Navratri, Durga Puja and Dussehra 2026: the dates, and why calendars differ by a day
Sharad Navratri began on Sunday 11 October 2026 in most calendars, and Dussehra falls on Tuesday 20 October, the date of the central government holiday. Durga Puja in Bengal runs from 16 to 21 October. Some calendars start Navratri on 12 October and put Dussehra on 21 October, because festival days follow the lunar tithi, whose timing depends on the calculation and the place.
What changed
- Sharad Navratri began on 11 October 2026 in most calendars; Dussehra is on 20 October.
Navratri and Dussehra
Sharad Navratri began with Ghatasthapana on Sunday 11 October 2026 and its nine nights end on Monday 19 October. Vijayadashami, or Dussehra, is on Tuesday 20 October.
The central government's 2026 holiday list for its offices in Delhi also gives Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October.
Durga Puja
Durga Puja, celebrated mainly in West Bengal and eastern India, follows a slightly different schedule. Mahalaya was on Saturday 10 October. Maha Shashthi is on Friday 16 October, Maha Saptami on 17 and 18 October, Maha Ashtami on Monday 19 October, Maha Navami on Tuesday 20 October and Vijaya Dashami on Wednesday 21 October.
Why some calendars say 12 and 21 October
Hindu festival days follow the tithi, a lunar day that starts and ends at different times of the clock. Calendars differ on when the Pratipada tithi that opens Navratri begins, and on which sunrise to count. One widely used calendar gives Pratipada as beginning at 9:07 am on 11 October and lists Navratri from 12 to 21 October, with Dussehra on 21 October.
Muhurat timings are based on local sunrise and vary by city, so for rituals follow your local panchang or temple. For office and bank closures, follow the official holiday list for your state.
Next on the holiday list
The same central government list puts Diwali (Deepavali) on Sunday 8 November 2026 and Guru Nanak's Birthday on Tuesday 24 November 2026.
Why it matters
- Families, schools and offices plan travel and leave around these dates, and different calendars can give dates a day apart.
What remains uncertain
- Exact muhurat times and the observed day can differ by city and by the calendar a family follows.
- Bank and state government holidays are set state by state and can differ from the central government list.
Facts and evidence
Sharad Navratri began with Ghatasthapana on Sunday 11 October 2026 and ends on Monday 19 October; Dussehra is on Tuesday 20 October.
Durga Puja 2026: Mahalaya 10 October, Shashthi 16, Saptami 17-18, Ashtami 19, Navami 20 and Vijaya Dashami 21 October.
The central government's 2026 holiday list for Delhi offices gives Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October, Diwali on Sunday 8 November and Guru Nanak's Birthday on Tuesday 24 November.
Another calendar gives Pratipada tithi as beginning at 9:07 am on 11 October and lists Navratri from 12 to 21 October, with Dussehra on 21 October.
Muhurat timings are based on local sunrise and vary by place.
Sources
Outlook India: Navratri and Durga Puja 2026: know the dates, rituals and significance (7 October 2026)Read at the source · EN
Navratri and Durga Puja 2026: know the dates, rituals and significance (7 October 2026)
Read the original sourceStaffNews (reproducing the DoPT order): List of holidays 2026: closed holidays in central government offices (DoPT O.M. of 3 July 2025)Read at the source · EN
List of holidays 2026: closed holidays in central government offices (DoPT O.M. of 3 July 2025)
Read the original sourceSmartPuja: Shardiya Navratri 2026: dates, colours and puja muhuratRead at the source · EN
Shardiya Navratri 2026: dates, colours and puja muhurat
Read the original source