Navratri 2026 Colours: The Nine Days From 11 to 19 October, the Colour for Each Day, Its Goddess and What It Means
Sharad Navratri 2026 runs from Sunday 11 October to Monday 19 October, with Dussehra on 20 October. The nine colours this year, in order: orange, white, red, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, purple and peacock green. The full day-by-day list with the goddess, the colour's meaning and a note on why lists differ by region.
DSC06343. Photo: anaxmedia via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Navratri starts in six days, and the question that climbs Google every year is already climbing: what colour do we wear on which day? Here is the 2026 list, the dates, and the reason the list you see from a friend in Kolkata may differ from the one in Mumbai.
The dates
Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday 11 October with Ghatasthapana and runs nine nights to Monday 19 October, Maha Navami. Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, falls on Tuesday 20 October. In Bengal the same period is Durga Puja, with Maha Shashthi on 16 October; our separate guide covers those dates.
The nine colours, day by day
- Day 1, Sunday 11 October: Orange. Goddess Shailputri. Energy and warmth.
- Day 2, Monday 12 October: White. Goddess Brahmacharini. Peace and purity.
- Day 3, Tuesday 13 October: Red. Goddess Chandraghanta. Courage and passion.
- Day 4, Wednesday 14 October: Royal blue. Goddess Kushmanda. Health and prosperity.
- Day 5, Thursday 15 October: Yellow. Goddess Skandamata. Happiness and brightness.
- Day 6, Friday 16 October: Green. Goddess Katyayani. Growth and new beginnings.
- Day 7, Saturday 17 October: Grey. Goddess Kalaratri. Balance and strength.
- Day 8, Sunday 18 October: Purple. Goddess Mahagauri. Ambition and spirituality.
- Day 9, Monday 19 October: Peacock green. Goddess Siddhidatri. Fulfilment and uniqueness.
Why the list changes every year
The most widely followed system assigns a colour to each weekday: Sunday orange, Monday white, Tuesday red, Wednesday royal blue, Thursday yellow, Friday green, Saturday grey, with purple and peacock green filling the eighth and ninth days. Because Navratri starts on a different weekday each year, the sequence rotates. In 2026 it begins on a Sunday, so orange comes first.
Why lists differ by region
The weekday system is strongest in Maharashtra and Gujarat, where it was popularised by newspapers and garba organisers. Other regions attach colours to the goddess of each day instead, which gives a fixed list regardless of weekday. Neither is wrong; if you are attending an event, follow the organiser's list.
Beyond the colours
Garba and dandiya nights run across all nine evenings in Gujarat, Mumbai and increasingly other cities, with ticketed passes already on sale. Fasting rules vary by family; the common pattern is one meal a day without grains, onion or garlic. Kanya Puja falls on Ashtami or Navami, 18 or 19 October.
Frequently asked questions
When does Navratri 2026 start?
Sunday 11 October 2026, ending on Monday 19 October, with Dussehra on 20 October.
What is the Navratri colour for day 1 in 2026?
Orange.
What are the nine Navratri colours for 2026?
Orange, white, red, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, purple and peacock green.
Why are Navratri colours different each year?
Most lists assign a colour to each weekday, and Navratri begins on a different weekday each year.
When is Dussehra 2026?
Tuesday 20 October 2026.
