Laxmi Puja 2026 Date in West Bengal: Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, Rituals & History

When is Laxmi Puja 2026 in West Bengal?

Laxmi Puja 2026 in West Bengal will be celebrated on Sunday, October 25, 2026. In Bengal this festival is widely known as Kojagari Lakshmi Puja or Kojagori Lokkhi Puja, and it is observed on the full moon night of the Hindu month of Ashwin.

Unlike the Lakshmi Puja performed during Diwali in many parts of India, Bengali households traditionally worship Goddess Lakshmi a few days after Durga Puja, on Kojagari Purnima.

The night is associated with prosperity, harvest, household well-being and the traditional belief that Goddess Lakshmi visits homes to bless those who remain awake.

Kojagari Lakshmi Puja 2026 will be observed on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in West Bengal.

The Purnima tithi begins on October 25 and continues into the morning of October 26. One Kolkata-based Panjika calculation gives the Purnima period as approximately 11:57 AM on October 25 to 9:41 AM on October 26.

This is why you may see October 26 mentioned in some West Bengal holiday calendars. The West Bengal government’s 2026 holiday calendar lists October 26 as an additional holiday for Lakshmi Puja, even though the Bengali household puja is observed on the night of October 25.

Laxmi Puja 2026 at a glance

• Festival: Kojagari Lakshmi Puja
• Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026
• Bengali calendar: Ashwin Shukla Purnima
• Tithi: Ashwin Shukla Purnima — Purnima runs from late morning on October 25 into the morning of October 26
• Location: West Bengal, especially Bengali households
• Also known as: Kojagari Puja, Kojagori Lokkhi Puja, Bengali Lakshmi Puja
• West Bengal government holiday: Monday, October 26, 2026
• Main focus: Goddess Lakshmi, prosperity, household well-being and abundance

The exact ritual timing can vary according to the Panjika followed by a family, so devotees should follow their local or family Panjika for the puja muhurat.

What is Kojagari Lakshmi Puja?

Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is one of the most important Lakshmi festivals in Bengal.

The word Kojagari is associated with the Sanskrit phrase Ko Jagarati?, meaning “Who is awake?”

According to popular tradition, Goddess Lakshmi moves through the world on the full moon night and blesses those who remain awake and devoted.

This is why many Bengali families do not simply complete the puja and go to bed. Traditionally the night is associated with jagarana, or staying awake.

Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is therefore both a religious ceremony and a family tradition that extends late into the night.

Why is Lakshmi Puja celebrated after Durga Puja in Bengal?

This is one of the biggest differences between Bengali Lakshmi Puja and the Lakshmi worship associated with Diwali in northern and western India.

In Bengal, Kojagari Lakshmi Puja takes place on the full moon after Durga Puja.

In 2026 Durga Puja concludes with Vijaya Dashami on October 21 — the full season is on our Durga Puja 2026 dates page — while Kojagari Lakshmi Puja follows on October 25.

The festival therefore becomes a continuation of the autumn festive season.

After several days of Durga Puja celebrations, Bengali households clean and decorate their homes again for Lakshmi Puja and prepare traditional offerings for the goddess.

Who is Goddess Lakshmi?

Goddess Lakshmi is traditionally regarded as the goddess of wealth, prosperity, fortune and abundance.

In Bengali households, however, Lakshmi is not understood only in terms of financial wealth. Her blessings are associated with:

• Food and grain
• Prosperity
• Household peace
• Good fortune
• Agricultural abundance
• Family well-being
• Cleanliness and order
• A prosperous year ahead

This is why Kojagari Lakshmi Puja has historically had a strong connection with the household and the agricultural cycle.

The mythology behind Kojagari Lakshmi Puja

Several stories and traditions are associated with Kojagari Lakshmi Puja.

One of the most popular beliefs centres on Goddess Lakshmi’s nighttime journey.

It is traditionally believed that on Kojagari Purnima, Lakshmi asks:

“Who is awake?”

Those who remain awake in devotion are believed to receive her blessings.

The idea of staying awake gives the festival its name, and also explains the tradition of Kojagari jagaran.

The story of the poor devotee

Regional versions of the Kojagari story also tell of a poor devotee or household that receives Goddess Lakshmi’s blessings after following the proper observances.

Although details vary between texts and regional traditions, the underlying message remains consistent: sincere devotion, discipline and respect for Lakshmi are associated with prosperity.

The stories are less about wealth appearing magically and more about the values traditionally connected with Lakshmi — devotion, cleanliness, generosity, discipline and responsible household life.

How is Laxmi Puja celebrated in West Bengal?

Bengali Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is primarily a household festival.

Unlike Durga Puja, where thousands of people visit large public pandals, Lakshmi Puja is often celebrated inside homes. For how the pandal season works, see our Kolkata Durga Puja guide.

A typical Bengali household may follow several traditions.

1. Cleaning the house

The home is thoroughly cleaned before the puja.

Cleanliness is particularly important because Lakshmi is traditionally believed to favour clean, well-maintained homes.

Many families complete their cleaning during the day and prepare the puja area before evening.

2. Drawing Lakshmi’s feet

One of the most recognisable Bengali Lakshmi Puja traditions is drawing Lakshmi’s footprints.

Using rice paste, families create small footprints leading from the entrance towards the puja area. The footprints symbolically represent Goddess Lakshmi entering the home.

3. Drawing alpona

Alpona is an essential part of traditional Bengali Lakshmi Puja.

White rice-paste designs are drawn on the floor around the puja area and entrance. Common designs include:

• Lakshmi’s feet
• Lotus flowers
• Conch shells
• Rice grains
• Circular motifs
• Geometric patterns
• Traditional Bengali decorative designs

The alpona is both decorative and symbolic.

4. Installing Lakshmi

Families worship Lakshmi in different forms.

Some use a traditional Lakshmi sara, a painted terracotta representation of the goddess. Others use a clay idol or a framed image.

The exact form depends on family tradition and region.

5. Lighting lamps

Oil lamps and diyas are lit around the house and puja area.

The light symbolises prosperity and the removal of darkness.

Many households also place lamps near the entrance and around the alpona.

6. Offering food to Maa Lakshmi

Food offerings form a major part of Bengali Lakshmi Puja. Depending on the family, offerings may include:

• Coconut naru
• Til naru
• Muri
• Khoi
• Murki
• Chira
• Fruits
• Sweets
• Rice
• Milk-based preparations
• Khichuri and other bhog items

Traditional offerings vary considerably from one family to another.

What is Lakshmi Sara?

The Lakshmi sara is one of the most distinctive features of traditional Bengali Lakshmi Puja.

It is a painted terracotta plate or panel depicting Goddess Lakshmi and other religious motifs.

The style of the sara varies according to region and family tradition. Some are richly painted with traditional Bengali imagery, while others follow simpler designs.

For generations, Lakshmi sara has been closely associated with household Lakshmi Puja in Bengal.

What is Lakshmi Panchali?

Lakshmi Panchali is a traditional Bengali devotional text associated with Lakshmi worship.

During Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, many Bengali families read the Lakshmi Panchali as part of their household observance.

The stories emphasise devotion to Lakshmi and the values associated with prosperity, generosity and a well-managed household.

For many families, reading the Panchali is as important as the visual rituals of alpona, lamps and offerings.

Why do Bengalis stay awake on Kojagari night?

The tradition comes from the popular interpretation of Kojagari as “Who is awake?”

According to the belief, Goddess Lakshmi visits homes during the night and asks who is awake. Families therefore traditionally remain awake after completing the evening puja.

Some spend the night talking with family members, playing traditional games, reading religious texts or simply enjoying the full moon.

The practice is known as jagarana.

Why is Kojagari Lakshmi Puja associated with the full moon?

Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is observed on Ashwin Shukla Purnima, the full moon of the bright fortnight of Ashwin.

The bright autumn full moon is an important visual feature of the festival.

The full moon night, lamps, white alpona designs and the quiet atmosphere after Durga Puja give Kojagari Lakshmi Puja a character very different from the large-scale celebrations of Durga Puja.

Laxmi Puja 2026 in Kolkata

For Kolkata and much of West Bengal, October 25, 2026 will be the main night for Kojagari Lakshmi Puja.

The city will still be carrying the atmosphere of the recently concluded Durga Puja season. However, the character changes significantly.

Instead of crowded pandals, processions and large public events, Kolkata’s Bengali neighbourhoods and homes turn towards a quieter celebration centred around:

• Lakshmi sara
• Alpona
• Diyas
• Lakshmi footprints
• Panchali
• Family gatherings
• Traditional Bengali food
• Late-night jagarana

What should you prepare for Laxmi Puja 2026?

Families following the traditional Bengali ceremony may prepare:

Puja items

• Lakshmi sara or idol
• Rice
• Flowers
• Durba grass
• Sandalwood
• Kumkum or sindoor
• Incense
• Diyas
• Ghee or oil
• Fruits
• Betel leaves and areca nuts
• Coconut
• Water
• Puja utensils

Traditional food offerings

Depending on family tradition:

• Narkel naru
• Til naru
• Chira
• Muri
• Khoi
• Murki
• Fruits
• Sweets
• Khichuri bhog
• Seasonal fruits and other homemade preparations

There is no single universal list of offerings. Bengali Lakshmi Puja traditions can differ substantially between families.

Laxmi Puja alpona: why is it important?

Alpona is much more than decoration during Lakshmi Puja.

The patterns create a sacred space for the ceremony, while the footprints symbolically show Lakshmi entering the household.

The traditional white rice-paste designs also connect the festival with Bengal’s artistic and agricultural heritage.

For many Bengali families, making the alpona is itself an important part of the festival.

Kojagari Lakshmi Puja and Bengal’s agricultural tradition

Lakshmi has traditionally been associated with grain, food and agricultural prosperity.

This connection is particularly significant in Bengal, where the autumn harvest season historically shaped rural life.

The imagery of rice, grain and abundance found in Bengali Lakshmi Puja reflects this agricultural background.

The goddess is therefore not simply associated with money. Traditionally, prosperity means having enough food, a stable household and a successful harvest.

How is Lakshmi Puja different from Diwali Lakshmi Puja?

Both festivals worship Goddess Lakshmi, but they are not the same celebration.

The two traditions share the worship of Lakshmi but have developed distinct regional customs.

Laxmi Puja 2026 date in West Bengal: why do some calendars say October 26?

This is an important point for anyone searching for Laxmi Puja 2026 date in West Bengal.

Some calendars and government holiday lists show October 26, 2026, while Bengali Panjika-based sources identify October 25 as the Kojagari Lakshmi Puja night.

The reason is the timing of the Purnima tithi.

According to one Kolkata-based Panjika calculation, Purnima begins at approximately 11:57 AM on October 25 and ends at approximately 9:41 AM on October 26.

The West Bengal government’s 2026 holiday calendar separately lists October 26 as an additional holiday for Lakshmi Puja.

Therefore, for a Bengali household planning the Kojagari Lakshmi Puja ceremony, October 25 is the key date, while October 26 appears in the official holiday calendar.

Families should follow the Panjika traditionally used by their household for the exact puja timing.

Laxmi Puja 2026: frequently asked questions

When is Laxmi Puja 2026 in West Bengal?

Kojagari Lakshmi Puja will be observed on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in West Bengal.

When is Lakshmi Puja 2026 in Kolkata?

In Kolkata, the Bengali Kojagari Lakshmi Puja falls on Sunday, October 25, 2026.

Is Laxmi Puja on October 25 or October 26 in 2026?

The Kojagari Lakshmi Puja night is October 25, while the West Bengal government calendar lists October 26 as an additional holiday for Lakshmi Puja. The difference comes from the Purnima tithi extending into October 26.

What is Kojagari Lakshmi Puja?

Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is the Bengali worship of Goddess Lakshmi on the full moon night of Ashwin. It is especially associated with prosperity, household well-being, alpona, Lakshmi sara and staying awake during the night.

Why is it called Kojagari?

The name is traditionally connected with the question “Ko Jagarati?”, meaning “Who is awake?” The belief that Lakshmi visits those who remain awake gives the festival its name and its tradition of nighttime jagarana.

What do Bengalis eat on Lakshmi Puja?

Food varies between families, but common offerings include narkel naru, til naru, chira, muri, khoi, murki, fruits, sweets and bhog preparations.

Do Bengalis celebrate Lakshmi Puja during Diwali?

Bengali households traditionally celebrate Kojagari Lakshmi Puja on the autumn full moon after Durga Puja. This is separate from the Lakshmi Puja performed during Diwali in many other parts of India.

What is Lakshmi Sara?

Lakshmi sara is a traditional Bengali painted terracotta representation of Goddess Lakshmi used for household worship, particularly during Kojagari Lakshmi Puja.

Laxmi Puja 2026: a quieter celebration after Durga Puja

Durga Puja may be Bengal’s biggest festival, but Kojagari Lakshmi Puja has a very different character.

There are no enormous pandals to visit and no need to move through crowded streets. Instead, the celebration moves indoors.

• A freshly cleaned home
• White alpona on the floor
• Tiny Lakshmi footprints at the entrance
• A traditional Lakshmi sara
• Oil lamps glowing into the night
• The reading of Lakshmi Panchali
• Naru, muri, khoi and other offerings
• A family staying awake beneath the autumn full moon

For generations, these simple traditions have given Kojagari Lakshmi Puja a special place in Bengali life.

In 2026, that tradition continues on Sunday, October 25, bringing the Bengali autumn festival season from the grandeur of Durga Puja into the quieter, more intimate celebration of Maa Lakshmi.