes across the nine days, along with road repairs, mobile toilets, street lighting and round-the-clock staff in Katra.
The Shrine Board had announced no change to yatra timings for Navratri at the start of October. Every pilgrim must register for the yatra and collect an RFID Yatra Access Card, and aarti is performed twice a day in front of the Holy Cave.
Crowd tip: expect a very full track. In Sharad Navratri 2025, 1,25,645 pilgrims registered in the first week, and over 2 lakh came in the first six days of Chaitra Navratri 2026, with the Katra base camp and track busy day and night. Register before you reach Katra and allow time for the RFID card. Read the full Vaishno Devi pilgrimage guide.
Sources: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board: official site, All India Radio News: over 2 lakh devotees (Mar 2026), All India Radio News: over 1.25 lakh devotees (Sep 2025), The Tribune: arrangements for Navratri, Earth News: Navratra Festival 2026 review.
5. Naina Devi, Bilaspur
Naina Devi keeps the longest hours of any temple on this list during Navratri. The temple trust lists darshan from 2:00 am to midnight in the Navratras, against 4:00 am to 10:00 pm on normal days. Sharad Navratri here follows the general dates, 11 to 19 October.
The temple is about 100 km from Chandigarh and about 350 km from Delhi. Anandpur Sahib, the nearest railway station, is about 20 to 25 km away, with around 13 km of hill road. The trust's toll-free number is 1800 180 80 69.
Crowd tip: with darshan open from 2:00 am to midnight, you can choose a very early or late-night slot instead of the middle of the day. Call the toll-free number before you set out for any parking or traffic arrangements. Read the full Naina Devi Temple guide.
Sources: Shri Naina Devi Ji Temple Trust: darshan timings, Shri Naina Devi Ji Temple Trust: how to reach.
6. Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati
At Kamakhya, Durga Puja is a fortnight-long observance, also called Pakhua Puja, held from Krishna Navami to Shukla Navami of Ashwin. The temple lists the Mahasnan (ritual bath of the deity at the Pithasthan), Kumari Puja, and animal and vegetable sacrifices among its rites, so visitors who would rather not see sacrifice should plan around the main puja days.
The main days follow the Bengal rule in Guwahati: Bilva Nimantran on 16 October; Kalparambha and Akal Bodhon on 17 October; Saptami on 18 October; Ashtami, Kumari Puja and Sandhi Puja on 19 October; Navami and Durga Balidan on 20 October; Vijayadashami and Sindoor Utsav on 21 October.
Crowd tip: plan by the Guwahati dates, not the all-India ones: Ashtami is 19 October and Navami 20 October here. No Navratri timing change had been published at the start of October. Read the full Kamakhya Temple guide.
Sources: Maa Kamakhya Devalaya: Durga Puja, Drik Panchang: Durga Puja 2026 Guwahati.
7. Ambaji Temple, Banaskantha
Navratri at Ambaji follows the general dates of 11 to 19 October, with Vijayadashami on 20 October. At the start of October the temple trust had not published a Navratri 2026 programme or any change to its timings.
The trust's current timings: aarti 7:30 am to 8:00 am; darshan 8:00 am to 11:30 am and 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm; aarti 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm; darshan 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm. The trust has also announced that the nightly light and sound show at Gabbar Hill is on hold for now.
Crowd tip: other websites list different hours; go by the trust's own website, and check it again in the week you travel in case Navratri hours are announced. Read the full Ambaji Temple guide.
Source: Shree Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust: official site.
8. Tulja Bhavani Temple, Tuljapur
Navratri at Tuljapur begins with Ghatasthapana on 11 October; Drik Panchang gives the Tuljapur muhurat as 6:18 am to 10:14 am, with Abhijit muhurat 11:49 am to 12:36 pm. The festival ends with Seemollanghan, a pre-dawn boundary crossing by the Goddess on Vijayadashami, when a palanquin arrives from Burhanpur and a throne from Bhingar.
Local reckoning at Tuljapur can place Navami and Vijayadashami a day later than the all-India dates, so confirm the Seemollanghan date with the Mandir Sansthan before you book travel around it.
Crowd tip: the temple sansthan sells donation darshan passes of Rs 300 online to avoid the long general queue. Book well ahead for Ashtami and Vijayadashami. Read the full Tulja Bhavani Temple guide.
Sources: Shri Tuljabhavani Mandir Sansthan: official site, Drik Panchang: Ghatasthapana 2026 (Tuljapur).
9. Mahalakshmi (Ambabai) Temple, Kolhapur
Navratri at Kolhapur runs on the general dates, 11 to 19 October. The best-known event is Lalita Panchami, the fifth day, when the Goddess's palkhi goes in procession to the Tryambuli (Temblai) temple.
Crowd tip: in 2025 the palkhi left at 10 am and the coconut-breaking rite at Temblai was at noon, with police posted along the route and fewer puja-material stalls allowed at Shahu Mill. If you want to see the procession, be on the route by mid-morning. The trust had not published 2026 timing changes at the start of October. Read the full Mahalakshmi Temple Kolhapur guide.
Source: Navarashtra: Lalita Panchami at Temblai (2025).
10. Sringeri Sharada Peetham
Sri Sharada Sharannavaratri Mahotsava is Sringeri's main festival, and it runs longer than Navratri elsewhere: from Ashwayuja Shukla Pratipat on 11 October to Ekadashi on 22 October 2026. It is celebrated in the presence of Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji.
Crowd tip: the day-by-day alankaras of Goddess Sharadamba are printed in the Peetham's invitation and on its Seva portal (seva.sringeri.net); check there to pick the day you want to see. Read the full Sringeri Sharada Peetham guide.
Source: Sringeri Sharada Peetham: Sharannavaratri Mahotsava 2026.
11. Mookambika Temple, Kollur
Kollur celebrates Maha Navaratri through the nine days, and on Vijayadashami (20 October) families bring young children for Vidyarambha, the start of learning letters. The temple sets the Vidyarambha timings, fee and eligibility, so confirm them at the seva counter or on the temple's own website before you go.
Crowd tip: if Vidyarambha is the reason for the trip, arrive the day before and be at the temple early on 20 October. Read the full Kollur Mookambika Temple guide.
12. Bhramaramba Devi, Srisailam
Srisailam Devasthanam's Dasara Mahotsavams run 11 to 20 October. Each day has a Vahana Seva and a Navadurga alankaram for Goddess Bhramaramba Devi, followed by the Nijaroopa Alankaram, and Vijayadashami brings the Shami Puja and Teppotsavam. Harikatha and traditional dance programmes are planned alongside.
Crowd tip: the Devasthanam is setting up LED screens and crowd management for the festival, which helps if you cannot get close to the procession. Vijayadashami has the most events, with the Shami Puja and Teppotsavam on one day. Read the full Bhramaramba Srisailam Temple guide.
Source: The Hans India: Srisailam Dasara from Oct 11 to 20.
Choosing Where to Go
| Temple | Main days | Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Chamundeshwari, Mysuru | 11 Oct; 21 Oct | State Dasara, palace lights, Jamboo Savari; ticketed seating |
| Kanaka Durga, Vijayawada | 16 Oct; 20 Oct | New alankaram daily; no VIP tickets on peak days |
| Kolkata pandals | 18 to 21 Oct | City-wide pandal puja; Kalighat and Dakshineswar as usual |
| Vaishno Devi, Katra | 11 to 19 Oct | Very heavy yatra; registration and RFID card needed |
| Naina Devi, Bilaspur | 11 to 19 Oct | Open 2:00 am to midnight |
| Kamakhya, Guwahati | 19 and 20 Oct | Fortnight-long puja, Kumari Puja, sacrifices |
| Ambaji, Banaskantha | 11 to 19 Oct | Regular timings so far; check the trust's site |
| Tulja Bhavani, Tuljapur | 11 Oct; Vijayadashami | Seemollanghan; Rs 300 online passes |
| Mahalakshmi, Kolhapur | Lalita Panchami | Palkhi procession to Temblai |
| Sringeri | 11 to 22 Oct | Twelve-day Mahotsava, daily alankara |
| Mookambika, Kollur | 20 Oct | Vidyarambha for children |
| Bhramaramba, Srisailam | 11 to 20 Oct | Navadurga alankarams, Teppotsavam |
If you want one big public spectacle, choose Mysuru on 21 October or Kolkata from Saptami to Dashami. For the longest opening hours, Naina Devi is open 2:00 am to midnight. For a single temple with a clear day-by-day programme, Vijayawada publishes the fullest schedule; avoid 16 and 20 October there unless the alankaram is the reason you are going.
Practical Tips for Navratri Crowds
- Check the date your temple follows. Bengal, Assam, Mysuru and Vijayawada differ from the all-India calendar on at least one day this year, and Tuljapur may too.
- Book only on official websites: the Shrine Board portal for Vaishno Devi, the Dasara site for Mysuru tickets, and the Sansthan site for Tuljapur passes.
- Do not plan on a paid quick darshan on the peak day. Vijayawada, for example, stops VIP ticket sales on Moola Nakshatram and Vijayadashami.
- Use early or late hours where the temple allows it, such as Naina Devi's 2:00 am opening.
- Elderly and disabled devotees should ask for the separate queue where one exists, as at Kanaka Durga.
- Carry water and a cloth bag; Chamundi Hill is a no-plastic zone.
- If you are fasting, plan meals around queue times; our Navratri vrat rules page covers what is usually allowed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Navratri 2026 start and end?
Sharad Navratri 2026 starts with Ghatasthapana on Sunday 11 October and the nine days run to 19 October. Vijayadashami is on Tuesday 20 October in most of India, and on Wednesday 21 October in Bengal, Assam and Mysuru.
Are Ashtami and Navami on the same day in 2026?
Yes, by the standard rule both fall on Monday 19 October, because Ashtami tithi ends at about 10:51 am that morning. Bengal and Assam keep Ashtami on 19 October and Navami on 20 October.
When is the Mysuru Dasara Jamboo Savari in 2026?
On Wednesday 21 October. The Pushparchane is planned to start after 4:10 pm, after which the procession goes from the Palace to Bannimantap. The palace lights stay on until midnight that night.
Can I buy VIP darshan tickets at Kanaka Durga on Moola Nakshatram?
No. The Rs 1,000 VIP tickets are sold on regular Navaratri days only. None will be sold on Moola Nakshatram (16 October) or Vijayadashami (20 October).
What are Naina Devi darshan timings during Navratri?
The temple trust lists 2:00 am to midnight during the Navratras, compared with 4:00 am to 10:00 pm on normal days.
Do I need to register for Vaishno Devi during Navratri?
Yes. Every pilgrim must register for the yatra and collect an RFID Yatra Access Card. Register before you reach Katra: over 1.25 lakh pilgrims registered in the first week of Sharad Navratri 2025.
Related reading: The nine forms of Navadurga, Navratri 2026 colours, Mahishasura Mardini and Durga Puja 2026, Navratri vrat rules and Kanya Pujan (Kanjak) vidhi.
