Navratri 2026 runs from 11 to 19 October. Here are the nine colours by date, with one Western outfit idea for each day.
Every year, about ten days before Navratri, the group chat turns into a colour chart. Someone posts the list, someone else says their office is following a different one, and by evening three people are asking what on earth to wear on the grey day.
This guide gives you the 2026 dates and colours in one place, plus a Western outfit idea for each day, so you are not buying nine new outfits at the last minute.
|
Day |
Date |
Colour |
A Western look to try |
|
1 |
Sun, 11 Oct |
Orange |
Rust or orange blazer over a black top, cream trousers, tan loafers |
|
2 |
Mon, 12 Oct |
White |
White wide-leg trousers, fitted top, light layer, white sneakers |
|
3 |
Tue, 13 Oct |
Red |
Red midi skirt with a black top and block heels |
|
4 |
Wed, 14 Oct |
Royal blue |
Royal blue satin shirt with black trousers |
|
5 |
Thu, 15 Oct |
Yellow |
Mustard or butter yellow knit top with straight-leg jeans |
|
6 |
Fri, 16 Oct |
Green |
Emerald satin skirt with a beige bodysuit and flats |
|
7 |
Sat, 17 Oct |
Grey |
Grey tailored trousers and a matching waistcoat or blazer |
|
8 |
Sun, 18 Oct |
Purple |
Plum or lavender shirt dress with a belt |
|
9 |
Mon, 19 Oct |
Peacock green |
Teal or peacock green dress, or satin top with black trousers |
One honest caveat: colour lists online are not identical. The order below follows the weekday-based list widely shared for 2026, and it is the one we are using. If your family, temple, or office follows a different sequence, go with theirs. Dates can also shift by a day depending on the panchang, so check your local one, or Drik Panchang, before you plan a specific day.
Why the colour changes every day
Each of the nine days is dedicated to a different form of the goddess Durga, and each day is traditionally linked to a colour. Many people connect the colour to the weekday, which is why the sequence starts on a different colour each year. In 202,6 Day 1 falls on a Sunday, so the first colour is orange.
The meanings people attach to the colours vary from family to family. Orange is often linked with energy, white with peace, red with courage. Treat those as traditional associations, not rules, and enjoy the colour part for what it is: a nice reason to dress up nine days in a row.
Day by day: what we would actually wear
Day 1, Sunday 11 October: Orange
Orange is bold, so keep everything else quiet. An orange or rust blazer over a plain black top with cream trousers looks put together without trying too hard. It is a Sunday, so a relaxed version works too: an orange knit with straight jeans.
Day 2, Monday 12 October: White
White is the easiest colour to wear and the hardest to keep clean. Go tonal, with white trousers and an ivory top in different textures, so it looks intentional. If it is a workday, a crisp white shirt with tailored trousers does the job.
Day 3, Tuesday 13 October: Red
Red needs very little help. A red midi skirt with a black top is a reliable evening look, and a red shirt with dark trousers is quieter for work. Do not overthink the accessories.
Day 4, Wednesday 14 October: Royal blue
Royal blue looks expensive in satin. A blue satin shirt with black trousers is our favourite formula for this day, and it works at the office and at dinner.
Day 5, Thursday 15 October: Yellow
Yellow can be tricky. Butter and mustard tones are kinder than neon. Pair a yellow knit with straight-leg jeans and white sneakers, or wear a mustard shirt under a dark blazer.
Day 6, Friday 16 October: Green
Emerald is the one to save for an evening. A satin skirt in emerald with a fitted beige or black bodysuit top is simple and photographs well. For work, olive trousers with a white shirt count as green.
Day 7, Saturday 17 October: Grey
Nobody plans their outfit around grey, but it is the most wearable colour of the nine. A grey tailored set is smart enough for the office and easy to dress up with jewellery for the evening.
Day 8, Sunday 18 October: Purple
Purple ranges from soft lavender to deep plum. Lavender suits daytime. Plum in satin or velvet is the better pick for a night out. A purple shirt dress with a belt works for family lunches.
Day 9, Monday 19 October: Peacock green
Peacock green sits between teal and emerald. It is a strong colour for the last night, so let the outfit do the talking: a teal dress, or a peacock satin top with plain black trousers.
How to cover nine days without buying nine outfits
You do not need nine outfits. You need a neutral base and a few colour pieces you can rotate.
• Two pairs of neutral trousers (black and cream or beige) carry most days.
• Three colour tops or shirts in the shades you already like cover about half the list.
• One satin skirt and one blazer in strong colours handle the evening days.
• Scarves, bags and jewellery can carry a colour on the days you have nothing in it.
If you like a smooth line under fitted tops, a plain bodysuit in Black or Beige can be the base layer under blazers and shirts, such as our Snatched Shapewear Bodysuit. To be fair, a plain fitted tee does the same job if you prefer it, so this is a comfort choice, not a requirement.
Do you have to follow the colours?
No. Plenty of people follow the colours every day, some follow a few, and many skip them and simply enjoy the festival. Wearing the colour of the day is a tradition people love, not a test. Dress the way that feels right for you and for the place you are going.
If you are planning where to wear what, our guide to Western outfits for Navratri and garba nights covers which events suit Western wear, and the Navratri office outfit ideas post has nine workday looks.
