Navratri & Dussehra 2026: Durga Idols and Festive Gifting Guide

Short answer: a brass Durga-on-lion murti is the standard altar piece for the nine nights, and it stays relevant through Dussehra since the festival closes with Durga's victory being marked as Vijayadashami. Navratri runs 11-20 October 2026, with Dussehra falling on 20 October.

How the festival is observed differs by region

Worth knowing before you buy, since it changes what 'the right idol' means. In much of North India, Navratri centers on fasting and Durga worship building to Dussehra, which marks Ram's victory over Ravana — that's the connection to Ram Darbar pieces, not just Durga alone. In Gujarat and parts of the west, the nine nights are as much about Garba and Dandiya as worship. In Bengal and the east, it culminates in Durga Puja, typically a community pandal event rather than a home-altar tradition. In the south, many households set up a Golu (Bommai Kolu) — tiered doll displays — which is a different tradition from a single Durga murti. We don't currently carry dedicated Golu doll sets, so if that's specifically what you need, our figurine range can supplement an existing display rather than replace it.

For a home altar

This 4-inch brass Durga on her lion is sized for a shelf altar; the 7-inch version is the better pick if you want it to read as a proper centerpiece rather than an accent. Both show her seated on the lion (her vahana), which is the standard iconographic form rather than a stylized variation.

For Dussehra specifically

If your household observes Dussehra as Ram's triumph over Ravana rather than purely as the close of Durga worship, a Ram Darbar set — Rama, Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman together — is the more directly relevant piece to bring out for the day.

Gifting through the nine nights

Navratri is also a common gifting window — for Garba nights, for hosting, for visiting family. Wall hanging idols, antique wall pieces, and smaller pocket-sized figurines work well as host gifts or return gifts across the nine nights without needing to be Durga-specific.

Timing

With nine consecutive days of gifting and worship, order earlier than you would for a single-day festival — the first week of October gives enough margin for both the Durga murti and any host gifts you're planning across the week.

Browse Durga idols and the full Navratri gifts collection.