Nine Nights of the Goddess
Navratri — nine nights dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and her nine forms — is one of the most spiritually charged periods in the Indian calendar. In 2026, Sharada Navratri falls from 22 September to 1 October, concluding with Vijayadashami (Dussehra) on 2 October.
For many Indian households, Navratri is the occasion around which the home mandir is refreshed, deepened, and given new energy. New idols are brought in. Old ones are cleaned and re-consecrated. The home is cleaned, decorated, and opened to the goddess in a way that differs from the ordinary days of the year.
This is a guide to preparing your home and mandir for Navratri 2026.
Cleaning and Refreshing the Mandir
Begin with a deep clean of the mandir space. Every idol should be gently cleaned (see our guide to caring for silver idols). The surface should be wiped down, the cloth beneath the deities replaced with a fresh one — traditionally red or yellow for Navratri. Wilted or dusty offerings should be cleared.
If you have been meaning to add a new idol to your mandir, Navratri is among the most auspicious times to do so. Bringing a Goddess Durga into the home on Pratipada (the first day of Navratri) is a traditional and powerful act. A Goddess Laxmi can be added on the day dedicated to her form (Sashti or Saptami). Lord Ganpati should always be present as the first deity of any auspicious beginning.
The Daily Practice During Navratri
Each of the nine nights is dedicated to one form of the goddess. The daily puja is performed morning and evening, with offerings of flowers (particularly the red hibiscus), incense, and the lighting of a diya. Fasting is observed by many — partially or fully — as a practice of focus and devotion rather than deprivation.
The aarti is sung each evening. Garba and Dandiya — the devotional dances of Navratri, particularly in Gujarat and Rajasthan — are performed in community celebrations, though the home practice is equally valid and equally powerful.
Decoration
Marigold torans (garlands) above the main door. Kolam or rangoli at the entrance. The mandir space decorated with fresh flowers and diyas. A clean, brightly lit home is the physical expression of the invitation: that the goddess is welcome here, that the home is prepared for her arrival.
Navratri as Renewal
Navratri is not merely a festival of worship. It is a period of renewal — a nine-day reset for the home, the body, and the practice. The cleaning of the mandir, the discipline of the fast, the consistency of the evening aarti — all work together to bring a quality of attention to the home that persists long after the festival ends.