Durga Puja 2026 Date, Calendar, Mahalaya, Saptami, Navami Dates

Durga Puja 2026 starts with Mahalaya on 10 October 2026 on Saturday and continues through Shashthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, and ends on 21 October 2026 on Vijayadashmi. Check the official Durga Puja 2026 calendar in this article.

Durga Puja 2026

Durga Puja 2026 is the biggest festival of Kolkata, West Bengal. Durga Puja is the Grand festival devoted to the worship of Maa Durga, the divine feminine energy, also known as ‘Shakti’. The festival celebrates her victory over the demon King Mahishasur. It is a 10-day-long festival that starts from Mahalaya on 10 October 2026, followed by ghatsthapna (Kalash sthapna) on 11 October 2026. The last day of Durga Puja is on 21 October 2026. The main celebration of Durga Puja takes place from Shashti (6th) to Vijayadashmi (10th).

These days are considered very auspicious and Powerful for spiritual practices. It is believed that during the nine days, goddess Durga comes to earth to meet her devotees. During the pooja, various rituals are performed; one of the holy rituals is Kanya Puja (the worship of a young girl), which is usually done on Ashtami and Navami. Read this article to know about Durga Puja date 2026, calendar, and daily schedules.

Durga Puja 2026 Date

Durga Puja is celebrated especially in West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Tripura, Jharkhand and Bihar. Every year, the auspicious festival is celebrated during the month of Ashwin (September-October) according to the Hindu lunar calendar. The Pooja starts with Mahalaya, which means the arrival of Maa Durga on earth.

This year, 2026 Durga Puja date is 10 October 2026, and the holy festival ends on Vijayadashmi on 21 October 2026. On this day, the Idol of Goddess Durga is immersed in rivers or lakes.

Durga Puja 2026 Significance

The Holy festival of Durga Puja 2026 symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Hindu believes during this time goddess Durga visits her home with goddess Saraswati, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikey. The first day of Pooja is Mahalaya, the celebration starts from the 6th day of Durga Puja, called Shashthi. The clay idol of Goddess Durga with ten arms and riding on lion is placed in aa temporary house called pandal are worship during 10 days. On Vijayadashmi, the clay idol is immersed in the local river as a symbol that the Goddess Durga returns to her home.

Mahalaya 2026 Date

• This year, Mahalaya 2026 will fall on 10 October 2026. Mahalaya, also known as Mahalaya Amavasya, marks the beginning of Durga Puja 2026.
• It is the end of Pitru Paksh and the beginning of Devi Paksh.
• Mahalaya is considered highly sacred day because it represent is the arrival of Maa Durga on earth.
• On this day from 4 Tuesday a.m. The Chandipath begins in the temple.

Durga Puja 2026 Shasthi Date

• The Durga Puja’s celebration start from shashthi (the sixth day). In the upcoming calendar, Shashti 2026 date is 16 October 2026.
• On this day god is Durga is welcomed to earth with the sacred ritual of Bodhan.
• The day is the first time when Idol is unveiling to the devotees.

Durga Puja 2026 Saptami date

• Durga Puja 2026 will be on 17 October 2026 and 18 October 2026.
• Durga Saptami is the most sacred day because it’s symbolise the official beginning of main rituals.
• The most sacred ritual performed on Saptami is the navaparika snan. It’s mean bathing of 9 sacred plants that symbolise the nine form of Goddess Durga.

Durga Ashtami 2026

Maha Ashtami is considered the holiest day and spiritually powerful day of Durga Puja 2026. The important ritual performed on Durga Ashtami is Pushpanjali, Kanya Puja and Sandhi Puja.

• Pushpanjali – on this day devotees fast and gather on temples or pandals to offer Pushpanjali (offer flower) to goddess.
• Kumari Puja aur Kanya Puja – this ritual involve worship of 9 young girls (the pre-pubertal girls), as a living form of Maa Durga (the divine feminine energy).
• Sandhi Puja – the pooja performed at sacred movement between the last 24 minute of Ashtami Tithi and first 24 minutes of Navmi Tithi.

Also, Check
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Durga Puja 2026 Navami Date

• The maha navami is the last day of worship before the farewell.
• On this day mahaarti are performed to seek the goddess’s blessing.
• Durga Navami is observed on 20 October 2026 on Tuesday.

Vijaydashmi 2026

• The Day celebrate Goddess Durga victory over Mahishasur and symbolise the Trump of good over evil.
• On this day married women place Sindhu khela.
• Idol immersion – after the final prayer and aarti, the idol of Goddess Durga is taken for Visarjan in local river.

FAQs on Durga Puja 2026