Durga Puja 2026 begins with Mahalaya on Saturday, 10 October and the five main days run from Maha Shashthi on Saturday, 17 October to Bijoya Dashami on Wednesday, 21 October. If you are planning pandal visits, family meals or travel to Kolkata, this day-by-day guide gives you the dates, what happens each day, and the Sandhi Puja timing.
We also explain why the dates look different from Navratri and Dussehra, which are marked on other days in much of India. The language is kept simple so students and families can use it as a quick reference.
Please note: dates are as per West Bengal reckoning and may vary slightly by city. Verify with a local panchang (तिथियाँ स्थानीय पंचांग से मिलाँएँ) before you plan anything important.
Durga Puja 2026 dates at a glance
- Mahalaya: Saturday, 10 October
- Navratri begins (Ghatasthapana): Sunday, 11 October
- Maha Shashthi: Saturday, 17 October
- Maha Saptami: Sunday, 18 October
- Maha Ashtami: Monday, 19 October (Sandhi Puja about 10:27 to 11:15 AM)
- Maha Navami: Tuesday, 20 October
- Bijoya Dashami: Wednesday, 21 October (Sindoor Khela in the evening, then Bisorjon)
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami across India: Tuesday, 20 October
Mahalaya, Saturday 10 October: the goddess is invited
Mahalaya marks the end of Pitru Paksha, the fortnight when families remember their ancestors, and the start of the festive mood. Many Bengali households wake up early to listen to the traditional chanting of the Chandi recitation on radio or TV. According to belief, this is when the goddess is called down from Kailash. Artists traditionally paint the eyes of the idol around this time, a ritual known as Chakshudan.
Day-by-day: what happens from Shashthi to Dashami
- Maha Shashthi (Sat, 17 Oct): Bodhon, the awakening of the goddess, and Adhivas. The idol's face is unveiled and the pandal opens to visitors.
- Maha Saptami (Sun, 18 Oct): The Nabapatrika, a bundle of nine plants usually shown with a banana plant, is bathed in holy water and placed beside Ganesha. Pran Pratishtha follows, when the life of the deity is invoked in the idol.
- Maha Ashtami (Mon, 19 Oct): Morning Pushpanjali, where devotees offer flowers together, and in many places Kumari Puja. The day ends the Ashtami tithi at about 10:51 AM and moves into Navami through the Sandhi Puja.
- Maha Navami (Tue, 20 Oct): Mahaarti, bhog and havan. In the evening, ritual dance with the dhunuchi (clay incense burner) and the sound of dhak drums fill many pandals.
- Bijoya Dashami (Wed, 21 Oct): Devi Boron, the farewell ritual, followed by Sindoor Khela and then Bisorjon, the immersion of the idol.
Sandhi Puja 2026 timing
Sandhi Puja is held at the junction (sandhi) of Ashtami and Navami, and it is considered the most powerful moment of the festival. In 2026 it is expected on Monday, 19 October, from about 10:27 AM to 11:15 AM, since the Ashtami tithi ends at about 10:51 AM. The ritual lasts roughly 48 minutes, the last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami.
According to tradition, the goddess took the form of Chamunda at this moment to defeat the demons Chanda and Munda. Many pandals offer 108 lamps and a hush falls before the conch shells and drums begin. Exact timing differs by city, so check your own pandal committee's schedule.
Sindoor Khela and Bisorjon
On Bijoya Dashami, married women offer sindoor (vermilion) and sweets to the goddess, then smear sindoor on each other as a sign of joy and good wishes. It is a lively, colourful ritual, held in the evening before the idol leaves for immersion. After Bisorjon, people greet one another with "Shubho Bijoya", touch the feet of elders and share sweets.
How the dates differ from Navratri and Dussehra
Navratri is a nine-night festival. In 2026 it starts on 11 October and ends on 19 October. In North India people keep fasts, and Dussehra with the burning of Ravana effigies falls on 20 October. Durga Puja, as celebrated in Bengal, Assam, Odisha and Tripura, concentrates on the last five days, Shashthi to Dashami. Because Bengal's reckoning looks at when the tithi covers the sunrise and the specific rituals of each day, Dashami lands on 21 October there, one day after the all-India Dussehra.
- Same goddess, different traditions: both honour Durga.
- Navratri focuses on nine forms of the goddess and fasting; Durga Puja focuses on pandals, idols and community celebration.
- Dates can be one day apart because tithis often span two calendar days.
To read more, see Navratri 2026, the nine colours of Navratri and Dussehra. For a deeper background, there is Durga Puja explained. The Hindi version of this guide is at दुर्गा पूजा कब है.
Practical tips for pandal hopping
- Visit early in the morning or on weekdays to avoid the biggest crowds. Saptami is usually calmer than Ashtami and Navami.
- Wear comfortable footwear, carry water and keep a small power bank.
- Fix a meeting point with your family in case you get separated.
- Follow the volunteers' queue and safety instructions, especially at immersion ghats.
- Choose eco-friendly options where you can: clay idols, natural colours and cloth bags.
- Keep the sacred spaces clean and do not touch the idol or offerings unless invited.
Frequently asked questions
When is Durga Puja 2026?
Maha Shashthi falls on 17 October and Bijoya Dashami on 21 October 2026, with Mahalaya on 10 October.
When is Maha Ashtami 2026?
Monday, 19 October. Ashtami ends at about 10:51 AM.
What is the Sandhi Puja time in 2026?
Approximately 10:27 AM to 11:15 AM on 19 October, but verify with a local panchang.
When is Sindoor Khela?
On Bijoya Dashami, Wednesday, 21 October, in the evening before Bisorjon.
Why is Dussehra on 20 October but Dashami on 21 October in Bengal?
Because the Dashami tithi stretches over two days and Bengal follows its own reckoning for the puja rituals.
Is Navratri the same as Durga Puja?
Both honour the goddess, but Navratri is a nine-day observance with fasting, while Durga Puja is a five-day public festival in Bengal and nearby states.
When is Mahalaya 2026?
Saturday, 10 October 2026.
Related: Durga Puja | Durga Ashtakam | Maa Durga Aarti
