In Kolkata, Durga Puja 2026 runs from Maha Shashthi on Saturday, 17 October to Vijaya Dashami on Wednesday, 21 October. Maha Ashtami is on 19 October, with the Sandhi Puja at about 10:27 to 11:15 AM.
What's different this year
This year North India and Bengal are a day apart. In the North, Navami is on 19 October and Dussehra on 20 October, while in Bengal Maha Navami is on 20 October and Vijaya Dashami on 21 October. Panjikas also differ on the Bodhon: Drik Panchang places it on 17 October, while some Bengali panjikas place it on the evening of 16 October. Follow your pandal's panjika.
From Mahalaya to the Bodhon
Devi Paksha begins with Mahalaya, which falls on 10 October this year. It is the last day of Pitru Paksha, and in Bengal it is the morning for listening to 'Mahishasuramardini' on the radio before dawn. By tradition, image-makers paint the Goddess's eyes on this day, the rite called Chokkhu Daan.
On the evening of Shashthi comes the Bodhon, when the Goddess is invoked beneath a bel tree and woken. The gods are believed to sleep through the autumn, and Rama is said to have woken the Goddess out of season to worship her before his battle with Ravana. That is why Bengal's autumn worship is also called Akal Bodhon, the untimely awakening.
Durga Puja 2026, day by day
- Sat, 10 October
- Mahalaya, start of Devi Paksha
- Sat, 17 October
- Maha Shashthi: Kalparambha, Bodhon, Adhivas
- Sun, 18 October
- Maha Saptami: Kolabou (Navapatrika) snan
- Mon, 19 October
- Maha Ashtami: Pushpanjali, Kumari Puja, Sandhi Puja
- Tue, 20 October
- Maha Navami: Navami homa
- Wed, 21 October
- Vijaya Dashami: Sindoor Khela, visarjan
Uma comes home
In Bengal, Durga Puja is the Goddess's homecoming: Uma, daughter of the Himalaya, returns once a year with her children Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesh and Kartikeya. That is why all four stand beside Mahishasuramardini in the pandals, and why the Dashami farewell is as tearful as it is joyful.
At dawn on Saptami, nine plants tied with a banana plant, the Navapatrika, are bathed, draped in a red-bordered sari and set beside Ganesh. The Ashtami morning pushpanjali draws the biggest crowds, and on Dashami married women apply sindoor to the Goddess as they bid her farewell.
Your questions
When is the Ashtami pushpanjali?
On the morning of Maha Ashtami, Monday 19 October. By custom it is offered while fasting. Pandals hold it in several rounds, so check your pandal's timings first.
What is Kumari Puja?
On Ashtami a young girl is worshipped with full rites as the Goddess herself. The Kumari Puja at Belur Math is the best known. Kanya Pujan in North India comes from the same idea.
When is Sindoor Khela?
On Vijaya Dashami, Wednesday 21 October, before the immersion. Married women first offer sindoor and sweets to the Goddess, then smear sindoor on one another.
Is the Sandhi Puja time different in Kolkata and Delhi?
No. The Sandhi is set by the end of Ashtami and the start of Navami, which is the same moment everywhere, so it stays at about 10:27 to 11:15 AM.
Dates and times checked against Drik Panchang and our own panchang, for Kolkata.
