2026 Navratri Tithi in India: 11–19 October, with Dussehra on 20 October

The date to mark for 2026 Navratri

Sharad Navratri begins on Sunday, 11 October 2026. The Incredible India festival listing places the nine-night observance from 11 to 19 October 2026. The official Sringeri Sharada Peetham announcement also identifies 11 October as Ashwayuja Shukla Pratipat, giving the opening date a tithi reference.

Why does 20 October appear in calendars?

The apparent difference comes from the festival label. India Post’s 2026 Holidays List records Dussehra (Vijay Dashmi) on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, as an All India holiday.

So, 20 October is not an extra Navratri date in the nine-night range listed by Incredible India. It is the Dussehra date that follows that range. Keeping the labels separate makes the calendar easier to read:

• Navratri begins: Sunday, 11 October 2026
• Nine-night Navratri period: 11–19 October 2026
• Dussehra/Vijay Dashmi: Tuesday, 20 October 2026

Which date should you use?

For the first day of Navratri, mark 11 October. For the nine-night observance, use 11–19 October. For Dussehra or Vijay Dashmi, use 20 October.

These official listings establish the dates, not a universal puja time for every Indian city. Any ceremony timing should therefore be checked against the notice issued for the specific temple or location.

The short answer

The 2026 Navratri tithi begins on 11 October 2026 and the nine-night period ends on 19 October. Dussehra falls on 20 October 2026.