Navratri 2026 Day By Day: Devi, Colour, Bhog And The One Kalash Mistake Most Homes Make On Day 1

Navratri 2026 starts on 11 october. It ends on 19 october. Dussehra is on 20 october.

Here is the colour for each day save this page. The colour changes every morning.

This year ashtami and navami both fall on 19 october. The reason is explained below.

Most homes will keep the kalash on 11 october most homes will also do one thing wrong. Nobody sees it but the old rule says it spoils all nine days.

Navratri 2026 Ghatasthapana Muhurat

The best time to keep the kalash on 11 october is 06:19 AM to 10:12 AM.

Cannot do it in the morning there is a second time. It is called Abhijit muhurat from 11:44 AM to 12:31 PM. It is only 47 minutes long.

Do not keep the kalash after 12:31 PM. The old books say afternoon is not the right time.

Navratri 2026 Nine Days With Devi Colour And Bhog

Day 1:11 October Maa Shailputri, Orange

She is the daughter of the mountain. She is the first form so she means a new start. Bhog is pure ghee, Orange bandhani sarees suit the morning puja.

Day 2: 12 October Maa Brahmacharini White

She holds a mala and sat in tapasya for years. So she means waiting without anger.  Bhog is sugar,  a plain white saree is enough today.

Day 3: 13 October Maa Chandraghanta Red

She has a half moon on her head shaped like a bell. She sits on a tiger and she is the brave form. Bhog is milk red is the most worn colour today. At KCPC Bandhani  Red bandhani sarees sell the most on this one day. 

Day 4: 14 October Maa Kushmanda Royal Blue

The old story says she made the world with one smile. She gives light so this day is for good health. Bhog is malpua.

Day 5: 15 October Maa Skandamata Yellow

She holds her son Kartikeya in her lap this form is pure mother love. Bhog is banana, Yellow sarees suit this day.

Day 6: 16 October Maa Katyayani Green

She sits on a lion and she is a warrior girls keep this day for a good marriage. Bhog is honey, Green sarees are worn today.

Day 7: 17 October Maa Kalaratri Grey

She is the dark form and she looks scary but do not be afraid. She takes fear away. Bhog is gud.

Day 8: 18 October Maa Mahagauri Purple

She is fully white and sits on a bull after the dark form comes the light form So this day is for forgiving. Bhog is coconut, Purple sarees are worn today.

Day 9: 19 October Maa Siddhidatri Peacock pink

She is the last form and gives all siddhis most homes do kanya pujan today. Bhog is til, Peacock pink sarees close the nine days.

Kalash Sthapana Step By Step

Keep these ready. A clay pot, soil, jau seeds, a kalash, water, a coin, a supari, five mango leaves, a coconut, a red cloth, moli, rice, roli and a diya.

Step 1. Clean the puja place and sit facing east.

Step 2. Put soil in the pot. Spread the jau seeds. Add a thin layer of soil then put a few drops of water.

Step 3. Fill the kalash with water. Add the coin, supari, rice and roli. Tie moli around its neck three times.

Step 4. Put five mango leaves on the mouth pointed side up wrap the coconut in the red cloth and keep it on the leaves.

Step 5. Keep the kalash on the pot in the north east corner. Light the diya and do the sankalp.

The One Kalash Mistake Most Homes Make On Day 1

Here is the mistake. Once you keep the kalash do not move it for nine days.

Most homes do not pick the spot first then someone says the light is bad there or the door hits it. So it is picked up and moved two feet.

That is the mistake after the sthapana the kalash is not a pot. It is a seat you have called the devi to sit in it you do not move a seat after a guest sits down.

There is a second part. The jau is planted under the kalash on Day 1. Every time you lift the pot the roots break. On navami the jau should be green and tall in homes that moved the pot it comes out short and yellow.

So pick the spot first is it the north east corner? Will anyone walk over it? Will the door touch it? If all three are clear keep it there till 19 october. Water on the jau is fine lifting the pot is not.

Akhand Jyot Rules Most Homes Break

The ghee diya goes on the right of the devi. The oil diya goes on the left most homes keep both in front that is not the old way.

Never leave the house fully empty while it burns. Some homes keep the jyot and then go out of town that breaks the vrat.

Keep a glass cover on it because a fan will kill the flame. Keep it on rice or a plate never on the floor add ghee four or five times a day.

Ashtami Or Navami: Why Both Fall On 19 October

Read this part slowly. It is the most confusing part this year.

Ashtami starts on 18 october at 08:27 AM. It ends on 19 october at 10:51 AM.

Now the rule a tithi is counted from the sunrise it touches. This is called udaya tithi. On 19 october the sun rises while ashtami is still running. So ashtami is counted on 19 october not 18 October. It ends at 10:51 AM and navami starts the same minute. One date holds both.

Why did this happen? Go back to saptami. This year saptami ran on 17 october and also on 18 october. One tithi took two dates so everything after it moved by one day.

Sandhi Puja is the joining point. This year it is 10:27 AM to 11:15 AM on 19 october.

So do kanya pujan on 19 october in the morning. Some Bengali calendars show ashtami on 18 october and navami on 20 october does your family follow that calendar? then follow it this year also.

One thing almost every home forgets one small boy should eat with the girls. He is called Batuk Bhairav the puja is not full without him.

What Not To Do During Navratri

• Do not cut hair or nails these nine days are like one long puja. You do not change the body during a puja it is the same reason a bride does not cut her hair before the wedding.
• Do not eat onion and garlic both are heavy food. They make the body slow and the mind lazy in nine days of fasting you want the body light.
• Tea and coffee are fine they are not grain and not onion or garlic but keep the sugar less.
• Do not use leather keep leather belts bags and shoes away these nine days are for no harm to animals.
• Do not use a broom in the puja room after the kalash is kept use a clean cloth.

Conclusion

Nine days, Nine forms, Nine colours but only three things really matter.

Pick the kalash spot before you keep it then do not move it till 19 october. If you keep the akhand jyot do not leave the house empty and do kanya pujan on 19 october not 18 october.

The colour changes every morning save this page now then you will not have to search again tomorrow.

Want the right saree colour ready each day see our Navratri saree guide. At KCPC BANDHANI. 

F&Q

Q.1 When does Navratri 2026 start?
Ans.  It starts on sunday 11 october it ends on monday 19 october. Dussehra is on 20 October kalash time on 11 october is 6:19 AM to 10:12 AM.

Q.2 When is Ashtami and Navami?
Ans. Both are on monday 19 october. ashtami is till 10:51 AM. navami starts after that so both come on the same day.

Q.3 When to do Kanya Pujan?
Ans.  Do it on 19 october in the morning. Call 2 to 9 girls their age should be 2 to 10 years also call one small boy. He is called Batuk Bhairav.

Q.4 What is today's colour?
Ans. From 11 october the colours are orange, white, red, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, purple, peacock green. Save this list see it every morning.

Q.5 Can we drink tea or coffee in vrat?
Ans. Yes Tea and coffee are okay in most homes they are not grain they have no onion or garlic just take less sugar.

Q.6 Can we cut hair in Navratri?
Ans. No do not cut hair or nails in these 9 days. These days are like one big puja we do not change the body in a puja.

Q.7 Why only 9 days?
Ans. There are 9 roops of Maa Durga the story says maa fought mahishasura for 9 nights she won on the 10th day that day is dussehra.

Q.8 What are the rules of Akhand Jyot?
Ans. Keep the ghee diya on the right side of maa. Keep the oil diya on the left side do not leave the house fully empty put ghee 4 or 5 times in a day.