Navratri 2026: 5 Things You Should Never Do During These 9 Auspicious Days

Shardiya Navratri 2026 will begin on Sunday, October 11, and continue for nine days, concluding with Navami on October 19, followed by Vijayadashami on October 21. The nine-day festival is dedicated to the nine forms of Maa Durga and is considered an important period for prayer, fasting, spiritual discipline and devotion.

Also Read: Complete Guide Navratri 2026: Date, Ghatasthapana Muhurat, 9 Days of Navratri, Colours, Puja Timings and Significance

During Navratri, many devotees follow special puja rituals, observe fasts and make changes to their daily routine as a mark of respect for the Goddess. Along with knowing what to do during these auspicious days, devotees also traditionally follow certain Navratri rules and restrictions. Some practices are linked to religious traditions, while others are meant to encourage cleanliness, self-control, mindfulness and a peaceful environment at home.


Here are five things devotees traditionally avoid during Navratri 2026.

1. Avoid Tamasic Food and Alcohol During Navratri

One of the most commonly followed Navratri practices is avoiding foods considered tamasic or unsuitable for fasting. Devotees who observe the fast generally prefer satvik food and simple meals.

Depending on family and regional traditions, people may avoid:

• Meat and eggs
• Alcohol
• Tobacco and other intoxicants
• Onion and garlic
• Regular grains and pulses during fasting
• Heavily processed or excessively spicy foods

Instead, fasting foods may include fruits, milk, makhana, sabudana, kuttu, singhara flour, samak rice and certain vegetables. However, Navratri fasting rules vary between families and communities. Those who are not fasting do not necessarily have to follow the same dietary restrictions.

Also Read: Navratri Vrat Food List 2026: What Can You Eat? Kuttu, Singhara, Sendha Namak Rules & Puja Samagri Checklist

2. Do Not Cut Your Hair or Shave If Your Family Tradition Forbids It

During Navratri, some devotees avoid haircuts, shaving and nail cutting, particularly when they are observing a strict vrat or undertaking a specific religious sankalp. This practice is not a universal rule for every Hindu household. Customs can differ significantly by region and family tradition.

For those following this practice, the idea is to maintain a period of discipline and avoid unnecessary personal grooming activities during the sacred period. Therefore, if your family traditionally avoids haircuts or shaving during Navratri, it is considered better to follow that custom consistently throughout the nine days.

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3. Avoid Anger, Arguments and Negative Behaviour

Navratri is traditionally considered a period of spiritual purification and self-discipline. Therefore, devotees are encouraged to control anger, avoid unnecessary arguments and maintain a peaceful atmosphere.

During these nine days, try to avoid:

• Fighting over minor issues
• Harsh or insulting words
• Gossip and deliberately hurting others
• Jealousy and unnecessary negativity
• Dishonest behaviour
• Intoxicants and reckless habits

The purpose of Navratri is not only external worship but also inner discipline. Spending time in prayer while repeatedly engaging in anger, hatred or harmful behaviour goes against the spirit of the observance. Devotees can instead use these nine days to practise patience, gratitude, kindness and mindful speech.

4. Do Not Leave the Puja Space or Kalash Untidy

Cleanliness is an important part of many Navratri rituals. Before Ghatasthapana, devotees traditionally clean the puja area and prepare it for the installation of the sacred kalash. Once the kalash and other puja items are established, the space should be kept clean and treated respectfully.

Avoid:

• Leaving stale flowers around the altar
• Allowing the puja area to become dusty or cluttered
• Keeping used puja materials scattered around
• Placing footwear or unrelated objects near the worship area
• Ignoring the cleanliness of the space

Flowers, leaves and other offerings that have become stale should be respectfully removed according to one's household tradition. If you have established Akhand Jyoti, pay attention to its safe placement and ensure that it is kept away from curtains, papers and other flammable objects.

5. Do Not Start Navratri Without Understanding Your Vrat and Puja Rules

One common mistake is following random Navratri rules from social media without checking whether they actually apply to one's family or tradition.

Different regions follow different customs regarding:

• Fasting
• Food restrictions
• Ghatasthapana
• Daily puja
• Kanya Puja
• Haircuts and shaving
• Sleep and daily routines
• Offerings to Maa Durga

For example, some people observe a complete fast, while others eat one satvik meal or follow a fruit-and-milk diet. Neither approach should automatically be considered the only correct method.

Before beginning your vrat, understand the rules followed by your family, community or chosen religious tradition. If you have a medical condition, take regular medication, are pregnant, elderly or otherwise need dietary care, fasting should be adapted appropriately rather than followed at the expense of your health.

Navratri 2026: Quick Dates

Navratri Day	Date	Goddess
Day 1	October 11	Maa Shailputri
Day 2	October 12	Maa Brahmacharini
Day 3	October 13	Maa Chandraghanta
Day 4	October 14	Maa Kushmanda
Day 5	October 15	Maa Skandamata
Day 6	October 16	Maa Katyayani
Day 7	October 17	Maa Kalaratri
Day 8	October 18	Maa Mahagauri
Day 9	October 19	Maa Siddhidatri