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Durga Puja 2026: dates and what happens each day
Pujo 2026 runs from Shashthi to Bijoya Dashami on Wednesday 21 October. This year the Shashthi tithi falls across both Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October, so Bodhon is on Friday evening at Belur Math and many pujas. The countdown began with Mahalaya on Saturday 10 October.
The calendar at a glance
- Mahalaya · Sat 10 Oct · the start of Devi Paksha
- Shashthi · Fri 16 Oct · Kalparambha and Bodhon, the Goddess is welcomed (Belur Math: Bodhon 6:15 PM)
- Shashthi continues · Sat 17 Oct · Amantran and Adhibas; some pujas hold Bodhon today
- Maha Saptami · Sun 18 Oct · nabapatrika snan at dawn
- Maha Ashtami · Mon 19 Oct · anjali before Ashtami ends; Kumari Puja; Sandhi Puja
- Maha Navami · Tue 20 Oct · the last full day of worship
- Bijoya Dashami · Wed 21 Oct · darpan bisarjan, boron, sindoor khela, bisarjan
Sandhi Puja and Ashtami timing, by panjika
- Bisuddha Siddhanta (followed by Belur Math): Ashtami ends about 10:52 AM on Mon 19 Oct; Sandhi Puja 10:28–11:16 AM.
- Gupta Press: Ashtami ends about 7:49 AM on Mon 19 Oct; Sandhi Puja about 7:25–8:13 AM.
The two almanacs differ by about three hours this year, which matters for Ashtami anjali (it should be done before Ashtami ends). Ask your puja committee which panjika they follow. Our Puja Calendar lets you switch between them and add reminders.
Mahalaya
For many Bengali families, Pujo really begins before dawn on Mahalaya, with the radio on and tarpan offered to ancestors at the river ghats. It marks the end of Pitri Paksha and the start of Devi Paksha, the fortnight of the Goddess.
Shashthi: the welcome
In the evening, the Goddess is invoked (bodhon) and her face is unveiled at most pandals. In 2026 the Shashthi tithi covers both Friday and Saturday mornings, so expect Bodhon on Friday 16 October at most places. This is when crowds really start, and the dhak begins its five-day run.
Saptami: the banana-tree bride
Early in the morning a banana plant, bound with eight other plants and draped in a red-bordered saree, is bathed in a river or pond and placed beside Ganesh. She is the nabapatrika, fondly called kola bou.
Ashtami: anjali and Sandhi Puja
The busiest morning of Pujo. People fast until they offer pushpanjali, flowers offered with the priest's mantras, usually in new clothes. Sandhi Puja is performed in the 48 minutes where Ashtami meets Navami, with 108 lamps and 108 lotuses; in 2026 it is on the morning of Monday 19 October (10:28–11:16 AM by Bisuddha Siddhanta, about 7:25–8:13 AM by Gupta Press). Many pujas also hold Kumari Puja, honouring a young girl as the Goddess.
Navami: the last full day
Bhog queues are long, the evening arati is at its most energetic, and dhunuchi naach competitions fill the pandals. Everyone tries to squeeze in the pandals they haven't seen yet.
Dashami: goodbye, until next year
Married women offer sweets and sindoor to the Goddess in boron, then smear sindoor on each other in sindoor khela. The idol is taken for bisarjan (immersion) with the dhak playing and the cry of "asche bochor abar hobe" (it will happen again next year). Then comes Bijoya: touching elders' feet, hugs and sweets that go on for days.