Navratri — nine nights of the goddess — is the most widely celebrated Hindu festival after Diwali. Yet many families are unsure which Devi to worship on which day, what colour to wear, or how to perform the complete vidhi. This guide covers everything.
Quick Answer
Navratri 9 colours: Day 1 Royal Blue, Day 2 Yellow, Day 3 Green, Day 4 Grey, Day 5 Orange, Day 6 White, Day 7 Red, Day 8 Sky Blue, Day 9 Pink/Purple. Daily puja involves lighting a diya, offering flowers to the nine forms of Devi (Navadurga), reciting Durga Saptashati or Devi Stuti, and performing aarti morning and evening. Kanya Puja is performed on Ashtami or Navami.
9 Days, 9 Devis — Complete Guide
Navratri Samagri List
Navratri Fasting Rules
What to eat
Sabudana khichdi, fruit, kuttu atta roti, samak rice, singhara atta, dairy, rock salt
What to avoid
Regular salt, grains (wheat, rice), non-veg, onion, garlic, alcohol
Who can skip fasting
Elderly, pregnant women, children, those with health conditions — it is punya to participate in any way you can
Breaking the fast
On Ashtami or Navami with Kanya Puja — feed 9 young girls and offer them gifts
Kanya Puja — Ashtami & Navami
The most important ritual of Navratri. Invite 9 young girls (ideally pre-pubescent) to your home — they represent the 9 forms of Devi.
Ghatasthapana — Establishing the Sacred Pot (Day 1)
Every Navratri begins with Ghatasthapana — the ritual installation of a Kalash (sacred pot) that invokes and hosts Devi's presence for the nine days. The Kalash is filled with water, adorned with mango leaves and a coconut, and placed on a bed of soil in which barley or wheat seeds are sown. These seeds sprout over the nine days — the sprouting is watched as an auspicious sign and the green sprouts (Jwara) are distributed as prasad on Navami.
Dussehra — The Tenth Day
The tenth day of Navratri is Vijayadashami (Dussehra) — the day of victory. It commemorates: Ram's victory over Ravana (the burning of Ravana effigies, most elaborate at Delhi's Ramlila and Mysuru's Mysore Dasara — one of the grandest in India); Durga's victory over Mahishasura; and Arjuna revealing himself from hiding after his year of incognito exile. It is also considered auspicious to begin new undertakings on Vijayadashami.