Navratri and Durga Puja 2026: Dates and Temple Timings

Last checked Wednesday, 14 October 2026.

Are you visiting a temple during Navratri? A few big temples have changed their rules this year.

This page lists the dates and the changes we could find on the temples' own pages. We say so when a fact comes from the news.

When is Navratri and Durga Puja 2026?

Calendars do not agree on every day. Each one counts the lunar day (tithi) its own way, and the tithi can start or end in the middle of a day. So check which calendar your temple follows.

What	Date	Note
Mahalaya	Saturday, 10 October 2026	The start of Devi Paksha, the lead-up to Durga Puja.
Navratri begins	Sunday, 11 October 2026	It is later than last year because 2026 has an extra lunar month.
Maha Saptami (Kolkata)	Sunday, 18 October 2026	The Dakshineswar temple's own list shows both 17 and 18 October.
Maha Ashtami	Monday, 19 October 2026	In Delhi the Ashtami tithi runs from 8:27 AM on 18 October to 10:51 AM on 19 October. So some calendars use 18 October.
Sandhi Puja	Monday, 19 October 2026	In New Delhi it is from 10:27 AM to 11:15 AM. The time is different in each city.
Maha Navami	Tuesday, 20 October 2026	The Puri temple's calendar lists it on 19 October.
Vijaya Dashami (Bengal)	Wednesday, 21 October 2026	Most of India marks Dussehra on 20 October. See our Dussehra page.
Kojagori Lakshmi Puja	Sunday, 25 October 2026	Listed in the Dakshineswar temple's calendar.

What is Navratri and Durga Puja 2026?

Navratri is a nine-night festival in the month of Ashwin. Devotees honour the goddess Durga, says Drik Panchang.

In eastern India it is also called Durga Puja. Devotees believe it marks the goddess's victory over the demon Mahishasura.

Many people visit decorated pandals (temporary festival halls) with idols of the goddess. Key rituals are Sandhi Puja, Sindoor Khela and Durga Visarjan, when the idol is put in water at the end (source).

Do temples change their timings on Navratri and Durga Puja 2026?

Most temples did not announce new darshan hours for Navratri. A few changed their rules or schedules. Here is what we found.

• Tirumala Venkateswara Temple

  TTD says the Navaratri Brahmotsavams began on 12 October (TTD news). Garuda Vahanam is on 16 October, from 6:30 PM to 11:30 PM.

  Deccan Chronicle reports that VIP Break and other privileged darshans are cancelled from 11 to 20 October. That covers senior citizens, people with disabilities and parents with infants.

  ₹300 Special Entry Darshan tickets are sold only on TTD's website, for 12, 13, 14, 18, 19 and 20 October. TTD also stopped blessings by temple elephants on 13 October (TTD news).

• Kamakhya Temple

  The temple's home page lists a second, Special schedule that names Saradiya Durga Puja. It says the door opens at 9:00 AM and closes at sunset. The site does not say which days this covers, and it gives no 2026 dates.

  The temple's festival page says Durga Puja lasts about a fortnight and includes Kumari Puja. Check with the temple before you travel.

• Dakshineswar Kali Temple

  The temple's calendar lists Shasthi on 16 October, Maha Ashtami on 19 October, Maha Navami on 20 October and Vijaya Dashami on 21 October. It published no change to darshan hours. Normal hours are 6:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM.

• Chamundeshwari Temple, Mysuru

  The Karnataka government's Mysuru Dasara site lists Dasara 2026 from 11 to 21 October. It opens on 11 October with the Chamundeshwari puja on Chamundi Hill from 11:50 AM to 12:13 PM. The chariot festival (Rathotsava) on the hill is on 24 October. The site lists no change to normal darshan hours.

• Kanaka Durga Temple, Vijayawada

  The Hans India reported on 11 October that the 10-day festival began that day (report). Rituals start at 2:30 AM and the temple opens at 3 AM. It says the ₹100, ₹300 and ₹500 tickets were scrapped for free darshan, and a ₹1,000 quick darshan facility goes on.

• Jagannath Temple, Puri

  The temple's calendar lists Durga rites inside the temple: Maha Saptami on 17 October, Maha Astami on 18 October and Maha Nabami on 19 October. That is one day earlier than the Kolkata dates above. The calendar lists ritual days only and states no change to darshan hours.

We found no 2026 Navratri notice for Vaishno Devi, Kalighat or Siddhivinayak. If you plan to visit one, check its own site first.

Tips for your visit

• Check the temple's own site or notice board the day before. Dates and rules can change.
• If you go to Kolkata, expect road changes near the pandals. Police planned about 10,000 officers, with one-way routes, some road closures and controlled parking, says NewKerala (ANI).
• At Tirumala, book Special Entry Darshan only on TTD's own website.
• For Sandhi Puja, ask the local pandal or temple for its time. It changes by city.

Navratri and Durga Puja 2026 questions

When did Navratri 2026 start?

It began on 11 October 2026, says Drik Panchang. The calendar lists the festival days to 20 October.

Is Maha Navami on 19 or 20 October?

Most calendars say 20 October (Drik Panchang, Kolkata). The Navami tithi starts at 10:51 AM on 19 October in Delhi, so a few calendars, such as the Puri temple's, use 19 October.

When is Durga Puja in Kolkata?

The main days are Maha Saptami on 18 October to Vijaya Dashami on 21 October, says Drik Panchang.

Are temples closed during Navratri?

We found no closure notices on the temple pages we checked. Some temples changed their darshan rules instead, as listed above.

Quick summary

The main Navratri days run from 11 to 20 October, and Durga Puja ends on 21 October.

Tirumala has the biggest rule changes that we could confirm. For other temples, check the temple's own notice.

Navratri began on 11 October 2026, and the big days are 19 to 21 October. Check each temple's own notice.

More festivals coming up

• Dussehra 2026 (20 to 21 October 2026)
• Diwali 2026 (6 to 11 November 2026)
• Sabarimala Mandalam and Makaravilakku Season 2026-27 (17 November 2026 to 15 January 2027)
• Dev Deepawali and Kartik Purnima 2026 (Tuesday, 24 November 2026)
• See the full festival list