Durga Puja 2026: The Complete Day-by-Day Schedule
Every year around this time, I get asked some version of the same question: when exactly is Durga Puja this year, and what actually happens on each day? The dates shift annually because the festival follows the Hindu lunisolar calendar, not the Gregorian one, so last year’s dates won’t help you plan this year’s trip. Here’s the full 2026 schedule, and what each day genuinely involves.
QUICK ANSWER:
Durga Puja 2026 runs from Mahalaya on 10 October through Vijaya Dashami, with the main public celebrations beginning at Shashthi on 16 October. Maha Ashtami, the festival’s most significant day, falls on 19 October. Navami and Dashami fall on either 20 or 21 October depending on the panchang consulted — a minor, well-documented annual variation worth confirming locally closer to the date.
What Is the Full 2026 Durga Puja Schedule?
| Day | 2026 Date | What It Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mahalaya | 10 October (Sat) | End of Pitru Paksha, beginning of Devi Paksha |
| Shashthi | 16 October (Fri) | Formal start of Puja; the Bodhon ritual unveils the goddess |
| Saptami | 17–18 October | Full worship begins; the Nabapatrika Snan ritual |
| Maha Ashtami | 19 October (Mon) | The most spiritually significant day; Kumari Puja, Pushpanjali |
| Maha Navami | 19–20 October | Sandhi Puja at the Ashtami-Navami junction |
| Vijaya Dashami | 20–21 October | Idol immersion; the festival concludes |
What Happens on Mahalaya?
Mahalaya isn’t technically a Puja day itself, but it’s when the festive mood genuinely begins. Families wake before dawn for the Chandi Path recitation, and many visit the riverbank to make offerings to their ancestors. It marks the transition from Pitru Paksha, the fortnight honouring ancestors, into Devi Paksha, the fortnight of the goddess.
Why Is Maha Ashtami the Most Important Day?
Ashtami carries the festival’s spiritual weight. Devotees offer Pushpanjali, often on an empty stomach, and many pandals hold Kumari Puja, worshipping a young girl as a living form of the goddess — a tradition famously observed at Belur Math. The exact junction between Ashtami and Navami is marked by Sandhi Puja, considered one of the most powerful moments of the entire festival.
What Marks the End of the Festival?
Vijaya Dashami closes the celebrations with the immersion of the idols, a moment that carries genuine emotional weight even for those who’ve seen it many times — the goddess, ceremonially welcomed at Shashthi, is bid farewell as she’s carried to the river.
Where to Stay During Durga Puja on Park Street
If your Durga Puja trip is bringing you to Kolkata specifically to experience Park Street’s own celebrations, where you stay matters more during this week than almost any other time of year. The Astor Kolkata sits at 15 Shakespeare Sarani, inside the same Park Street cluster as much of the city’s Puja energy, and it’s genuinely one of the best heritage hotels in Kolkata for this particular week — a 1905 building restored in 2012, offering a different character from the newer hotels in Park Street area that don’t carry the same architectural history. It’s also genuinely a 4 star heritage hotel near Park Street and a luxury hotel in Park Street Kolkata, in the fuller sense of both words — not just a marketing label.
- Among the best boutique hotels in Kolkata, for guests who want a smaller, more personal property than the city’s larger heritage names
- A genuine heritage hotel near Park Street, within walking distance of much of the festival’s own energy, with some of the best heritage rooms in Calcutta given the building’s preserved 1905 architecture
- A hotel near US Consulate in Kolkata, relevant for anyone combining a Kolkata visit with consular business the same trip
- A short distance from Hotels near Nightingale Hospital Kolkata, on the same Shakespeare Sarani road, useful for anyone visiting during Puja week for a medical reason alongside the festival
- If your visit doubles as a family celebration, The Astor Kolkata is also among the established wedding hotels in Kolkata, with two dedicated event spaces on-site
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the exact dates for Durga Puja 2026?
Mahalaya falls on 10 October, Shashthi (the formal start) on 16 October, and Maha Ashtami, the most significant day, on 19 October. Navami and Dashami fall on 20 or 21 October depending on the panchang consulted.
Why do Durga Puja dates change every year?
The festival follows the Hindu lunisolar calendar, which doesn’t align neatly with the Gregorian calendar, so the exact dates shift annually.
What is Sandhi Puja?
A ritual performed at the precise junction between Ashtami and Navami, widely considered one of the most spiritually powerful moments of the entire festival.
Is there a good heritage hotel near Park Street for Durga Puja?
Yes — The Astor, a 1905 heritage building on Shakespeare Sarani, sits inside the Park Street area itself, within reach of much of the festival’s activity.
Ready to Book Your Durga Puja Stay? Reserve Directly at The Astor →
The Astor sits inside Park Street’s own festival energy, in a genuine 1905 heritage building rather than a modern hotel using the neighbourhood’s name for search visibility. If you’re planning to be in Kolkata for Durga Puja 2026, book directly with The Astor to confirm your dates before the festival week fills up.
About the Author
This piece was written by the team at The Astor Kolkata, drawing on independently verified 2026 panchang data alongside our own experience hosting guests through Park Street’s Durga Puja season year after year.