Durga Puja

Durga Puja (Sanskrit: दुर्गापूजा Durgāpūjā, Bengali: দুর্গাপূজা Durgāpūjā) is a large Hindu festival honouring goddess Durga, the consort of Shiva. It is celebrated every year in Bangladesh and India between September and October. It is the biggest event of Hindus in Bengal, and Kolkata takes on an almost carnival-like ambience. The festival has been listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since December 2021.

According to Hindu texts, goddess Durga (दुर्गा / দুর্গা Durgā) won a battle against the shape-shifting demon Mahishasura (महिषासुर Mahishāsura, মহিষাসুর Mohishāsur). Durga Puja celebrates this mythological event as the victory of good over evil. It combines Hindu rituals with tourism and is celebrated both indoors and outdoors. A temporary structure is built for outdoor celebrations, commonly known as 'pandals' (puhn-DAHL, প্যান্ডেল Pyānḍel) or 'mandaps' (MUHN-duhp, মণ্ডপ Moṇḍop).

The main idol worshipped in Durga Puja venues generally consists of five deities, the demon Mahishasura and Durga's animal lion. From left to right, the five deities are:

• Ganesha (गणेश Gaṇesha, গণেশ Goṇesh) — god of good beginnings
• Lakshmi (लक्ष्मी Lakshmī, লক্ষ্মী Lokhymī) — goddess of wealth and prosperity
• Durga (दुर्गा / দুর্গা Durgā) — main deity
• Saraswati (सरस्वती Sarasvatī, সরস্বতী Soroswotī) — goddess of knowledge and music
• Kartikeya (कार्त्तिकेय Kārttikeya, কার্তিক Kārtik) — god of war, also known as Murugan

Durga Puja is known by different names within Bengal and India, including Durgotsava / Durgōtsob (Festival of Durga), Shāradotsava / Shārodōtsob (Festival of Autumn) and also Māyer Pūjā (Worship of Mother [Durga]). The word pūjā is often replaced with pujō (পুজো) in the Kolkata dialect of Bengali. This makes the name of the festival Durgāpujō or Duggāpujō. Besides, the entire Durga Puja holiday period is often called just Pujō.

The name Durga first appears in the Vedas, especially the Rigveda and the Atharvaveda. Manuscripts from the 14th century have guidelines for Durga Puja and the aristocrats have been sponsoring the festivals since at least the 16th century. The Sabarna Roy Chowdhury family's Durga Puja is considered the oldest in Kolkata, who have been celebrating Durga Puja since 1610 in their ancestral home at Barisha. Raja Naba Krishna Deb started Durga Puja in the city's Sovabazar Rajbari in 1757, after the British victory in the Battle of Plassey. During the British Raj, Durga Puja became a major festival in eastern South Asia.

Over the years, Durga Puja has morphed into an inseparable part of the Bengali culture, with Kolkata witnessing a surge in the number of theme-based pujas. The themes range from various artistic ideas, cultural traditions, famous monuments around the world and even biographies of famous personalities.

From 2016 to 2026, Kolkata organised the Durga Puja Carnival before the immersion of puja idols on Indira Gandhi Sarani (Red Road) and Rani Rashmoni Road. It was a public exhibition of Durga Puja idols by different puja organisers after leaving the respective venues. The exhibition was discontinued in 2026 amid criticisms.

Bonedi (বনেদি) refers to the family organisation of Durga Puja and other Hindu festivals, while Barowari (বারোয়ারি Bārōyāri) refers to the public organisation of such festivals. Generally, Bonedi festivals allow the general public to worship and the arrangements are taken care of by the family who takes the initiative and spends money on it. On the other hand, Barowari festivals are arranged by clubs, societies or other local organisations independent of certain families. Barowari Puja celebrations often label themselves as "Sarbojanin" (সর্বজনীন Sorbojonīn or সার্বজনীন Sārbojonīn) instead of "Barowari".

In the late 18th century, several men in Guptipara, Hooghly were stopped from participating in a household Durga Puja. Seven of them formed a committee and organised the first Barowari Durga Puja. In 1910, Bhowanipore Sanatan Dharmatsahini Sabha organised the first Barowari Durga Puja in Kolkata.

Outside Bengal, Durga is worshipped as part of the nine-day celebration of Navaratri, which is celebrated by dancing to devotional songs and religious observances like fasts extended for nine nights.

Durga Puja is celebrated in the month of Āshvin, according to the Hindu calendar, which corresponds to September and October in the Gregorian calendar. It starts at Mahālayā (Great Abode) and ends at Vijayadashamī (Victorious Tenth Day). The days between these two ends are named Prathamā (First Day), Dvitīyā (Second Day), Tritīyā (Third Day), Chaturthī (Fourth Day), Panchamī (Fifth Day), Shashṭhī (Sixth Day), Saptamī (Seventh Day), Ashṭamī (Eighth Day) and Navamī (Ninth Day). The last three days are also prefixed with mahā, meaning "great".

In general, the pandals are inaugurated on Shashṭhī and the idols are sent to a waterbody to immerse them on Vijayadashamī. However, due to the overcrowding in the last five days of Durga Puja, some pandals are inaugurated on Mahālayā instead of Shashṭhī and the idols are often immersed at days after Vijayadashamī. For travellers, arriving in Kolkata days in advance of Mahālayā is the best option to visit the Durga Puja venues.

During Saptamī to Navamī, Durga is revered along with Ganesha, Kartikeya, Lakshmi and Sarasvati. This is when the scriptures are recited and the legends of Durga in Devī Māhātmyam are retold.

Mahālayā is the last day of Pitri Paksha (Fortnight of the Paternal Ancestors), a two-week period when Hindus perform death rites like Shrāddha or Tarpaṇa by offering water and food to their dead ancestors. This is also the day when goddess Durga is believed to have arrived in the subcontinent from her marital home at Mount Kailash, leading to the beginning of Devī Paksha (Fortnight of the Goddess).

People wake up early in the morning to recite hymns from Devī Māhātmyam (Glory of the Goddess), often called Choṇḍīpāṭh in Bengali. This recounts goddess Durga’s birth and eventual triumph over the demon king Mahishasura. Passive observers would rather listen to an old recording of the recitations by Birendra Krishna Bhadra and Pankaj Kumar Mullick as part of a two-hour-long All India Radio programme of the 1950s. In addition, dramas portraying the legend of Durga slaying Mahishasura are televised.

Prathamā is the first day of Devī Paksha, when people pray to goddess Sarasvati in the evening. It is also marked with Chokhyudān (Eye Donation), when the eyes are painted on Durga idols, beinging them to a lifelike appearance.

On Shashṭhī (Sixth Day), devotees welcome goddess Durga and the pandals are officially inaugurated. The rituals performed include:

• Bodhana — This includes two rites to awaken and welcome the goddess to be a guest. At first, the amorphous part of the goddess is consecrated into a ghaṭa, which is called ghaṭasthāpana. Then, the visible part is consecrated into the idol, which is called prāṇapratishṭhā.
• Adhivāsa — Anointing ritual wherein symbolic offerings are made to Durga, with each item representing a remembrance of subtle forms of her.

Saptamī (Seventh Day) is marked by a morning bathing ritual called Navapatrikā Snāna (Bathing of Nine Leaves). This is when a sacred combination of nine plants are bathed with holy water, symbolising either the consort of Ganesha, or in an alternative theory, the goddess Durga herself. In many cases, the ritual is replaced with the simpler Kolābou Snān (Bathing of the Banana Wife), where a banana tree is wrapped like a bride for bathing.

Ashṭamī (Eighth Day) is probably the most important day of Durga Puja, beginning with elaborate flower offerings (pushpānjali). The midnight of Ashṭamī is considered to be the turning point when Durgā engages in a fierce battle against Mahishāsura and gets attacked by the demons Chaṇḍa and Muṇḍa. This is when her third eye emerges and she slays those demons, which is marked by Sandhipūjā, colloquially called Khyān. This is a 48-minute-long ritual, spanning the last 24 minutes of Ashṭamī and the first 24 minutes of Navamī. This involves offering 108 lotuses, lighting 108 lamps, and in some regions, sacrificing an animal like a goat or buffalo. The goddess is then offered food (bhoga) to congratulate the victory.

Navamī (Ninth Day) is marked by fire oblation rituals (homa) and food offerings. Some places also perform Kumārī Pūjā (Virgin Worship) on this day, most notably the Belur Math near Kolkata.

Vijayadashamī is the last day of Durga Puja, often called Bijoyā for short. It commemorates goddess Durga's victory against Mahishasura to restore and protect dharma, and her return to her marital home with Shiva in Mount Kailash.

This is when married women enjoy the Sindoor Khela (সিঁদুর খেলা Sindur Khelā), where one woman puts sindoor or vermilion over another's cheek. Unmarried women and LGBT people also enjoy this celebration, although some conservative Hindus may view their participation negatively. The participants put sindoor on the cheeks of Durga Puja idols as well.

Later on, the idols are brought out of the venues and transported to nearby water bodies, where they will be immersed. The immersion ceremony is called visarjana or bisorjon. During the immersion ceremony, people chant āschhe bochhor ābār hobe (আসছে বছর আবার হবে) in Bengali, which loosely means "another year, another [Durga Puja]".

Durga Puja in mainly associated with the Bengal region, which includes Bangladesh and West Bengal. Other than that, it is celebrated in the Indian states of Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Tripura, as well as the Bengali-speaking minorities in other parts of India, notably Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Thanks to the worldwide Bengali and othern Indian diasporas, Durga Puja has spread beyond South Asia, especially in Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.

• 23.72888990.3944441 Dhaka — the main Durga Puja celebration in Bangladesh.
• 22.5888.3294442 Howrah — although not very popular compared to its twin Kolkata, it's known for the Kumari Puja rituals in the Belur Math.
• 22.97588.4344443 Kalyani — often challenges the Kolkata pandals. The ITI pandal is the main attraction here.
• 22.567588.374 Kolkata — the biggest Durga Puja celebration by far.

• 23.83333391.2666675 Agartala — the main Durga Puja celebration in Tripura.
• 20.4585.8666676 Cuttack (Kataka) —
• 28.66666777.2166677 Delhi — observed by Delhi Durga Puja Samiti at Kashmere Gate, as well as Chittaranjan Park, a Bengali enclave.
• 25.6185.1413898 Patna —
• 25.31888983.0127789 Varanasi — observed at Bangali Tola, a Bengali enclave.

• -251331 Australia — observes both Bengali and Odia-style Durga Pujas.
• -14-532 Brazil — observed by the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center at São Paulo.
• 56-1093 Canada —
• 51104 Germany — observed in the Rhine-Ruhr region.
• -29245 South Africa — observed at Johannesburg.
• 61156 Sweden — observed at Stockholm and Helsingborg.
• 54.6-27 United Kingdom —
• 39.828175-98.57958 United States —

Foreign travellers may have to obtain a visa to enter India or Bangladesh, see India#Get in and Bangladesh#Get in for details.

For Indian travellers outside West Bengal, there are various ways to enter the state, see West Bengal#Get in for details. However, the ticket prices of public transport can be very high, owing to increased demand during this season, so be sure to check the public transport providers.

Walking is often the best option to visit the Durga Puja venues in cities like Kolkata, especially as the streets can be too congested for vehicles larger than motorcycles and the police may not permit any vehicles on certain streets. You can visit local attractions and eateries while walking.

Two-wheelers, including bicycles and motorcycles, are useful for longer distances between venues. They are often permitted on certain congested streets while restricting larger vehicles.

Car is useful for very long distances and wide roads but beware of narrow or congested streets while using your car to visit the Durga Puja venues.

Rickshaws, including cycle rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and electric rickshaws, are cheaper than cars and they are very useful to arrive as close to the venues as possible. However, the police may not permit certain types of rickshaws on certain streets and highways within a city, so you can use a combination of walking and taking rickshaws to cross the restricted thoroughfares.

• Photography — Capture whatever seems meaningful to you in this festival, not just pandals or idols. Meaningful moments include crowds entering or leaving the venues, people beating ḍhāks (ঢাক, a drum-like instrument), priests worshipping Durga, people enjoying the dhunuchi (ধুনুচি) dance etc.
• Sindoor Khela — If you're a woman, especially a married one, you can enjoy Sindoor Khela (সিঁদুর খেলা Sindur Khelā) with other women. Here, you have to give sindoor (also called vermilion) to another woman's cheek. Unmarried women and LGBT people can also enjoy this celebration with caution.

Durga Puja is a popular shopping season in Bengal, where people buy gifts for their friends and close relatives. This includes new clothes that people wear to go out during pandal-hopping, often called pūjār pōshāk.

Luchi with lentils and potato curry is a popular dish served during Durga Puja. A sweet version served during this period is podmo luchi (lotus luchi), which is stuffed with dried fruits and soft cheese.

Enjoy the vibrant nightlife during Durga Puja. People dance on the street while playing DJ music. The dhunuchi dance is worth watching, where people dance with one or more dhunuchis (ধুনুচি), incense burners with a flared shape. Some may consume alcohol at night, but it is better to avoid it as there's a social stigma associated with alcohol. Plus liquor shops are closed during Ashṭamī in West Bengal. Instead, you can try soft drinks, as they are widely available in local stalls.

Accommodations get booked up during Durga Puja, so book hotels in advance. If you're prioritising certain venues, you can look for accommodations close to those venues. If you're going to explore different venues across cities, budget guesthouses are a good option to save money for transport and eating. If money is no object, you may opt for more luxurious options. See the respective city articles for more details on accommodations.

Many venues get crowded during Durga Puja, and the best one attracts the most, so visit them as early as possible, especially in the morning and early evening. However, you may miss the chance of puja lighting and light shows at night, something many visitors enjoy.

Beware of pickpockets and street beggars at night, as they flock around popular venues. Carry enough cash for transport and food. You can also opt for digital payment (UPI in India) and go cashless, although some may not accept digital payments, so you still have to carry some cash outside.

The police officers will be there for help, and if you are in West Bengal, civic volunteers may also help you. Keep an eye on laws and regulations related to Durga Puja before visiting the venues.

Since Durga Puja is a religious celebration, wearing conservative clothes is often recommended. For women, wearing a sari or churidar is preferred over Western dresses. Avoid wearing shoes and torn clothes inside pandals.

Don't try to vandalise the pandals, as it is also disrespectful. They are works of art, and trying to vandalise them undermines the craftsmanship of puja artisans. Some puja organisers charge a hefty fine for even touching their pandals.

Other than Durga Puja, the following festivals arew celebrated as part of the Bengali Hindu culture, centred around Hindu goddesses:

• Kali Puja (কালীপূজা Kālīpūjā) — Centred around goddess Kali, this festival is celebrated during the days of Diwali (দীপাবলি Dīpāboli). You can enjoy the vibrant Kali temples in Bangladesh and West Bengal amidst the dazzling lights and fireworks of Diwali.
• Jagaddhatri Puja (জগদ্ধাত্রী পূজা Jogoddhātrī Pūjā) — It is celebrated a month after Durga Puja in West Bengal, mostly in Hooghly and Nadia districts. Chandannagar and Krishnanagar host the most famous celebrations of this festival.