Navratri 2021 Date — Thursday, October 7, 2021

Sharad Navratri 2021 calendar — nine days, Devi forms & colours

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 2021 — full list of dates

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