Navratri 9 Colours 2026: Day-Wise List with Dates & Goddess
Shardiya Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October and ends on Monday, 19 October, with Vijayadashami (Dussehra) on 20 October. Here are the Navratri colours 2026 with dates, day by day:
| Day | Date | Colour | Goddess |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 Oct (Sun) | Orange | Maa Shailaputri |
| 2 | 12 Oct (Mon) | White | Maa Brahmacharini |
| 3 | 13 Oct (Tue) | Red | Maa Chandraghanta |
| 4 | 14 Oct (Wed) | Royal blue | Maa Kushmanda |
| 5 | 15 Oct (Thu) | Yellow | Maa Skandamata |
| 6 | 16 Oct (Fri) | Green | Maa Katyayani |
| 7 | 17 Oct (Sat) | Grey | Maa Kalaratri |
| 8 | 18 Oct (Sun) | Purple | Maa Mahagauri |
| 9 | 19 Oct (Mon) | Peacock green | Maa Siddhidatri |
Each day of Navratri has its own colour, and dressing in that shade is one of the most loved parts of the festival. The Navratri 9 colours, also written as Navratri 9 colors, Navaratri colors or Navratri nine colours, are orange, white, red, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, purple and peacock green, with each one tied to a day, a mood, and a form of Maa Durga.
What most guides get wrong is treating the colours as fixed forever. They are not. The order shifts every year because it follows the weekday on which Navratri begins. This guide gives you the full list with meanings, the correct sequence for Navratri 2026 with dates, the goddess behind each day, and simple ways to actually use the colours at home.
Key takeaways
- The nine Navratri colours are orange, white, red, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, purple and peacock green (pink replaces one shade in some years).
- The colour order changes every year, because the first day's colour is set by the weekday Navratri starts on, then follows a fixed cycle.
- Shardiya Navratri 2026 runs 11 to 19 October, starting on a Sunday, so it opens with orange.
- Each colour carries a meaning, and each of the nine days honours a different form of Durga, the Navadurga.
- You can use the colours in what you wear, in your mandir and decor, and in rangoli, without any of it being a strict rule.
What are the 9 colours of Navratri?
The Navratri 9 colours are orange, white, red, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, purple and peacock green. Each colour is assigned to one of the nine days of the festival, and devotees wear that shade to honour the goddess of the day.
These nine shades make up the standard set that panchangs and almanacs publish before every Navratri. In some years pink takes the place of one colour, depending on the day Navratri begins, but the core palette stays the same.
It helps to think of the colours in two parts. There are the seven that match the days of the week, and then two extra shades, purple and peacock green, that round out the nine since Navratri runs longer than a single week. The next section shows exactly how this works.
How the Navratri colours are decided each year
The Navratri colours are set by the weekday on which the festival begins. The first day takes the colour of that weekday, and the remaining days then follow a fixed, repeating cycle of shades. This is why the order looks different from one year to the next.
This is why the Navratri 9 colours appear in a different order from one year to the next. Every weekday has a traditional colour, linked to the planet that rules it in Indian astrology. These are the seven base colours:
| Weekday | Colour | Ruling planet |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Orange | Surya (Sun) |
| Monday | White | Chandra (Moon) |
| Tuesday | Red | Mangal (Mars) |
| Wednesday | Royal blue | Budh (Mercury) |
| Thursday | Yellow | Guru (Jupiter) |
| Friday | Green | Shukra (Venus) |
| Saturday | Grey | Shani (Saturn) |
Navratri lasts nine days, so once the seven weekday colours are used, two more shades, purple and peacock green, complete the sequence. The starting point simply slides to match whichever weekday day one falls on.
So the practical rule is easy. Find the weekday Navratri begins, start with that colour, and follow the cycle down the list. Because the start day moves each year, always check the current year's sequence rather than reusing an old chart. The dates below show how it plays out for 2026.
Navratri 2026 colours, dates and days
Shardiya Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October and ends on Monday, 19 October, with Vijayadashami (Dussehra) on 20 October. Because day one is a Sunday, the 2026 sequence opens with orange.
Here is the full Navratri 2026 colour list with dates, weekdays and the goddess worshipped each day:
| Day | Date | Colour | Goddess |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, 11 Oct | Orange | Maa Shailaputri |
| 2 | Mon, 12 Oct | White | Maa Brahmacharini |
| 3 | Tue, 13 Oct | Red | Maa Chandraghanta |
| 4 | Wed, 14 Oct | Royal blue | Maa Kushmanda |
| 5 | Thu, 15 Oct | Yellow | Maa Skandamata |
| 6 | Fri, 16 Oct | Green | Maa Katyayani |
| 7 | Sat, 17 Oct | Grey | Maa Kalaratri |
| 8 | Sun, 18 Oct | Purple | Maa Mahagauri |
| 9 | Mon, 19 Oct | Peacock green | Maa Siddhidatri |
The Ghatasthapana (kalash sthapana) that opens the festival falls on the morning of 11 October. Dates and muhurat can vary slightly by city, so confirm the timing for your location with a local panchang before the day.
What each Navratri colour means
The significance of Navratri colours is simple: every shade carries its own feeling, and dressing in it is a way of inviting that quality into your day. The meanings below explain why each colour is loved and what energy it is believed to bring.
Orange
Orange stands for warmth, energy and brightness. It carries the optimism of the rising sun and sets a joyful, lively tone for the start of the festival.
White
White is the colour of purity, peace and simplicity. Wearing it is believed to bring a calm, serene mind and a sense of inner quiet.
Red
Red is passion, love and raw strength. It is also the colour of the chunri offered to the Goddess, which makes it one of the most auspicious shades of Navratri.
Royal blue
Royal blue suggests depth, richness and divine calm. It is a regal shade that reflects the boundless power of the Goddess.
Yellow
Yellow is joy, optimism and brightness. Warm and cheerful, it lifts the mood and is closely tied to learning and wisdom.
Green
Green represents growth, nature and new beginnings. It is a shade of fertility and renewal, perfect for fresh starts and hope.
Grey
Grey signifies balanced, grounded thought. It speaks of quiet strength and the ability to stay steady through change.
Purple
Purple stands for ambition, dignity and spiritual fulfilment. A rich, royal shade, it is linked to abundance and a higher sense of purpose.
Peacock green
Peacock green blends blue and green into one striking shade. It represents individuality, freshness and a compassionate, open heart. In some years, pink takes a place in the sequence instead, standing for affection, harmony and hope.
The nine goddesses behind the nine days
Behind the colours, each day of Navratri honours a different form of Maa Durga, together called the Navadurga. Knowing the 9 days of Navratri devi names adds real meaning to the shade you choose to wear.
- Day 1, Shailaputri: the daughter of the mountains, a form of Parvati, worshipped for stability and devotion.
- Day 2, Brahmacharini: the goddess of penance and discipline, who blesses devotees with calm and resolve.
- Day 3, Chandraghanta: the warrior with a moon-shaped bell on her forehead, who brings courage and peace.
- Day 4, Kushmanda: the creator of the cosmos, whose smile is said to have brought light to the universe.
- Day 5, Skandamata: the mother of Kartikeya, worshipped for a mother's protective love.
- Day 6, Katyayani: the fierce slayer of evil, a form of strength and fearlessness.
- Day 7, Kalaratri: the dark, powerful destroyer of fear and negativity.
- Day 8, Mahagauri: the serene, fair goddess who grants purity and forgiveness, honoured on Ashtami.
- Day 9, Siddhidatri: the giver of spiritual powers and accomplishments, worshipped on Navami.
In many homes the nine days are also seen in three parts: the first three for Durga and her strength, the middle three for Lakshmi and prosperity, and the last three for Saraswati and wisdom. This is why a Lakshmi Ganesh Saraswati idol set sits so naturally on a Navratri mandir, holding all three blessings together.
How to use the Navratri 9 colours
Using the Navratri colours is meant to be joyful, not a test. The simplest way is to wear the day's colour, but you can carry the palette into your home and celebrations too. Here are the most loved ways to do it.
In what you wear
The classic practice is dressing in the day's colour, whether it is a full outfit, a dupatta, or just a kurta. Friends and families often coordinate so everyone matches at garba, the office, or an evening aarti.
In your mandir and home decor
Bring the day's shade into the puja space with flowers, a fresh chunri for the Goddess, or coloured cloth under the idols. Marigold and rose petals make the orange, red and yellow days especially easy.
In rangoli and lighting
Match your rangoli to the colour of the day, and let diyas and fairy lights pick up the same tone. A row of lit diyas warms up any shade and keeps the festive glow going through all nine nights.
In gifting
Small touches go a long way during Navratri. A shade-matched dupatta, a box of sweets, or a thoughtful piece from a festival gifts collection makes a warm Navratri or Dussehra gift for family and friends.
None of these are compulsory. If you miss a day's colour, wearing red or yellow, both dear to the Goddess, is always a safe and loving choice.
Setting up your Navratri mandir
The colours come alive once your Navratri mandir is ready. The festival opens with Ghatasthapana, the placing of a sacred kalash, so a clean, well-set puja space is the real starting point of the nine days.
A simple home setup usually includes:
- A kalash: filled with water, topped with mango leaves and a coconut for Ghatasthapana on day one
- An idol or image of Maa Durga, placed at the centre as the focus of worship (our silver-plated god idols include compact murtis sized for home mandirs)
- Diyas and an oil lamp, ideally an akhand jyoti kept lit through the festival where families observe it
- Fresh flowers, a chunri and prasad, changed and offered each day
A bright, well-made silver-plated kalash brings a clean festive shine to the setup and stores neatly for next year. To understand the ritual behind it, our guide to the kalash and nariyal in pooja explains the meaning of each element.
Keep the mandir tidy through the festival, refresh the flowers and diyas daily, and add the day's colour wherever you can. A cared-for space makes the colours and the worship feel like one celebration.
Quick tips and what to avoid
A few small things keep the spirit of the colours right. The colours are a tradition of devotion and togetherness, never a rule that should cause stress.
- Check the current year's order, since the sequence shifts with the start weekday. An old chart can put the wrong colour on the wrong day.
- Do not worry about an exact shade. A close tone counts; you do not need a perfect match to honour the day.
- Do not skip worship over a missed colour. Devotion matters far more than your outfit, so wear what you have with a happy heart.
- Keep the mandir and offerings clean, using fresh flowers and prasad each day rather than reusing the previous day's.
Hold on to the joy of it. Coordinating colours with family, lighting the mandir and sharing sweets is what makes the nine days feel special, year after year.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 9 colours of Navratri?
The nine colours of Navratri are orange, white, red, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, purple and peacock green. Each is assigned to one day of the festival, and pink replaces one shade in some years depending on the day Navratri begins.
Are the Navratri colours the same every year?
No. The set of nine shades stays the same, but the order changes each year. The first day's colour follows the weekday Navratri starts on, and the rest follow a fixed cycle, so you should check the current year's sequence rather than reuse an old chart.
What is the Navratri 2026 colour for day one?
Shardiya Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October, and Sunday's colour is orange, so day one is orange. The full 2026 order is orange, white, red, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, purple and peacock green.
Which colour should I wear if I miss the day's colour?
Wearing red or yellow is always a safe choice, as both are dear to the Goddess. The colours are a loving tradition, not a strict rule, so devotion matters more than an exact match.
What are the Navratri colours 2026 with dates?
The Navratri 2026 colours with dates, all in October: 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. This is the day-wise sequence for Shardiya Navratri 2026.
Navratri ke 9 rang kaise tay hote hain?
Navratri ka pehla rang us din ke hisaab se tay hota hai jis vaar se Navratri shuru hoti hai, jaise Sunday ke liye orange aur Monday ke liye safed. Baaki din ek nishchit kram mein chalte hain, isliye har saal rangon ka order thoda badal jaata hai. Sahi list ke liye us saal ka panchang dekhein.
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Rohan writes Dev Aastha's festival guides, the dates, the rituals and the preparations that make each celebration special. He grew up in a household where every festival was an event.
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