Sharad Navratri 2026 is a nine-day event, which begins this year on October 11 and ends with Dussera on October 20 according to the Hindu almanack. This Hindu festival honours Goddess Durga and her nine forms over nine nights. For devotees, the festival offers a time to pray, reflect and seek spiritual growth.
If you are celebrating Navratri in the United States, check your local Hindu calendar before planning rituals. Tithi timings and auspicious puja periods depend on your location. Here are the following dates for US devotees: Ghatasthapana, also known as Kalash Sthapana, is the ritual of installing a sacred pot to invoke Goddess Durga and mark the beginning of Navratri worship. Each form represents qualities such as courage, wisdom, strength and compassion. For Indian families living in the US, the festival offers an opportunity to maintain cultural traditions through temple visits, family prayers, Garba, Dandiya and community celebrations. Many devotees wear a different colour each day. These colour traditions vary across communities and regions. You can follow your family’s customs or choose colours that hold personal meaning for you. Fasting, or vrat, forms part of Navratri for many devotees, but practices differ. Some observe a fast for all nine days, while others fast on selected days or follow specific dietary rules.
Also Read Sharad Navratri 2026: When does it start and end, and what does it mean in astrology? Sharad Navratri begins with Ghatasthapana on October 11, according to Drik Panchang. The nine days of worship lead to Vijayadashami on October 20. The Ghatasthapana muhurat in Manhattan, New York, on Sunday, October 11, 2026, is 7:03 AM to 10:49 AM local time, according to Drik Panchang. Also Read Sharad Navratri Day 1 2026: What Maa Shailputri brings to spiritual seekers Navratri celebrates Shakti, the divine feminine power, through the worship of nine forms of Goddess Durga. The colors begin with orange on October 11, followed by white, red, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, purple and peacock green, according to the commonly followed 2026 sequence.
