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Navratri 2015 Date — Tuesday, October 13, 2015

When is Navratri in 2015? Sharad (autumn) Navratri starts Tuesday, October 13, 2015 — not Chaitra Navratri in March–April.

Observance: Navaratri Ghatasthapana. City calendars may vary slightly by sunrise and amanta or purnimanta tradition — confirm with your local mandir.

Sharad Navratri 2015 calendar — nine days, Devi forms & colours

Sharad Navratri 2015: date, day, Devi worshipped, and traditional colour
NightDate & dayDeviColour
Day 1Tue, 13 October 2015ShailputriRed
Day 2Thu, 15 October 2015BrahmachariniYellow
Day 3Fri, 16 October 2015ChandraghantaGreen
Day 4Sat, 17 October 2015KushmandaGrey
Day 5Sun, 18 October 2015SkandamataOrange
Day 6Mon, 19 October 2015KatyayaniWhite
Day 7Tue, 20 October 2015KaalratriRed
Day 8Wed, 21 October 2015MahagauriRoyal Blue
Day 9Thu, 22 October 2015SiddhidatriYellow

Navratri colours follow the weekday each night falls on, which is why the list changes every year. Some regional lists swap the last two colours for pink and purple — follow the one your community uses. When a tithi is doubled or dropped, two nights can share a date or a night can be skipped.

Sharad Navratri 2015 — full list of dates

Sharad Navratri 2015 key dates and days
ObservanceDate & dayNotes
Ghatasthapana (Day 1)Tue, 13 October 2015Kalash sthapana
Durga Ashtami (Maha Ashtami)Wed, 21 October 2015
Maha NavamiThu, 22 October 2015
Vijaya Dashami (Dussehra)Fri, 23 October 2015
Sharad PurnimaTue, 27 October 2015

About Sharad Navratri

Sharad Navratri (Ashwin / autumn) is the main nine-night worship of Goddess Durga celebrated across India. It begins with Ghatasthapana (kalash installation) and continues through nine forms of Devi, ending near Vijayadashami (Dussehra). This is different from Chaitra Navratri in March–April (spring). Gujarat is known for garba and dandiya; Bengal for Durga Puja pandals; South India for golu/kolu doll displays and sundal prasadam. Many households keep a sattvic diet or partial fast and perform morning and evening Devi puja.

How to observe

Start Day 1 with Ghatasthapana in a shubh muhurta if you follow home puja. Light a lamp morning and evening, recite Durga stotram or Devi Mahatmyam as your tradition allows, and offer flowers and simple naivedyam. Visit a Durga or Devi temple for alankaram darshan. On Ashtami or Navami, many families perform Kanya (Kanjak) puja. Close the festival with visarjan or sindoor traditions according to your region, and begin Vijayadashami with new learning or tools (Ayudha / Saraswati puja where customary).

Searches for “Navratri date April” usually mean Chaitra Navratri. This page is for Sharad (autumn) Navratri. City calendars may shift the start by a day based on sunrise and amanta/purnimanta rules.

Why we celebrate

Beginning of nine nights of Devi — installation of sacred kalash invoking Durga.

How it is celebrated

Daily Devi puja, golu/kolu display in South India, garba/dandiya in Gujarat, Durga puja in Bengal. Fasting or sattvic diet through nine days.

Puja timing

Morning and evening puja; Ghatasthapana on Day 1 during Shubh muhurta. Sandhya arati each night.

Foods & offerings

Fasting foods: sabudana, kuttu, fruits, milk. South India: sundal prasadam daily. Bengal: bhog to Ma Durga.

Rituals

  1. Ghatasthapana (Day 1): establish kalash, invoke Durga, sow barley/jowar.
  2. Daily: lamp, Devi stotram, offer flowers and naivedyam.
  3. Color-coded dress optional per day; visit temples for alankaram darshan.
  4. Kanya puja (invite young girls as Devi) on Ashtami or Navami in many homes.
  5. Ayudha puja / Saraswati puja on Mahanavami in several regions.
  6. Vijayadashami: visarjan, sindoor khela, and new beginnings.

Sharad Navratri dates by year

When is Sharad Navratri — 2014 to 2018
YearDate & day
2014Thu, 25 September 2014
2015Tue, 13 October 2015
2016Sat, 1 October 2016
2017Thu, 21 September 2017
2018Wed, 10 October 2018

Hindu festivals around Sharad Navratri 2015