Is Navratri A Dry Day? State-Wise Liquor Sale Rules Explained

Navratri is one of the most celebrated Hindu festivals in India, marked by nine nights of devotion to Goddess Durga, fasting, music, and dance. While it’s a spiritually significant period, many people also wonder about a more practical concern: “Is Navratri a dry day?”

The short answer: No, Navratri is not actually a dry day in India. Liquor sale restrictions during Navratri depend on state excise rules and city-level notifications. Let’s explore how different states regulate liquor sales during Navratri and clarify some of the most searched questions around this topic.

What Is A Dry Day In India?

A dry day is a date when alcohol sale is prohibited by law. These are usually observed on:

• National holidays (Independence Day, Republic Day, Gandhi Jayanti)
• Major religious festivals (e.g., Dussehra, Holi, Eid in some states)
• Election and counting days

Since liquor regulation is a state subject, each state publishes its own dry day calendar every year. Cities like Mumbai and Delhi may also impose local restrictions, especially during processions or immersions.

Navratri vs Dussehra: Why The Difference Matters

• Navratri: A nine-day festival dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine forms. Devotees consider these days highly auspicious and often observe fasts and rituals.
• Dussehra (Vijayadashami): The tenth day after Navratri, symbolizing the victory of good over evil.

Governments are more likely to declare Dussehra as a dry day rather than the entire nine days of Navratri. That’s why people often confuse the two when checking alcohol restrictions.

Is Navratri A Dry Day In India?

• Nationwide: No, Navratri is not a blanket dry day across India.
• State-wise: Rules vary. Some states may declare specific Navratri dates (like Maha Ashtami, Navami, or Dussehra) as dry days, but not the full nine days.
• Prohibition states: In Gujarat, Bihar, and Nagaland, alcohol is banned year-round, so every day is a dry day regardless of Navratri.

State-Wise Liquor Sale Rules During Navratri

Maharashtra (Mumbai, Bandra West, Pune)

• Navratri itself is not a continuous dry period.
• Dussehra (Vijayadashami) and occasionally Maha Ashtami or immersion days may be notified as dry days. Nothing has been officially declared as of now.
• Always check the state excise notification or call your local outlet in Mumbai for confirmation.

Delhi/NCR

• Delhi issues an annual list of dry days.
• Dussehra is included in this year’s list, but the entire Navratri period is not.

Gujarat & Bihar (Prohibition States)

• Both states follow total prohibition laws, so liquor is not legally sold at all.
• Tourists in Gujarat can access alcohol only with special permits at select hotels. 

Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, West Bengal

• Liquor sales continue as normal during Navratri.
• Dussehra and Durga Puja immersion days in Kolkata may be notified as dry days. But nothing has been announced as of now.

Other States

• States like Rajasthan, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu also typically restrict sales only on Dussehra or other major religious days, not the entire Navratri.

How To Check If Today Is A Dry Day

1. State Excise Department Website – for official dry day notifications.
2. City Collector’s Office (e.g., Mumbai Collector) – for local restrictions.
3. Hospitality news outlets – they publish yearly dry day lists.
4. Local bars & liquor shops – they follow government orders and can confirm.

Summing Up

So, is Navratri a dry day?

• No, not by default. Navratri is a nine-day religious festival dedicated to Goddess Durga, but liquor sales are not banned nationwide during this period.
• Yes, on specific dates like Dussehra, Maha Ashtami, or immersion days depending on your state’s excise rules.
• In prohibition states like Gujarat and Bihar, alcohol is banned year-round, so Navratri automatically falls under a dry period.

The safest way to know if today is a dry day is to check your state or city’s official calendar for 2025.