Navratri
Navratri 2026: Dates and Your Garba Plan
Plan Garba for Navratri 2026 with key dates, colour-guide links and a practical way to organise your nights without confusing event schedules with puja dates.
Sharad Navratri begins on Sunday, 11 October 2026. The commonly followed nine-night Garba planning window is 11–19 October, with Dussehra on Tuesday, 20 October in the Delhi reference calendar. Bengal Vijayadashami is listed separately on 21 October. Check your community’s calendar and the organiser’s schedule before making a booking.
Dates to keep handy
| What you are planning | 2026 reference date | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Start of Sharad Navratri | Sunday, 11 October | Your local community programme |
| Nine-night Garba planning window | 11–19 October | The dates each venue actually operates |
| Dussehra / Vijayadashami, Delhi calendar | Tuesday, 20 October | Regional observance and venue timings |
| Bengal Vijayadashami | Wednesday, 21 October | Local Durga Puja schedule |
This is a planning summary, not a city-specific puja timetable. Lunar tithis do not always align with one civil date each. A table of nine outfit colours should therefore not automatically be treated as nine goddess-puja appointments.
Start with the nights you can enjoy
Nine nights on a calendar do not mean nine nights you must attend. Choose a first night, a backup night and, if you want one, a bigger group outing. Make the decision around work, travel, your budget and how much dancing you actually want to do.
For a first visit, an earlier arrival gives you time to understand entry, find your group and watch the circle before joining. For a repeat visit, decide whether the same ground offers what you enjoyed or whether you want a different atmosphere.
Confirm the event separately
A festival date is not an event confirmation. Before paying for a pass, verify the full venue address, organiser, entry window, admission rules, cancellation terms and official booking channel. Check whether the pass admits a dancer, a spectator or both. Do not rely on an old poster with a new year added to the caption.
If plans change, update the group before anyone starts travelling. “Tomorrow at the usual place” works badly when several venues have similar names.
Plan one clear meeting point
Write the ground, date, time and a specific public meeting point in one message. Add a backup point in case the main gate is crowded. A ticket queue, an entrance and a pickup area are three different places.
Keep your return journey in the plan. The best night is easier to enjoy when nobody has to solve transport after the final round.
Follow the colours if you enjoy them
Use the 2026 colour guide to coordinate with friends or reuse accessories. It is a popular custom, not a reason to buy nine complete outfits or judge another dancer’s clothing.
For your next step, use our night-planning checklist. If your group is celebrating in different states, read Navratri across India before assuming everyone follows the same programme.
Sources and notes
- Drik Panchang: 2026 Shardiya Navratri, New Delhi
- Drik Panchang: Vijayadashami 2026, Delhi, including Bengal observance
Cultural customs vary by community. Practical suggestions are GarbaMate editorial guidance, not ritual requirements. Sources checked on 2 October 2026.
