Navratri & Dussehra 2026: Dates, Devi Temple Tours & Cab Booking Guide
Navratri & Dussehra 2026: Dates, Devi Temple Tours & Cab Booking Guide
Navratri 2026 will be celebrated from 11 to 19 October, followed by Dussehra on Tuesday, 20 October.
For nine nights, people across India observe fasts, perform Garba and Dandiya, and visit famous Devi temples for darshan. The celebrations conclude with Dussehra, marking one of the most important festive occasions of the season.Whether you are planning a Vaishno Devi Yatra, enjoying Garba nights in Ahmedabad, or attending the famous Jamboo Savari in Mysuru, this guide covers the important festival dates, Navratri colours for each day, popular temple trips, and useful travel tips to help you plan your journey with less hassle.
Many temple towns are located one to two hours away from the nearest railway station, while trains to Jammu and Katra often get booked weeks in advance. Choosing a cab offers a convenient door-to-door journey and avoids the hassle of changing transport. It is especially comfortable for elderly travellers and those observing a fast, as they can travel at their own pace and take breaks whenever needed.
Navratri 2026: Complete 9-Day Goddess and Colour Guide
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.
Top 5 Navratri and Dussehra Celebrations in India
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 and the Famous Jamboo Savari | Mysuru’s Royal Palace, Karnataka | 11 to 21 October; Grand Procession on 21 October | Around 145 km from Bengaluru (3–3.5 hours). |
| 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. Explore different pandals by car without waiting 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 and cities across North India | Ramlila celebrations continue through Navratri, followed by Ravan Dahan on 20 October. | Consider a local cab to reach the celebration grounds |
Tip: Kullu Dussehra starts the day Navratri ends. From Delhi, visit Vaishno Devi during the first week, then continue to Kullu for the Rath Yatra.
Devi temple trips by cab this Navratri
Many families plan to visit a Shakti temple for darshan during Navratri. Here are the most-booked Devi trips, with one-way SoloCabs 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. Driver and night charges are included, while parking fees and 5% GST are extra.
Vaishno Devi (Katra, J&K)
It is a popular Navratri journey for travellers across North India, so plan your transport and stay early to avoid the festive rush. 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 Trek and darshan timings can vary depending on the crowd.
Himachal Devi Circuit: Chintpurni, Jwalamukhi & Naina Devi
This 3–4 day trip from Delhi covers Chintpurni, Jwalamukhi and Naina Devi. Booking a round-trip cab lets you travel with the same car and driver throughout the journey, making temple visits and overnight stays more convenient.
Maa Sharda Devi, Maihar (MP)
The temple is 1,063 steps up Trikoota Hill, and there's a ropeway for elders. Maihar is about 40 km from Satna and 160 km from Jabalpur by road.
Vindhyachal (Mirzapur, UP)
Visit Maa Vindhyavasini, Ashtabhuja and Kalikhoh on a half-day trip from Varanasi or Prayagraj.
Chamundi Hills, Mysuru
Visit during Dasara week and enjoy 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.
Carry light fasting foods such as fruits, makhana and 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. Travel during daylight to avoid driving through the ghats after dark. If you plan to visit multiple temples, booking one round-trip cab with the same driver makes the journey easier and more convenient.
Carry valid IDs: Keep an ID for every traveller, as it may be required for Vaishno Devi registration and at some temple locker facilities.
Plan your Dussehra ride: Roads and parking near Ravan Dahan grounds can be restricted, so booking a cab can make your evening travel more convenient.
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. SoloCabs has operated since 2017, is rated 4.6/5, and charges no return fare on one-way trips.
Book Your Devi Circuit Cab with the SoloCabs App
Jai Mata Di! Happy Navratri from SoloCabs
Frequently asked questions
When does Navratri 2026 start?
Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October with Ghatasthapana and concludes on Monday, 19 October with Maha Navami.
When is Dussehra 2026?
Vijayadashami celebrations in 2026 take place on Tuesday, 20 October.. 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.
What is the Delhi to Katra cab fare for Vaishno Devi Yatra?
For a one-way Delhi to Katra trip, a sedan costs around ₹7,000, while a 6-seater SUV costs about ₹9,700 for the 630 km journey. Parking and 5% GST are extra.
Can I book one cab for the complete 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. The balance amount is payable directly to the driver.
Can I book on WhatsApp?
Yes. Just share your pickup city, temple destination, travel date and number of passengers, and we’ll send you the cab fare.