Durga Puja Rituals 2026
Durga Puja follows a fixed ritual calendar across all of Bengal, and Durga Puja 2026 is no exception — from the Bodhon on Shashthi (16 October) that invites the goddess, through Pushpanjali, Kumari Puja and the 48-minute Sandhi Puja window on Ashtami, to Sindoor Khela and visarjan on Dashami (21 October). Every timing below comes from the verified Mirpur schedule data this site runs on.
Rituals day by day
Key rituals explained
On Shashthi evening the goddess is formally invoked (Bodhon), welcomed (Amantran) and the puja grounds consecrated (Adhibas).
On Saptami morning, nine plants bound as Nabapatrika — with the banana plant (Kolabou) at its heart — are bathed and carried into the pandal as an embodiment of the goddess.
Devotees offer flower petals with the Pushpanjali mantra during the morning pujas — one of the most attended rituals of the festival.
On Ashtami, a young girl is worshipped as the living embodiment of the goddess. Belur Math's public Kumari Puja starts at 09:00 AM on Monday 19 October 2026.
The 48 minutes at the junction of Ashtami and Navami — the most auspicious window of the puja. In 2026 it runs 10:28 AM – 11:16 AM on Monday 19 October.
On Dashami, married women smear each other with vermilion (sindoor) — the festive farewell to the goddess before visarjan.
How to use the timings
Each ritual day has its own page with the verified timings — bookmark this page for the overview. Timing windows like Sandhi Puja can differ by a few minutes between panjikas, so confirm locally before visiting a specific pandal or ritual. For pandal visits, see the Durga Puja 2026 guide.
Rituals — Frequently asked questions
What are the main Durga Puja rituals?
The key rituals are Bodhon-Amantran-Adhibas on Shashthi, Nabapatrika Prabesh (Kolabou) and Pushpanjali on Saptami, Kumari Puja and Sandhi Puja on Ashtami, Homa on Navami, and Sindoor Khela with visarjan on Dashami.
When is Sandhi Puja in 2026?
Sandhi Puja falls at the junction of Ashtami and Navami on Monday 19 October 2026. The auspicious 48 minutes run from 10:28 AM to 11:16 AM.
What are the Pushpanjali and Sindoor Khela timings?
Pushpanjali is held on the mornings of Saptami, Ashtami and Navami. Sindoor Khela happens on Vijaya Dashami — Wednesday 21 October 2026 — after Devi Boron, from 10:30 AM onwards, with visarjan starting in the evening.
What is Kumari Puja?
On Ashtami, a young girl is worshipped as the living embodiment of the goddess. Belur Math holds its public Kumari Puja at 09:00 AM on Monday 19 October 2026.