Navaratri 2026: dates, the nine days, Kanaka Durga alankarams and puja
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Devi Navaratri (Sharan Navaratri) is nine nights of worship of the Goddess in the bright fortnight of Ashwayuja (Ashwin). In 2026 it begins on Sunday, October 11 and ends with Vijayadashami (Dasara) on Tuesday, October 20, on the same dates in India, the US, Canada and the UK. The one difference: Durga Ashtami is Sunday, October 18 in North America and the UK, and Monday, October 19 in India.
1The nine days of Navaratri 2026
| Day | Date | Navadurga (form of the day) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Oct 11 | Shailaputri |
| 2 | Mon, Oct 12 | Brahmacharini |
| 3 | Tue, Oct 13 | Chandraghanta |
| 4 | Wed, Oct 14 | Kushmanda |
| 5 | Thu, Oct 15 | Skandamata |
| 6 | Fri, Oct 16 | Katyayani |
| 7 | Sat, Oct 17 | Kalaratri |
| 8 | Sun, Oct 18 | Mahagauri |
| 9 | Mon, Oct 19 | Siddhidatri |
| 10 | Tue, Oct 20 | Vijayadashami (Dasara) |
The nine forms (Navadurga) are worshipped one each day, as in North and East India. In Andhra and Telangana temples the Goddess is decorated in a different alankaram each day; see the Kanaka Durga list below.
2How Navaratri is celebrated
- Kalasha sthapana (Day 1, morning): a kalasham with water, mango leaves and a coconut is installed and worshipped for the nine days; many sow navadhanya (nine grains) beside it.
- Daily puja: lamp, Lalitha Sahasranamam or Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmyam), and the day's naivedyam; many fast on some or all days.
- Bommala Koluvu (Golu): Telugu and Tamil homes arrange dolls of gods and stories on steps and invite friends in the evenings.
- Bathukamma (Telangana): nine days of flower stacks from Oct 10, ending with Saddula Bathukamma on Oct 18. See Bathukamma 2026.
- Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami: Durga puja, kanya puja in many families, and on Navami Ayudha Puja for tools, vehicles and today often laptops.
- Vijayadashami: Shami (Jammi) puja, Aparajita puja, exchanging Jammi leaves as "gold", and seeing the Palapitta bird in Telangana. A good day to start anything new. See Dasara 2026.
3Checklist: what you need
11 items
- Kalasham, a coconut, mango leaves, a red cloth
- Durga / Devi idol or picture
- Clay pot, soil and navadhanya or barley for sowing (if your family does)
- A lamp that can stay lit (akhanda deepam) with ghee or oil
- Turmeric, kumkum, sandalwood, akshata
- Fresh flowers every day; red flowers for Devi
- Lalitha Sahasranamam or Durga Saptashati book
- Daily naivedyam; fruits and sweets
- Gifts for kanya puja on Ashtami or Navami
- Books and tools to place for Saraswati and Ayudha puja
- Bommala koluvu dolls and steps (if your family keeps golu)
4A priest, or do it yourself
Ghatasthapana at home, a simple step-by-step guide · Rudralife · YouTubeA video by another channel, added after our review. If your family’s custom differs, follow it.
5Puja items near you
Indian groceries and puja stores near the city you picked above.
6Key days: India vs USA, Canada and UK
| India | USA · Canada · UK | |
|---|---|---|
| Navaratri begins (Pratipada) | Sun, Oct 11 | Sun, Oct 11 |
| Saraswati Puja (Moola nakshatra) | Fri, Oct 16 | Fri, Oct 16 |
| Saddula Bathukamma | Sun, Oct 18 | Sun, Oct 18 |
| Durga Ashtami | Mon, Oct 19 | Sun, Oct 18 |
| Maha Navami · Ayudha Puja | Mon, Oct 19 | Mon, Oct 19 |
| Vijayadashami (Dasara) | Tue, Oct 20 | Tue, Oct 20 |
Checked for Hyderabad, Vijayawada, the Bay Area, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Charlotte, Raleigh, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Hartford, New York, Washington DC, Detroit, Chicago, Seattle, Toronto and London; all US, Canada and UK cities agree. Why Ashtami differs: the Ashtami tithi is in force at sunrise on Sunday, October 18 across North America and the UK, but in India it begins after sunrise and is in force at sunrise on Monday. For Dasara puja and Vijaya muhurta times by city, see the Dasara guide.
Navaratri and Durga Ashtami dates in your city
Each city page has every day of the festival with local times, and the dates in India.
USA
Canada
UK & Europe
Gulf
Asia-Pacific
India
More about Navaratri
Vijayawada Kanaka Durga alankarams and prasadam 2026
At the Kanaka Durga temple on Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada, the Goddess is decorated in a different form each day of the Dasara festival, October 11 to 20. Many Telugu families follow the same order at home and offer the matching naivedyam (prasadam).
| Date | Alankaram · naivedyam |
|---|---|
| Sun, Oct 11 | Sri Bala Tripura Sundari DeviSweet boondi, pesarapappu payasam |
| Mon, Oct 12 | Sri Gayatri DeviRava kesari, pulihora |
| Tue, Oct 13 | Sri Annapurna DeviDaddojanam (curd rice), katte pongali |
| Wed, Oct 14 | Sri Maha Chandi DeviLaddu |
| Thu, Oct 15 | Sri Lalitha Tripura Sundari DeviPulihora, pesara burelu |
| Fri, Oct 16 | Sri Saraswati Devi (Moola)Paramannam, atukulu with jaggery and coconut |
| Sat, Oct 17 | Sri Mahalakshmi DeviPurnalu, payasam |
| Sun, Oct 18 | Sri Durga DeviGarelu, ginger pieces in lemon juice |
| Mon, Oct 19 | Sri Mahishasuramardini DeviChakra pongali, pulihora, garelu, vadapappu, panakam |
| Tue, Oct 20 | Sri Rajarajeswari DeviPulihora, garelu |
Alankaram order as announced by the temple for 2026. The naivedyam list is the traditional one and varies from family to family; follow your own custom.
Saraswati Puja 2026: Moola nakshatra
In the Telugu and South Indian tradition Saraswati is invoked on the day of Moola nakshatra during Navaratri, and books, instruments and pens are placed before her. In 2026 that day is Friday, October 16, in India and abroad: Moola runs from 6:48 AM IST on October 16 to 9:47 AM IST on October 17, and in the US from Thursday evening, October 15 (9:18 PM Eastern, 8:18 PM Central, 6:18 PM Pacific) to late Friday night.
Young children often begin learning (Aksharabhyasam) on this day or on Vijayadashami. The books are taken back for study after the Dasara puja.
Celebrating Navaratri in the US, Canada and UK
| What to know | |
|---|---|
| Weekdays | Most of Navaratri falls on working days; a short evening puja after work with the lamp and one stotram keeps all nine days. |
| Temples | Most US temples hold daily Navaratri puja, Golu and Garba/Dandiya evenings on the weekend of Oct 17–18. |
| Durga Ashtami | Sunday, October 18 in North America, so it falls on a weekend this year. |
| Ayudha Puja | Monday, October 19: do it in the morning before work, or in the evening for cars and laptops. |
| Lamps | Never leave a lamp unattended; use an LED diya where flames are not allowed. |
Navaratri 2027
నవరాత్రులు 2026: తెలుగులో
దేవీ శరన్నవరాత్రులు 2026 అక్టోబర్ 11 ఆదివారం మొదలై అక్టోబర్ 20 మంగళవారం విజయదశమితో ముగుస్తాయి. మూలా నక్షత్రం (సరస్వతీ పూజ) అక్టోబర్ 16 శుక్రవారం. దుర్గాష్టమి భారత్లో అక్టోబర్ 19, అమెరికాలో అక్టోబర్ 18. పూర్తి వివరాలు, ఇంద్రకీలాద్రి అలంకారాలు, నైవేద్యాలు తెలుగు పేజీలో.
Frequently asked questions
When does Navaratri 2026 start and end?
Navaratri 2026 starts on Sunday, October 11 (Kalasha sthapana in the morning) and ends with Vijayadashami (Dasara) on Tuesday, October 20, in India, the US, Canada and the UK.
When is Durga Ashtami 2026?
Monday, October 19 in India, and Sunday, October 18 in the US, Canada and the UK, because the Ashtami tithi is in force at sunrise a day earlier there.
When is Saraswati Puja (Moola nakshatra) in 2026?
Friday, October 16. Moola nakshatra is in force for most of that day in India (from 6:48 AM IST) and all of it in the US.
What are the Kanaka Durga alankarams in 2026?
Oct 11 Bala Tripura Sundari, Oct 12 Gayatri, Oct 13 Annapurna, Oct 14 Maha Chandi, Oct 15 Lalitha Tripura Sundari, Oct 16 Saraswati (Moola), Oct 17 Mahalakshmi, Oct 18 Durga, Oct 19 Mahishasuramardini, Oct 20 Rajarajeswari.
When is Navaratri in 2027?
Navaratri 2027 begins on Thursday, September 30 and Dasara is on Saturday, October 9, 2027.
Related: Dasara 2026 · Bathukamma 2026 · Diwali 2026 · All festivals
Dates computed for each city's own sunrise and cross-checked against leading published panchangams. The alankaram order is the temple's 2026 announcement; naivedyam customs vary by family. For ceremonies, confirm with your priest.
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Calculated for each city's own sunrise and sunset; times are shown to the minute in local time, including daylight saving. Panchangams can differ by a few minutes, and family and temple traditions vary. For general information only; it may contain errors and is not religious, astrological or medical advice. Always confirm important dates and muhurtams with your priest or temple. See the disclaimer and terms.
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