Navratri Colours 2026: 9 Days, Devi Names & Dates
The dhol starts somewhere down the lane, the first diya is lit, and the whole house smells of fresh marigold. Sharad Navratri is near again. For 2026 the nine nights fall in October, and each day carries its own goddess, its own colour, and its own small reason to pause.
This guide lists the Navratri Colours 2026 in order, matched to the nine forms of Goddess Durga and the exact date of each day. You will find a day-wise table, the meaning behind every colour, and short notes on what first-timers usually get confused about. The dates and timings below follow the panchang for New Delhi, so adjust slightly for your own city.
Key facts
- Festival
- Sharad Navratri 2026
- Starts
- 11 October 2026 (Pratipada)
- Ends
- 20 October 2026 (Navami)
- Vijayadashami
- 21 October 2026
- Region for timings
- New Delhi
Navratri Colours 2026 and dates
The nine colours of Navratri 2026, in day order, are white, red, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, orange, peacock green and pink. Each colour is linked to one of the nine forms of Goddess Durga, known together as the Navadurga, and devotees traditionally wear that colour on the matching day. Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on 11 October and ends on 20 October, with Vijayadashami on 21 October.
The colour sequence is not fixed by scripture. It follows the weekday on which the festival starts, so the order shifts year to year. In 2026 Pratipada falls on a Sunday, which sets white as the first colour.
9 Days of Navratri 2026 with dates, Devi names and colours
Here is the full schedule for the 9 Days of Navratri 2026 with dates, the goddess worshipped, the colour to wear, and what each stands for.
| Day | Date | Devi (form of Durga) | Colour | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 Oct (Sun) | Maa Shailaputri | Orange | Purity, peace, fresh start |
| 2 | 12 Oct (Mon) | Maa Brahmacharini | White | Devotion, strength, energy |
| 3 | 13 Oct (Tue) | Maa Chandraghanta | Red | Calm power, sacred grace |
| 4 | 14 Oct (Wed) | Maa Kushmanda | Royal blue | Warmth, joy, brightness |
| 5 | 15 Oct (Thu) | Maa Skandamata | Yellow | Growth, nature, new beginnings |
| 6 | 16 Oct (Fri) | Maa Katyayani | Green | Steady strength, balance |
| 7 | 17 Oct (Sat) | Maa Kalaratri | Grey | Courage, warmth, energy |
| 8 | 18 Oct (Sun) | Maa Mahagauri | Purple | Compassion, elegance, individuality |
| 9 | 19 Oct (Mon) | Maa Siddhidatri | Peacock Green | Harmony, love, hope |
Navami puja is observed on 19 October, and Dashami, the day of immersion and Dussehra, follows on 21 October. If you keep the fast, our full notes on the Navratri Vrat cover what to eat and the vrat rules for each day.
Note: Some panchangs merge Ashtami and Navami puja on a single day when tithis overlap. Check your local calendar before fixing Kanya Pujan, as the timing can move by a few hours.
The 9 Days of Navratri Devi Names
Each night of Navratri honours a different form of the goddess. Together they tell the story of Durga growing from a mountain girl into the giver of all powers.
Days 1 to 3: the goddess rises
Day one belongs to Shailaputri, the daughter of the mountains. White suits her day because the colour stands for a clean, quiet start. The ghatasthapana, the installing of the sacred pot, happens this morning.
Day two is for Brahmacharini, who did severe penance for Lord Shiva. Red marks her devotion and the fire of discipline. Day three honours Chandraghanta, who wears a half-moon shaped like a bell on her forehead. Royal blue reflects her calm, protective power.
Days 4 to 6: energy and nourishment
Day four is Kushmanda, said to have created the universe with her smile. Yellow carries that warmth. Day five is for Skandamata, the mother of Kartikeya, and green stands for growth and care.
Day six honours Katyayani, the warrior form born to defeat the demon Mahishasura. Grey represents the steady strength needed for that fight. Many temples see their largest crowds from the sixth day onward.
Days 7 to 9: power, grace and completion
Day seven is Kalaratri, the fiercest form, who destroys fear and darkness. Orange stands for her burning energy. Day eight, Ashtami, is for Mahagauri, whose peacock green signals compassion and renewal. Kanya Pujan, where young girls are honoured as the goddess, is common on this day.
Day nine is Siddhidatri, who grants all spiritual accomplishments, or siddhis. Pink closes the nine days on a note of hope and love. The fast usually ends after the final puja.
Why the nine colours matter
The colours are not just about matching outfits. Each shade links the wearer to the mood and quality of that day's goddess, and wearing it together builds a shared rhythm across families and communities.
Say you are attending garba every night in Ahmedabad or a temple aarti in Varanasi. On day two you reach for red, and so do most people around you. That shared colour turns a crowd into one celebration. It is a simple tradition, but it carries real feeling.
The sequence also helps first-timers keep track of where they are in the festival. If today is green, you know it is Skandamata's day and the fifth night.
How to follow the colour tradition without stress
You do not need a new outfit for every day. A dupatta, a shirt, bangles, or even a tilak in the right shade counts. The point is intention, not spending.
Here is a simple way to prepare for the 9 Days of Navratri 2026:
- Note the nine colours in order and pin them near your wardrobe
- Pick one wearable item per colour you already own
- Keep white, red and yellow ready first, as they come early
- For office days, use accessories so the colour still shows
- Plan grey and peacock green ahead, as they are harder to find
Tip: If you miss a colour on its day, do not worry. The colours are a devotional custom, not a rule in any scripture, and your puja is complete without them.
Where devotees go during Navratri
Temples fill up through these nine nights, and many families plan a visit during the festival. The Vindhyavasini Devi Temple in Mirzapur and the Durga Temple in Varanasi draw large crowds in the Uttar Pradesh belt, while the Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada is a major centre in the south.
In the hills, Vaishno Devi in Katra, Naina Devi in Himachal Pradesh and Surkanda Devi in Uttarakhand all see peak footfall during Sharad Navratri. Book early if you are planning travel, as rooms near these temples sell out weeks ahead.
For the authentic sequence of the Navadurga and the daily mantras, the mantras collection on Devmarg lists one for each form. You can also check the complete festival dates on the 2026 vrat and festival calendar.
Navratri 2026 at a glance
Sharad Navratri 2026 runs 11 to 20 October, with Dussehra on 21 October. The colours in order are white, red, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, orange, peacock green and pink, each tied to one form of Durga from Shailaputri to Siddhidatri. Wear what you have, keep the order handy, and let the colour mark the day rather than stress you.
For more on fasting rules, puja timings and related observances, see our guides on the Navratri Vrat and the full 2026 festival calendar. May the nine nights bring your home peace and strength.
Frequently asked questions
What are the nine colours of Navratri 2026?
The nine colours of Navratri 2026, in day order, are white, red, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, orange, peacock green and pink. White is worn on day one for Shailaputri, and pink closes the festival on day nine for Siddhidatri. The order follows the weekday the festival begins, so it changes each year.
Why do the Navratri colours change every year?
The colour sequence is tied to the weekday on which Pratipada, the first day, falls. Because the festival shifts across the week each year, the colour order rotates with it. In 2026 Navratri starts on a Sunday, which sets white as the first colour and shapes the rest of the sequence.
Is it compulsory to wear the Navratri colour each day?
No. The nine colours are a devotional and cultural custom, not a rule stated in any scripture. Your fast and puja are complete whether or not you wear the day's colour. Many devotees follow it to feel connected to the goddess and the wider community, but missing a colour carries no religious fault.
What if I don't have clothes in a particular Navratri colour?
You can wear the colour through a small item instead of a full outfit. A dupatta, scarf, shirt, bangles, bindi or even a flower in that shade works. Grey and peacock green are the hardest to find, so plan an accessory for those days in advance if you want to follow the full sequence.
Which colour is for Ashtami and Navami in 2026?
In 2026, Ashtami on 18 October uses peacock green for Mahagauri, and Navami on 19 October uses pink for Siddhidatri. Note that some local panchangs merge Ashtami and Navami puja when the tithis overlap, so confirm your Kanya Pujan timing with your own regional calendar.
Do the colours differ between North and South India?
The popular nine-colour sequence is followed mainly in North and West India and spread widely through newspapers and social media. South Indian traditions like Golu focus more on kolu displays and specific colours for different days, which can vary. The Navadurga goddesses worshipped, however, stay the same across regions.
Can men follow the Navratri colour tradition too?
Yes. The colour custom is for everyone, not only women. Men can wear the day's colour through a kurta, shirt, scarf or tilak. During garba and dandiya nights, coordinating colours across the whole group is common for both men and women, so joining in is simply part of the celebration.
When does the Navratri 2026 fast start and end?
The Navratri 2026 fast begins on 11 October with Pratipada and ghatasthapana, and most observers conclude it after the final puja on Navami, 19 October, or after Kanya Pujan. Some keep the fast only on the first and last days. Exact ending depends on your family custom and the local panchang timing.
What is the difference between Navadurga colours and the goddess order?
The Navadurga order of goddesses, from Shailaputri to Siddhidatri, is fixed and the same every year. The colours are a separate layer mapped onto those days, and that mapping shifts with the starting weekday. So the goddess for each day stays constant while the colour paired with her can change year to year.
Why are two shades of green in the 2026 list?
Day five uses plain green for Skandamata, and day eight uses peacock green for Mahagauri. They are treated as different shades representing different qualities, one for growth and nature, the other for elegance and compassion. If you cannot tell them apart in your wardrobe, any clear green works for day five and a teal or bluish-green for day eight.