Navratri 2026 in Chennai falls on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
| Day | Date | Goddess | Colour | Bhog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | October 11, 2026 | Shailaputri | Orange | Pure ghee |
| Day 2 | October 12, 2026 | Brahmacharini | White | Sugar / mishri |
| Day 3 | October 13, 2026 | Chandraghanta | Red | Milk & kheer |
| Day 4 | October 14, 2026 | Kushmanda | Royal Blue | Malpua |
| Day 5 | October 15, 2026 | Skandamata | Yellow | Banana |
| Day 6 | October 16, 2026 | Katyayani | Green | Honey |
| Day 7 | October 17, 2026 | Kalaratri | Grey | Jaggery (gur) |
| Day 7 | October 18, 2026 | Kalaratri | Grey | Jaggery (gur) |
| Day 8 | October 19, 2026 | Mahagauri | Purple | Coconut |
| Day 9 | October 20, 2026 | Siddhidatri | Peacock Green | Sesame (til) |
Nine nights dedicated to the Divine Mother — worshipped as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati across the nine days. The festival opens with Ghatasthapana, the installation of a sacred kalasha and the sowing of barley, and the vrata is concluded with a havan on Maha Navami.
Gujarat dances Garba and Dandiya-Raas through the nights; Bengal builds toward Durga Puja’s grand pandals; the South arranges Golu doll displays; North India stages Ramlila culminating in Dussehra. Each of the nine days honours a different Navadurga form with its own colour, bhog and mantra.
Many devotees who cannot fast all nine days keep Day 1 (Ghatasthapana) and Ashtami or Navami, which is the most common partial observance. Kanya Puja is performed on Ashtami or Navami.