The Daily Colour Guide
One of the most visible traditions of Navratri is the practice of wearing a specific colour for each of the nine days. For 2026, Shardiya Navratri begins on October 11, and the colour sequence is determined by the day of the week it starts. This year,
the festival kicks off on a Sunday, making the first day's colour orange. The full schedule for 2026 is Orange, White, Red, Royal Blue, Yellow, Green, Grey, Purple, and ending with Peacock Green on October 19. This tradition now extends beyond clothing, influencing everything from home decor to food presentation, creating a cohesive and festive theme for each day of worship.
A Modern Twist on Fasting Feasts
Navratri fasting food, or 'vrat ka khana', is undergoing a creative renaissance. While staples like sabudana khichdi, kuttu ki puri, and samak rice pulao remain popular, there's a growing trend towards modernising the sattvic diet. Home cooks and restaurants are innovating with ingredients like amaranth flour (rajgira), water chestnut flour (singhara), and barnyard millet (samak rice) to create a wider variety of dishes. Think baked sabudana vadas instead of fried, makhana bhel, sweet potato tikkis, and even desserts like lauki halwa and pumpkin kheer. The focus is on meals that are both delicious and nourishing, using permitted ingredients like rock salt (sendha namak), potatoes, pumpkin, and dairy products, while strictly avoiding grains, lentils, onions, and garlic.
Decor That Reflects the Festive Mood
Home decor for Navratri is moving beyond just the pooja room. Many are now using the nine-day colour calendar to inspire small, daily changes around the house. This doesn't require a complete overhaul; simple swaps like changing cushion covers, table runners, or sofa throws to match the day's colour can make a home feel festive. Traditional elements like fresh marigold flowers, brass diyas, and urlis filled with water and petals remain central to the aesthetic. Many are also creating welcoming entrances with simple rangolis, floral torans, and warm fairy lights to set a celebratory tone for visiting friends and family. The idea is to create an atmosphere of warmth and devotion that permeates the entire home.
Festive Getaways and Cultural Travel
Navratri has become a popular time for travel, with people journeying to experience the festival's diverse regional celebrations. Gujarat, particularly Ahmedabad and Vadodara, remains the top destination for those wanting to experience massive Garba and Dandiya Raas nights. For a different flavour, many travel to Kolkata for the grandeur of Durga Puja, where the last few days of Navratri are celebrated with artistic pandals and cultural performances. In Karnataka, the city of Mysuru becomes a hub for its royal Dasara celebrations, with the palace illuminated by thousands of lights. These festive trips offer a chance to immerse oneself in unique cultural traditions, turning the nine-day period into a memorable travel experience.
