Navratri 2026 in Banaras: Nine Days, Nine Devi Temples of Kashi, and the Banarasi Saree for Each

Everywhere else in India, Navratri is nine colours. In Banaras, it is nine addresses.

The Kashi Khand of the Skanda Purana describes a Navadurga Yatra, and every one of the nine forms of Durga has her own temple in the old city. On each day of Navratri, Kashi walks to one of them. The lanes near Marhia Ghat fill up on Day 1. Durga Kund turns into a sea of red chunris on Day 4. On Ashtami, the queue at Maa Annapurna starts before sunrise.

We are a Banarasi handloom label from Varanasi, so this is the Navratri we grew up with. This guide gives you the 2026 dates, the colour of each day, the Kashi temple where that Devi is worshipped, and the Banarasi saree we would wear for it. Whether you are walking the yatra yourself or celebrating from Delhi, Dubai or Dallas, you can carry a little of Kashi into all nine days.

Navratri 2026 at a glance

Sharad Navratri 2026 begins with Ghatasthapana on Sunday, 11 October and ends on Monday, 19 October, with Vijayadashami (Dussehra) on Tuesday, 20 October. Because Day 1 falls on a Sunday, the colour sequence this year opens with orange.

Day	Date	Devi	Colour	Her temple in Kashi
1	Sun, 11 Oct	Shailputri	Orange	Shailputri Mandir, near Marhia Ghat (Alaipura side)
2	Mon, 12 Oct	Brahmacharini	White	Brahmacharini Mandir, near Durga Ghat / Brahma Ghat
3	Tue, 13 Oct	Chandraghanta	Red	Chandraghanta Mandir, Chandu Nai ki Gali, Chowk
4	Wed, 14 Oct	Kushmanda	Royal blue	Durga Mandir, Durga Kund
5	Thu, 15 Oct	Skandamata	Yellow	Skandamata (Bageshwari Devi) Mandir, Jaitpura
6	Fri, 16 Oct	Katyayani	Green	Atma Vireshwar temple complex, near Scindia Ghat
7	Sat, 17 Oct	Kalaratri	Grey	Kalratri Mandir, Kalika Gali
8	Sun, 18 Oct	Mahagauri	Purple	Maa Annapurna Mandir, beside Kashi Vishwanath
9	Mon, 19 Oct	Siddhidatri	Peacock green	Siddheshwari Devi Mandir, Siddhmata Gali

Colour sequences vary slightly between communities and calendars, so treat these as the widely followed 2026 colours, not a rule. Dates: Brut India, Gulf News. Temples: Inditales, Navadurga Yatra in Kashi.

Days 1 to 3: the beginning, the vow, the bell

Day 1, Sun 11 Oct: Maa Shailputri, orange

Shailputri is the daughter of the mountain, the Devi at the very start of her journey. Her Kashi temple sits in the narrow lanes near Marhia Ghat, a small complex with old Shiva shrines around it. On the first morning of Navratri those lanes are shoulder to shoulder.

Orange is the colour of a first diya being lit. Pick a soft, saffron-leaning orange rather than a neon one; it photographs better in early-morning temple light.

Our pick: the Pastel Orange Maharani Gaj tissue silk saree, with hand-embroidered elephants that feel right for a day about beginnings. See more in our orange edit.

Day 2, Mon 12 Oct: Maa Brahmacharini, white

Brahmacharini is Parvati in tapasya, holding a rudraksha mala and a kamandalu. Her temple stands near Durga Ghat, with her mantra carved on a marble plaque outside the door.

White on this day is about restraint, not blankness. Let the zari do the talking and keep jewellery to a single strand.

Our pick: the handwoven White Katan Silk Saree. Pure katan holds a crisp drape through a long puja and a fast.

Day 3, Tue 13 Oct: Maa Chandraghanta, red

Chandraghanta wears a half-moon shaped like a bell on her forehead and rides a lion, ten-armed and ready to protect. In Kashi, her shrine is one of the smallest you will ever see, tucked into Chandu Nai ki Gali near Chowk, with darshan through an iron grill.

Red is Navratri's most recognisable colour, the shade of every chunri offered to the Devi. This is the day for your boldest Banarasi.

Our pick: the Banarasi Ghat tissue silk saree in royal red. Its pallu carries the ghats of Kashi in hand embroidery, so you wear the city to its own festival. Prefer something lighter for garba? The Red Bandhej in khaddi georgette moves beautifully.

Days 4 to 6: creation, motherhood, the warrior

Day 4, Wed 14 Oct: Maa Kushmanda, royal blue

Kushmanda is the Devi whose smile is said to have created the universe. In Kashi her seat is the great red Durga Mandir at Durga Kund, south of Assi Ghat, the busiest Devi temple in the city through all nine nights.

Royal blue against a red temple wall is a combination worth planning for. Go deep and saturated, with gold zari to catch the aarti light.

Our pick: the Royal Blue Bandhej for movement, or the handwoven Royal Blue Katan Silk for a more formal puja.

Day 5, Thu 15 Oct: Maa Skandamata, yellow

Skandamata is the mother of Kartikeya, shown with her son on her lap. Her Kashi temple, in Jaitpura, shares a two-storey complex with Bageshwari Devi and is one of the few in the city with a woman priest.

Yellow is the colour of haldi, of morning, of a mother's warmth. Mustard and turmeric tones look richer in silk than lemon yellow does.

Our pick: our hand-embroidered yellow Mayur tissue silk saree. The peacock is Kartikeya's own vahana, which makes it a quietly perfect saree for his mother's day.

Day 6, Fri 16 Oct: Maa Katyayani, green

Katyayani is the warrior form who defeated Mahishasura. In Kashi she is worshipped in the Atma Vireshwar temple complex near Scindia Ghat, an area devotees call the Panch Mudra Mahapeeth.

Green balances her fierceness with growth and renewal. Bottle green and emerald carry gold zari better than lighter greens.

Our pick: the handwoven Bottle Green Katan Silk, or the Gajraaj tissue silk in green if you want hand embroidery on the pallu.

Days 7 to 9: the dark night, the Annapurna of Kashi, the giver of siddhis

Day 7, Sat 17 Oct: Maa Kalaratri, grey

Kalaratri is the fiercest form, dark-skinned and fearless, yet called Shubhankari because she removes fear rather than causing it. Her Kashi temple gives its name to Kalika Gali, the lane running parallel to Vishwanath Gali, a short walk from Dashashwamedh Ghat.

Grey is the hardest Navratri colour to make festive. The trick is metal: a silver tissue shimmers grey in daylight and turns luminous under lamps.

Our pick: the Silver Chandani tissue silk saree. More in our silver edit.

Day 8, Sun 18 Oct: Maa Mahagauri, purple (Durga Ashtami)

In Kashi, Mahagauri is worshipped as Maa Annapurna, the presiding Devi of the city, whose temple stands beside Kashi Vishwanath. Ashtami is also the day many families perform Kanya Pujan at home, so this saree has to work for both the temple and the kitchen.

Purple carries royalty without the weight of bridal red. Choose a saree you can sit cross-legged in for an hour.

Our pick: the Purple Saat Phere tissue silk saree. Tissue silk is light enough for a long Ashtami morning. Browse the purple edit.

Day 9, Mon 19 Oct: Maa Siddhidatri, peacock green (Maha Navami)

Siddhidatri is the giver of the eight siddhis, the final form of the journey. Her Kashi temple is in Siddhmata Gali, in a complex that also holds the Chandreshwar Mahadev temple and the ancient Chandra Koop well, whose water is still used for abhishek.

Peacock green sits between teal and emerald. If it is not already in your cupboard, a deep green with gold zari honours the day just as well.

Our pick: the Bottle Green Maharani Gaj tissue silk saree, or any piece from our peacock-motif Mayur saree range for a literal nod to the colour.

You do not need nine new sarees

Nine days, nine colours, nine purchases is how festive shopping turns into regret. A real handloom Banarasi is meant to be worn for decades, so build the week around two or three pieces you will love long after Dussehra.

• Let the blouse and dupatta change the colour. A gold or silver tissue saree works on almost any day once you switch the blouse. A Banarasi dupatta in the day's colour over a plain suit does the same job for a temple visit.
• Match by the zari, not only the base. A red saree with heavy green meenakari can honestly stand in for green day. Devotion is the point; the colour chart is a guide.
• Save your heaviest piece for Ashtami or Navami. These are the days with Kanya Pujan, family visits and the most photographs.

Frequently asked questions

When is Navratri in 2026? Sharad Navratri 2026 runs from Sunday, 11 October to Monday, 19 October. Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is on Tuesday, 20 October.

What are the nine Navratri colours for 2026? Orange, white, red, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, purple and peacock green, from Day 1 to Day 9. The sequence starts with orange because Day 1 is a Sunday.

What is the Navadurga Yatra in Varanasi? It is the Kashi tradition, described in the Kashi Khand of the Skanda Purana, of visiting the temple of one form of Durga on each day of Navratri. All nine temples are in the old city, close to the ghats, and can also be visited in a single day with a local guide.

Which Banarasi saree is best for Navratri? For garba and long evenings, a khaddi georgette Bandhej is light and moves well. For temple visits and Ashtami puja, tissue silk or katan silk gives a richer, more formal drape.

Can I wear a Banarasi saree for garba? Yes. Choose a lighter weave such as tissue silk or khaddi georgette, pin the pleats firmly, and keep the pallu shorter than you would for a wedding.

From Kashi, for your nine nights

Every saree in this guide is handwoven or hand-embroidered in Varanasi, a few lanes from the temples above. Explore the full Navratri edit, or message us on WhatsApp and we will help you plan all nine days around the sarees already in your cupboard.

Jai Mata Di.