Navratri 2026 is 11–19 October, and Dussehra is on Tuesday, 20 October
For nine nights, India fasts, dances garba and queues for darshan at Devi temples. Then the country celebrates Dussehra. Whether you're planning a Vaishno Devi yatra, a night of garba in Ahmedabad or the Jamboo Savari in Mysuru, this guide covers the dates, the colour for each day, and how to get there without the rush.
Most temple towns are 1-2 hours past the nearest railhead. Trains to Jammu and Katra fill up weeks ahead. A cab from your doorstep to the temple gate saves you a change of transport, and lets elders and people who are fasting travel at their own pace.
Book Delhi to KatraNavratri 2026 calendar: dates, goddess and colour of the day
Ghatasthapana is on Sunday, 11 October. Durga Ashtami falls on 18 October, Maha Navami on 19 October, and Vijayadashami (Dussehra) on Tuesday, 20 October.
| Day | Date | Goddess | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Ghatasthapana | Sun, 11 Oct | Maa Shailputri | Yellow |
| 2 | Mon, 12 Oct | Maa Brahmacharini | Green |
| 3 | Tue, 13 Oct | Maa Chandraghanta | Grey |
| 4 | Wed, 14 Oct | Maa Kushmanda | Orange |
| 5 | Thu, 15 Oct | Maa Skandamata | White |
| 6 | Fri, 16 Oct | Maa Katyayani | Red |
| 7 | Sat, 17 Oct | Maa Kalaratri | Royal Blue |
| 8 · Durga Ashtami | Sun, 18 Oct | Maa Mahagauri | Pink |
| 9 · Maha Navami | Mon, 19 Oct | Maa Siddhidatri | Purple |
| Dussehra | Tue, 20 Oct | Vijayadashami | — |
Ghatasthapana is on Sunday, 11 October. Durga Ashtami falls on 18 October, Maha Navami on 19 October, and Vijayadashami (Dussehra) on Tuesday, 20 October.The festival ends a day later in West Bengal and Karnataka. The Kolkata Maha Ashtami is on 19 October, and Vijaya Dashami is on 21 October. While, the Jamboo Savari in Mysuru is also on 21 October. You can know the precise puja timings in your local panchang or by contacting a famous local temple.
Five Navratri and Dussehra celebrations worth the trip
Each region celebrates differently. These five draw the largest crowds, so book your cab and your stay early.
| Celebration | Where | 2026 dates | Getting there by cab |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mysuru Dasara & Jamboo Savari | Mysuru Palace, Karnataka | 11–21 Oct; procession on 21 Oct | About 145 km from Bengaluru (3–3.5 hrs). Leave by 6 a.m. on procession day |
| Kullu Dussehra | Dhalpur Maidan, Kullu, Himachal | 20–26 Oct; Rath Yatra on 20 Oct, Lankadahan on 26 Oct | Delhi to Manali from ₹4,999 one way (540 km). Kullu is 40 km before Manali |
| Durga Puja pandal hopping | Kolkata, West Bengal | 16–21 Oct | Hire a local cab by the hour. Pandal-hopping in your own car beats queuing for rides |
| Garba & Dandiya nights | Ahmedabad and Vadodara, Gujarat | All nine nights, 11–19 Oct | Hire a cab by the hour for a late-night return after garba |
| Ramlila & Ravan Dahan | Delhi (Red Fort grounds) and cities across North India | Ramlila through Navratri; Ravan Dahan on 20 Oct | Use a local cab to avoid parking restrictions near the grounds |
Tip: Kullu Dussehra starts the day Navratri ends. From Delhi, you can do Vaishno Devi in the first week and then drive on to Kullu for the Rath Yatra.
Devi temple trips by cab this Navratri
Many families aim for darshan at a Shakti temple during the nine days. Here are the most-booked Devi trips, with one-way CabBazar fares for the whole car.
| Trip | Distance | Drive time | Sedan (4 seats) | SUV (6 seats) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi → Vrindavan (Katyayani Peeth) | 160 km | 3–4 hrs | ₹1,399 | ₹1,900 |
| Delhi → Chintpurni (Himachal Devi circuit) | 406 km | ~8 hrs | ₹4,900 | ₹6,500 |
| Delhi → Katra (Vaishno Devi) | 630 km | ~12.5 hrs | ₹7,000 | ₹9,700 |
| Varanasi → Vindhyachal (Vindhyavasini) | 64 km | ~1.5 hrs | ₹1,200 | ₹1,500 |
The Fares shown here are as of 30 Sep 2026. They include driver and night charges are parking and 5% GST are extra.
Vaishno Devi (Katra, J&K)
This is the most popular travel during Navratri for most North India. Due to this rush you need to pre-arrange your train /bus /cab bookings, and plan your stay in advance. You can also register online before you leave if you want an RFID Yatra Access Card. We recommend you to take a one-way cab to Katra and do the darshan and later book another cab for return or exploring places like Patnitop, Shivkishori as you can never be sure of how long trek and darshan might take.
Himachal Devi circuit: Chintpurni, Jwalamukhi and Naina Devi
This itinerary is about 700 km from Delhi and is best done over the time of 3-4 days. Chintpurni and Jwalamukhi temples are just 30 km away from each other. For this you can hire one cab for both ways and ask the driver to stay with you throughout and return with the round trip cab.
Maa Sharda Devi, Maihar (MP)
The temple is 1,063 steps up Trikoota Hill, and there's a ropeway for elders. Maihar is 40 km from Satna and 160 km from Jabalpur.
Vindhyachal (Mirzapur, UP)
Combine Maa Vindhyavasini, Ashtabhuja and Kalikhoh in a half-day trip from Varanasi or Prayagraj.
Chamundi Hills, Mysuru
Visit during Dasara week and pair it with the palace illumination in the evening.
Tips for a comfortable Navratri trip
- Try to book by October 5th: The festival weekends, especially October 17-18, and Ashtami-Dussehra (18-20) get pretty packed at the temples.
- Go on weekdays: Plan the trip on like October 12-15, would be way better for shorter lines than that Ashtami weekend.
- Pack some fasting food: You can take some fruit, makhana, sabudana. And let your driver know you're fasting so he can find decent dhabas that actually have vrat food during the pilgrimage.
- Definitely leave at dawn if you're going to hill temples, like Chintpurni or Naina Devi. You'll get there in daylight and won't have to drive ghats after dark.
- If you're visiting multiple temples, a round trip with one car and driver is way easier than finding a new cab each time.
- Don't forget IDs for everyone: Vaishno Devi temple needs the IDs for registration, and a lot of temple lockers use them as well for identity check.
- Keep your car for Dussehra evening: Parking near the Ravan Dahan spots gets shut down, so having your own ride means you don't have to walk miles.
Book your Navratri darshan
The nine days go quickly. Book your cab now and spend the festival on darshan, garba and family time instead of hunting for transport. CabBazar has operated since 2017, is rated 4.6/5, and charges no return fare on one-way trips.
Download the CabBazar App & Book Devi Circuit CabJai Mata Di! Happy Navratri from CabBazar
Frequently asked questions
When does Navratri 2026 start?
Sharad Navratri starts on Sunday, 11 October 2026 with Ghatasthapana and ends on Monday, 19 October with Maha Navami.
When is Dussehra 2026?
Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. In West Bengal and Mysuru, Vijaya Dashami is marked on 21 October.
What are the Navratri 2026 colours?
Yellow, green, grey, orange, white, red, royal blue, pink and purple, from day 1 to day 9.
How much is a cab from Delhi to Katra for Vaishno Devi?
One way, a sedan costs ₹7,000 and a 6-seat SUV ₹9,700 for the 630 km trip. Parking and 5% GST are extra.
Can I book a round trip for the Himachal Devi circuit?
Yes, book a round-trip cab from Delhi covering Chintpurni, Jwalamukhi and Naina Devi over 3–4 days.
How much advance do I need to pay?
Only 10–20% of the fare. You pay the rest to the driver.
Can I book on WhatsApp?
Yes, send your pickup city, temple, date and number of passengers, and we'll send you a fare.
