Durga Puja 2026 Dates
Durga Puja 2026 runs from Maha Shashthi on Friday 16 October to Vijaya Dashami on Wednesday 21 October. The puja calendar below is the verified schedule this site runs on (Mirpur panjika data recorded in src/data/puja-schedule-2026.json) — the same dates shown across the app and every pandal page.
2026 calendar
- MahalayaSaturday, 10 October 2026
- Maha ShashthiFriday, Oct 16 2026
- Maha SaptamiSaturday, Oct 17 2026
- Maha AshtamiMonday, Oct 19 2026
- Sandhi PujaMonday, Oct 19 2026
- Maha NavamiTuesday, Oct 20 2026
- VijayadashamiWednesday, Oct 21 2026
Mahalaya 2026-10-10 marks the beginning of Devi Paksha, the goddess‘s fortnight — it is also the day the idols‘ eyes are painted (Chokkhu Daan), the traditional start of puja preparations. Ashtami and Sandhi Puja both fall on Monday 19 October because the Ashtami tithi transitions late; see the Ashtami page for the exact timings.
How the dates are decided
Durga Puja follows the Bengali (lunar) calendar, not the Gregorian one. Sharadiya Durga Puja — the autumn festival — is held in the bright fortnight (shukla paksha) of the month of Ashwin, with each ritual day tied to a tithi (lunar day). Because lunar days drift against the solar year, the Gregorian dates move a little every year.
The two most date-sensitive moments are Ashtami and Sandhi Puja: when the Ashtami tithi begins late, the community pujas observe Ashtami on the following day and the Sandhi Puja window shifts accordingly. In 2026 the Ashtami Puja must be wrapped up early due to the tithi transition, and the Sandhi Puja window is observed 10:28 AM – 11:16 AM on Monday 19 October. Small differences between regional panjikas are normal — always confirm locally before planning a specific ritual.
Plan around the dates
The Durga Puja 2026 guide is the seasonal hub with pandals, routes and transport. Ritual timings for every day are on the individual rituals pages, and this page stays as an evergreen reference — the festival dates will move in future years, but the structure and rituals stay the same.
Durga Puja 2026 dates — Frequently asked questions
When is Durga Puja 2026?
Durga Puja 2026 runs from Maha Shashthi on Friday 16 October to Vijaya Dashami on Wednesday 21 October. Mahalaya is on Saturday 10 October, and Ashtami — the peak day — falls on Monday 19 October.
When is Mahalaya 2026?
Mahalaya 2026 is on Saturday 10 October. It marks the beginning of Devi Paksha and is the day the artists paint the eyes (Chokkhu Daan) on the idols, starting the final puja preparations.
Why is Ashtami on Monday 19 October 2026?
Because the Ashtami tithi transitions late, community pujas observe Ashtami on Monday 19 October. The Ashtami Puja starts at 05:30 AM and must wrap up early, and the Sandhi Puja window falls 10:28 AM – 11:16 AM the same day.
Are these dates the same across West Bengal?
Yes — the festival days fall on the same tithis everywhere in Bengal. Individual panjikas can differ by minutes on timing windows like Sandhi Puja, so confirm locally for exact ritual times.
When is Sindoor Khela and visarjan in 2026?
On Vijaya Dashami, Wednesday 21 October 2026 — Devi Boron and Sindoor Khela start after 10:30 AM, and visarjan (idol immersion) runs from the evening.