Durga Puja 2026: Dates and Holiday Details

Durga Puja 2025 was celebrated from 29 September to 2 October 2025 (Vijayadashami). This page covers Durga Puja 2026.

Durga Puja 2026, Complete Schedule

Maha Saptami falls on a Saturday in 2026, since it is the 3rd Saturday (not 2nd or 4th), it would normally be a working day, but the gazetted holiday status overrides this in the observing states.

Bank Holidays During Durga Puja 2026

For users in West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand: Plan all branch-dependent transactions (DD issuance, cheque deposits, loan document submission) before 15 October or from 22 October onwards. October 16–20 is effectively a five-day branch closure window in these states.

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What Is Durga Puja?

Durga Puja is the annual celebration of Goddess Durga's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura, a 10-day festival rooted in the Devi Mahatmya scriptures, with the last five days considered the most sacred. In December 2021, the Kolkata Durga Puja was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognising it as one of the world's most significant living cultural traditions. Beyond its religious meaning, Durga Puja is the single largest community gathering in Eastern India, a moment when the entire Bengali diaspora, across continents, returns home.

Day-by-Day Guide to Durga Puja 2026

Mahalaya, 26 September (Saturday) Mahalaya marks the beginning of Devi Paksha, the fortnight dedicated to the Goddess, and the symbolic start of Durga's journey from Mount Kailash to earth. In Bengal, Mahalaya morning begins with the radio broadcast of Birendra Krishna Bhadra's Mahishasura Mardini, a tradition since 1931. Idol artisans in Kumortuli complete the final Chokhu Daan (painting of the eyes) that day. Mahalaya is not a bank holiday but marks the formal opening of the Puja season.

Maha Panchami, 15 October (Thursday) The day the Puja preparations are formally complete. Pandals are unveiled to the public and the atmosphere in Kolkata shifts completely, streets fill with lights, food stalls open, and families begin pandal-hopping.

Maha Shashti, 16 October (Friday) The first of the five main Puja days. The Bodhon (invocation) ceremony officially welcomes Goddess Durga, the face of the idol is unveiled (Amontron), and Dhakis (traditional drummers) begin their continuous performance. This is the day the Puja formally begins in most households and community pandals.

Maha Saptami, 17 October (Saturday) Before dawn, the Kola Bou ritual is performed, a banana tree is bathed in a sacred water body and dressed in a sari, representing the nine plant forms of Durga (Nabapatrika). The Maha Puja commences and Anjali (flower offering with Sanskrit chants) is performed by devotees throughout the day.

Maha Ashtami, 18 October (Sunday) Considered the most powerful day of Durga Puja. Kumari Puja, the worship of pre-pubescent girls as manifestations of the Goddess, takes place in major temples including Belur Math. Sandhi Puja, performed at the precise junction of Ashtami and Navami, involves 108 diyas and 108 lotuses. Maha Ashtami Anjali sees the longest queues of the entire festival.

Maha Navami, 19 October (Monday) The penultimate day, beginning immediately after Sandhi Puja concludes. Maha Aarti is the closing ceremony of Navami. Cultural performances, bhog (community meals), and final pandal visits happen on this day, and many choose this day for their most significant clothing and gifting traditions.

Vijayadashami / Bijoya Dashami, 20 October (Tuesday) The final day. Married women participate in Sindoor Khela, smearing vermillion on each other and on the Goddess before immersion. The idol procession (Visarjan) travels to the Ganga, Hooghly, or local water bodies with dancing, drums, and chanting. After immersion, families visit each other exchanging Bijoya greetings ("Bijoya-r shubhechha") and sweets.

How Durga Puja Is Celebrated Across India

West Bengal and Kolkata: The centre of Durga Puja globally. Kolkata's approximately 3,000+ community pandals compete on theme, architecture, and artistic ambition, from replicas of world monuments to contemporary art installations. Famous pandals include Bagbazar, College Square, Mohammad Ali Park, and Deshapriya Park. The city's Metro, buses, and ferries run extended hours during Puja days.

Assam: Durga Puja in Assam carries the same five-day structure as Bengal, with large community pandals in Guwahati and Silchar. The festival is second only to Bihu in significance for Assamese Hindus, with Navami and Vijayadashami observed as bank holidays.

Odisha: Known as Devi Puja locally, the Durga Puja in Odisha closely mirrors Bengal's traditions. Cuttack's pandals are renowned for their silver filigree (Chandi Medha) decorations and attract visitors from across the state.

Bihar and Jharkhand: Durga Puja here is closely connected to Ram Leela, both traditions run concurrently, with Vijayadashami (Dussehra) being the culminating celebration. Community Jaagrans and feeding of young girls (Kanya Puja) are central traditions.

Delhi and the Diaspora: Delhi's CR Park, the heart of Kolkata's Bengali diaspora, runs the most authentic non-Bengal Puja celebration, full five-day programme, traditional dhaki drummers flown in from Bengal, and community bhog every day. Dozens of pandals across Delhi NCR observe the full festival.

Durga Puja Spending & Financial Planning

Durga Puja drives an estimated ₹40,000+ crore in economic activity in West Bengal alone each year, according to industry estimates, making it the largest single consumer event in Eastern India. Households budget for:

CreditMitra's online process works during the Puja bank closure window. Loan offers can be checked and compared at any time, including Puja days.

Future Durga Puja Dates: 2026–2031

Dates determined by Ashwin Shukla Shashti in the Hindu lunisolar calendar. Verify with local Panchang as dates can vary by a day regionally.

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