Sharad Navratri 2026 begins with Ghatasthapana on Sunday, 11 October, and runs through Monday, 19 October, with Dussehra on Tuesday, 20 October. Gujarat’s biggest Garba nights are in Ahmedabad and Vadodara, with Rajkot close behind. Fly into Ahmedabad (AMD), Vadodara (BDQ) or Rajkot’s newer airport (HSR), and book early since fares and passes both move fast in festival week.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Navratri turns Gujarat into nine nights of music, spinning skirts and dandiya sticks. If you are flying in for the Garba season, here is what the 2026 dates actually are and how to plan around them.
When exactly is Navratri 2026?
Sharad Navratri 2026 starts with Ghatasthapana, the ritual installing of the kalash, on Sunday, 11 October 2026. The nine nights run through Maha Navami on Monday, 19 October, and the festival closes with Vijayadashami, or Dussehra, on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Because the festival follows lunar tithis rather than fixed calendar days, some years compress or stretch slightly, so it is worth checking a current panchang if you are timing a trip around a specific day of the nine.
In practice, this means the main Garba season in Gujarat runs for about nine straight evenings from 11 to 19 October, with celebrations in some venues extending into Dussehra night itself.
Where are Gujarat’s biggest Garba nights?
Ahmedabad and Vadodara host the state’s largest organised Garba grounds. In Ahmedabad, GMDC Ground is the long-running venue for the city’s marquee Navratri festival, drawing large crowds for choreographed Garba, a nightly Maha Aarti and stalls selling festive food and handicrafts. In Vadodara, the United Way Garba at a large ground in the Atladara area is known for one of the biggest dancing circles in the country and has featured in record books for its scale.
Rajkot’s Garba scene is also considered among the liveliest in Gujarat, with multiple society and public grounds running packed evenings through the nine nights. Smaller towns across Saurashtra and Kutch run their own neighbourhood Garba too, often with a more traditional, less amplified feel than the big-city stages.
How do Garba passes and late nights work?
Most large commercial Garba grounds sell season or single-night passes, and the big venues in Ahmedabad and Vadodara typically open sales well before Navratri begins, with weekend nights selling out first. If you want a specific ground on a specific night, especially a Saturday, it helps to sort out a pass before you land rather than after.
Garba nights usually run late, often well past midnight on weekends, so plan your next morning loosely if you are out at a big ground. Comfortable footwear matters more than it sounds: traditional Garba and dandiya involve a lot of standing and circling, and grounds can get crowded near the stage.
Which airports serve Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Rajkot?
Ahmedabad is served by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD), Gujarat’s busiest airport with the widest range of domestic and international connections, making it the usual gateway for visitors heading into the state for Navratri. Vadodara has its own airport (BDQ) with direct domestic flights from several metro cities, useful if your plan centres on the city’s Garba grounds rather than Ahmedabad’s. Rajkot is served by Rajkot International Airport (airport code HSR), a newer airport roughly 30 km from the city that replaced the older in-town airport and can handle a wide range of aircraft.
Airlines including IndiGo and Air India operate domestic routes into all three cities, and connectivity is generally strongest into Ahmedabad, so many visitors fly there and travel on by road to Vadodara or Rajkot if needed.
When should you book flights for Navratri?
Navratri is one of Gujarat’s busiest travel weeks, with both leisure visitors and people returning home for the festival. Fares into Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Rajkot tend to firm up as the nine nights approach, particularly for flights landing on or just before the opening weekend. Booking a few weeks ahead, and setting a price alert if you are flexible on the exact date, is a reasonable way to avoid paying a late-booking premium.
Common Questions
Is Navratri the same nine days every year?
No. Navratri follows the lunar calendar, so its dates shift each year on the solar calendar. Always check the current year’s dates rather than assuming last year’s pattern repeats.
Do I need a pass to join Garba in Ahmedabad or Vadodara?
For the large organised grounds like GMDC in Ahmedabad or United Way in Vadodara, yes, most charge for entry through season or nightly passes. Smaller neighbourhood or society Garba events are often open without a formal pass.
Which city has better flight connectivity for Navratri, Ahmedabad or Vadodara?
Ahmedabad generally has more frequent domestic and international flights given it is Gujarat’s main airport. Vadodara has fewer but direct options from several major cities, which can work well if your trip is centred there.
Can I fly directly into Rajkot for Navratri?
Yes, Rajkot International Airport (HSR) has scheduled domestic flights, including from major metro cities. It is a newer airport than the city’s earlier one and sits about 30 km outside Rajkot.
Does Navratri celebration continue on Dussehra day?
Some of the larger Garba grounds extend their programming through Dussehra night as a grand finale, even though the formal nine nights of Navratri end the evening before. Check the specific venue’s schedule for the exact closing night.
Is it hard to get a hotel in Ahmedabad or Vadodara during Navratri?
Accommodation near major Garba grounds books up well ahead of the festival, especially for weekend nights, so it is worth arranging your stay early alongside your flight.
Planning a Navratri trip to Gujarat? Search flights to Ahmedabad, Vadodara or Rajkot on HappyFares, set a price alert if your dates are flexible, and ask Meera if you need a quick comparison before you book.
Festival dates, venue schedules and pass details change. Verify current specifics with the event organiser or a local panchang before you travel.
