Utsavशरद नवरात्रि
Sharad Navratri
Local names:शरद नवरात्रि(Hindi)ଶରଦ ନବରାତ୍ର(Odia)শারদ নবরাত্রি(Bengali)શારદ નવરાત્રિ(Gujarati)சரத் நவராத்திரி(Tamil)ശരത് നവരാത്രി(Malayalam)
Nine nights of the Mother Goddess.
Gregorian date
12 October 2026
Monday
Tithi
Shukla Pratipada to Navami
Ashwin (September – October)
Duration
9-night
Also known as
Navratri · Durga Puja
Significance
The most-celebrated Navratri of the four annual Navratris. Nine nights of worship of Durga in her nine forms (Navadurga). Concludes with Vijayadashami / Dussehra. Bengali tradition observes Durga Puja in the same window.
What happens on the day
- •Day 1: Ghatasthapana (kalash installation)
- •Daily form of Durga worshipped
- •Fast (some keep full fast all 9 days; many keep partial)
- •Garba / dandiya in Gujarat
- •Bengali Durga Puja in pandals
Auspicious for
- ✓Spiritual sankalpa
- ✓Mother Goddess deeksha
- ✓Major decisions in Sharad
Avoid
- ✗Onion / garlic / non-veg
- ✗Alcohol
- ✗Cutting hair / nails
About the month of Ashwinआश्विन
Sharad Navratri (9 nights of the Mother Goddess), Dussehra / Vijayadashami (Ram's victory over Ravana), Sharad Purnima fall in this month.