Durga Puja dates 2026 follow the Hindu lunar calendar, so the festival falls in the month of Ashwin, usually in September or October. The exact 2026 dates are not fixed in this guide and should be confirmed with a current panchang or the festival committees before you book. Kolkata is the main centre.

If you are planning a trip to India around the autumn festival season, the first question is usually simple: when does it happen? The honest answer is that Durga Puja moves each year, so the dates need checking close to your travel. Once you understand why they shift, planning becomes much calmer.

Durga Puja Dates 2026 and the Lunar Calendar

Durga Puja honours the goddess Durga, who is worshipped as a powerful protector and a symbol of victory over evil. Many visitors notice that its theme is close to Navratri, the nine nights of worship dedicated to the goddess that are observed across much of India. Both festivals are timed to the same lunar period in the Hindu month of Ashwin.

The Hindu calendar follows the moon, not the solar calendar used for most international planning. Because of this, the festival lands on different Gregorian dates each year. The main days usually fall in September or October, but the precise days depend on the lunar reckoning for that particular year. Some years also carry an extra lunar month, known as Adhik Maas, which shifts the rest of the calendar, so it is worth checking that detail as well.

For 2026, the point to hold on to is this: the dates must be confirmed, not assumed. Planning a fixed itinerary around a date you have guessed from last year is the most common mistake. Our Durga Puja festival guide explains how the festival is timed and what to expect when it arrives.

How to Confirm the Dates and Daily Timings

Start with a current panchang, the traditional Hindu almanac, which lists the tithis, or lunar days, and the auspicious timings for each day. Many panchangs are available in print and online, and local priests and temple offices in Kolkata can also help you read them. Check the year and the regional edition, because timings can differ slightly across states.

The festival committees, known as puja committees, are the second source to check. Each neighbourhood committee sets its own opening hours for its pandal, and these can change from day to day. This means a single list of times for the whole city does not exist in a reliable form. Treat any published timing as provisional until the committee confirms it.

Before you lock in a fixed itinerary, build in flexibility. Keep your first and last days loose, and avoid planning a tight schedule that depends on a particular pandal being open at a particular hour. Confirm the schedule a few days before you travel, and again on the morning you plan to head out.

The Festival Step by Step and What Visitors Can Join

Durga Puja in Kolkata is largely a public celebration. Neighbourhoods build elaborate pandals, which are temporary structures that house the idols of Durga. Each pandal has its own design, and many are artistically ambitious, with themes that range from traditional craft to contemporary subjects. Residents and visitors then move from pandal to pandal over the main days, a practice locals call pandal hopping.

The celebration builds across several days, with worship, music and gatherings at each pandal. Families often dress up and visit many pandals in one evening, so the streets fill up as the festival goes on. The main days end with the immersion of the idols in the Hooghly river, which is the closing stage of the festival and a moment of great emotion for devotees.

As a visitor, you can join the pandal visiting, admire the decorations and watch the public life of the festival. Watching the immersion from a respectful distance is the right approach. When it comes to worship itself, ask before you photograph anyone praying, and do not enter inner shrine areas unless you are clearly invited. A polite question, a smile and a quiet manner go a long way in Bengali neighbourhoods.

Where to Experience It and Why Kolkata Stands Out

Kolkata is the place to be for Durga Puja. The scale and artistic ambition of its pandals are a distinct cultural phenomenon, and they are different from the celebrations of Navratri in other parts of India. If you want the full experience of the festival, the city is where you will find the most pandals, the most visitors and the strongest sense of community.

It helps to plan by circuit rather than trying to see everything. North Kolkata has older neighbourhoods with its own character and long-established pandals. Central Kolkata is busy and dense, and it is easy to walk between several pandals in a single evening. South Kolkata tends to be more spacious, with a different rhythm and a strong local feel. Choose one or two circuits for each night, so you can spend time at each pandal rather than rushing past them.

For a helpful overview of the city's festival, see our Kolkata Durga Puja experience page. If you plan to continue your trip after the festival, the Golden Triangle Tour Package is a related option for travellers who want to move north to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

Crowds, Dress and Booking Ahead

The main nights are very crowded, and the streets around the best-known pandals can be packed for hours. Plan your route in advance, with a few breaks built in for water, food and rest. Agree a meeting point with your group in case you get separated, and carry a phone charger and a printed copy of your accommodation address.

Dress modestly. Covered shoulders and knees are the safest choice, especially when you are near temples and places of worship. Wear comfortable shoes with good grip, because you will be walking long distances and some riverside areas can be wet and uneven. Light clothing is sensible, but bring a layer for the evenings.

Book your accommodation early, and choose somewhere within easy reach of the pandal circuits you plan to visit. Demand rises sharply during the festival, and the better-located options fill first. If you are building a longer trip, an Experience My India Taj Mahal sunrise tour is one option for an Agra stop before or after Kolkata.

Other Festivals to Consider in 2026

If your trip is flexible, you may want to think about other observances in the same year. Chetra Navratri 2026 is a spring observance with a quieter pace than the autumn festival, and it offers a different window into the goddess-focused traditions of India. Our Chetra Navratri 2026 dates and puja timings guide covers the calendar and daily rituals.

Hanuman Jayanti 2026 is a regional festival whose date depends on the tithi rather than a fixed Gregorian day. It is worth checking the reckoning and fasting rules before you travel, since they vary by tradition. The Hanuman Jayanti 2026 date and puja timing guide explains how the date is worked out. Finally, check whether your travel dates overlap with any other festival before you finalise your plans. Crowds, transport and accommodation all change during major observances, and a little overlap can mean a very different trip from the one you imagined.

Frequently asked questions

When is Durga Puja in 2026?

Durga Puja usually falls in September or October, in the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin. The exact 2026 dates are not fixed in this guide, so confirm them with a current panchang or the festival committees before you book flights or accommodation.

Is Durga Puja the same as Navratri?

They share a lunar period and a goddess-focused theme, so they are closely related. However, Durga Puja in Bengal has its own traditions and is centred on Kolkata's pandals, which is why the celebration feels so distinct in the city.

Can international visitors join the celebrations?

Yes, visitors are welcome to join the pandal visiting and watch the immersion in the Hooghly river. Dress modestly, ask before photographing worshippers, and respect shrine areas. If you are unsure about a particular rule at a pandal, a polite question to the volunteers is the best way to find out.