Navratri 2026: Dates, Ghatasthapana Muhurat & the Nine Colours
Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October and runs nine nights to Dussehra on Tuesday, 20 October. Here is everything you need for the first morning, and for the shopping the season brings.
The dates
Sun 11 to Tue 20 October
Ghatasthapana (Mumbai)
6:31 to 10:27 AM, 11 Oct
Dussehra
Tue 20 Oct, Sade Teen Muhurat day
Ghatasthapana Muhurat for Mumbai
Ghatasthapana is done in the first part of the day while Pratipada tithi runs. Miss the morning window and the short Abhijit muhurat around midday is the traditional backup; evening installation is not done.
| Detail | Timing (IST) |
|---|---|
| Ghatasthapana muhurat | 6:31 AM to 10:27 AM, Sunday 11 October |
| Abhijit muhurat (backup) | 12:01 PM to 12:49 PM, Sunday 11 October |
| Pratipada tithi | 9:19 PM, 10 October to 9:30 PM, 11 October |
Timings follow Drik Panchang's Mumbai calendar. One honest note from the panchang itself: the 2026 window overlaps Chitra nakshatra and Vaidhriti yoga, which some families avoid; the texts treat them as inadvisable, not prohibited. Message us for the confirmed window closer to the date, or see the full festival calendar.
The Nine Colours of Navratri 2026
The day colours follow the weekday cycle, so they change every year. With a Sunday start, 2026 opens on orange.
Orange
Sun, 11 Oct
White
Mon, 12 Oct
Red
Tue, 13 Oct
Royal Blue
Wed, 14 Oct
Yellow
Thu, 15 Oct
Green
Fri, 16 Oct
Grey
Sat, 17 Oct
Purple
Sun, 18 Oct
Peacock Green
Mon, 19 Oct
If you dress by the colours, plan the jewellery once for all nine days: gold sits naturally on the orange, yellow and red days, silver and pearls carry the white and grey days, and oxidised silver works with royal blue and peacock green for garba nights.
Keep the colours on your phone
All nine days on one card. Save it, or forward it to the family group before the shopping starts.
Ghatasthapana Samagri Checklist
For the kalash
- •Kalash (silver, copper or brass)
- •Husked coconut + red cloth or chunri
- •Five mango leaves
- •Barley (jau) seeds, clean soil, a wide tray
- •Ganga jal or clean water
- •Coin, supari, akshat (unbroken rice)
For the daily aarti
- •Diya, ghee or oil, cotton wicks
- •Haldi-kumkum and moli (sacred thread)
- •Pooja thali
- •Panchpatra and achmani
- •Flowers and marigold garland
- •Incense sticks and camphor
The kalash is the one item that outlives the festival. A silver one comes out every year, for Navratri, Diwali Lakshmi puja, and weddings, which is why it is the piece families upgrade first. Our silver pooja items buying guide covers purity and weights before you choose.
Setting up your ghat this year?
Silver kalash, diyas, thalis and full pooja sets, BIS hallmarked and tested in front of you.
Ask about silver kalash sizesThe Buying Season Navratri Opens
All nine nights are considered auspicious for gold and silver purchases, and the stretch ends on the strongest note: Dussehra is one of Maharashtra's Sade Teen Muhurat half-days, when a purchase needs no separate muhurat at all.
It is also when wedding shopping starts in earnest. The next wedding muhurats fall on 21, 24, 25 and 26 November 2026, then a denser run from 15 January 2027, and bridal sets need weeks of lead time for sizing and custom work. Starting during Navratri is not superstition, it is scheduling.
Visit Us Before the First Ghat
Swarn Shikhar Jewellers, Shop No 6, Aashirwad Building, Narayan Gajanan Acharya Marg, Chembur, Mumbai 400071.
Serving families in Chembur, Ghatkopar, Kurla, and across Mumbai for over 40 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Navratri start in 2026?
Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October with Ghatasthapana and ends with Maha Navami on Monday, 19 October. Vijayadashami (Dussehra) falls on Tuesday, 20 October.
What is the Ghatasthapana muhurat for 2026 in Mumbai?
6:31 AM to 10:27 AM on Sunday, 11 October, as per Drik Panchang's Mumbai calendar. If the morning passes, the Abhijit muhurat from 12:01 PM to 12:49 PM is the traditional backup. Pratipada tithi runs from 9:19 PM on 10 October to 9:30 PM on 11 October.
What goes into the Ghatasthapana kalash?
Water (with Ganga jal if you have it), a coin, supari, akshat and haldi-kumkum go inside the kalash. Five mango leaves sit in its mouth with a husked coconut wrapped in red cloth or chunri on top. The kalash stands next to a bed of clean soil sown with barley (jau), which sprouts through the nine days.
What are the Navratri colours for 2026?
Day-wise for 2026: 11 October orange, 12 October white, 13 October red, 14 October royal blue, 15 October yellow, 16 October green, 17 October grey, 18 October purple and 19 October peacock green. The colours follow the weekday cycle, so they change every year.
Is buying gold or silver during Navratri auspicious?
Yes. The nine nights through Vijayadashami are a traditional buying window, and Dussehra is one of the Sade Teen Muhurat half-days in Maharashtra, when purchases need no separate muhurat. Families planning weddings for the November 2026 or January 2027 muhurats often start bridal shopping in this stretch.
Which metal kalash is best for Ghatasthapana?
Silver, copper, brass and clay are all traditional; steel and plastic are avoided for puja. Silver is considered the purest metal for worship and lasts generations, so a 925 or 999 silver kalash doubles as a family heirloom that comes out every Navratri.