The lights are lit, the dhak is ready, and the pandals are coming alive. Find accurate dates for 2024–2027, a live countdown to Maha Shashthi, Dhunuchi Naach videos, famous Kolkata pandals, Saptami timings, drawing ideas, and everything else you searched for.
Dhak beats, dhunuchi naach, pandal walks, sindoor khela and more. Click any video below to play it in the featured player.
Pick a video from the gallery belowIt will play right here
Eight hand-picked moments from the festival — from the first dhak beat of Mahalaya to the tearful goodbye of Visarjan.
Select a year for the full Shashthi-to-Dashami schedule.
| Day | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Maha Shashthi | October 9, 2024 | Wednesday |
| Maha Saptami | October 10, 2024 | Thursday |
| Maha Ashtami | October 11, 2024 | Friday |
| Maha Navami | October 12, 2024 | Saturday |
| Vijaya Dashami | October 13, 2024 | Sunday |
| Day | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Mahalaya | September 21, 2025 | Sunday |
| Maha Shashthi | September 28, 2025 | Sunday |
| Maha Saptami | September 29, 2025 | Monday |
| Maha Ashtami | September 30, 2025 | Tuesday |
| Maha Navami | October 1, 2025 | Wednesday |
| Vijaya Dashami | October 2, 2025 | Thursday |
| Day | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Mahalaya | October 10, 2026 | Saturday |
| Maha Shashthi | October 16, 2026 | Friday |
| Maha Saptami | October 17 & 18, 2026 | Saturday–Sunday |
| Maha Ashtami | October 19, 2026 | Monday |
| Maha Navami | October 20, 2026 | Tuesday |
| Vijaya Dashami | October 21, 2026 | Wednesday |
| Day | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Mahalaya | September 29, 2027 | Wednesday |
| Maha Shashthi | October 5, 2027 | Tuesday |
| Maha Saptami | October 6, 2027 | Wednesday |
| Maha Ashtami | October 7, 2027 | Thursday |
| Maha Navami | October 8 & 9, 2027 | Friday–Saturday |
| Vijaya Dashami | October 10, 2027 | Sunday |
Maha Saptami is the first full day of major puja rituals, beginning with the Nabapatrika Snan.
Monday, September 29, 2025. Nabapatrika Snan takes place early morning before sunrise.
October 17 & 18, 2026. The Saptami tithi spans two calendar days, observed across Saturday and Sunday.
Nine plants — including banana, turmeric, and pomegranate — are bathed, wrapped in a saree, and placed beside the idol.
The idol is infused with holy energy through mantras, marking the formal invocation of the goddess into the clay form.
Chaiti Durga Puja — also called Basanti Puja — is the springtime counterpart to the autumn festival.
Begins March 19, 2026 with Kalash Sthapana. The nine-day observance continues through March 27.
Chaiti Puja is believed to be the older form of the worship, still celebrated with devotion in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern UP.
Popular in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and parts of West Bengal, often with fairs and wrestling competitions.
Kolkata's pandals are open-air art installations. These consistently draw the biggest crowds.
One of the oldest pujas in the city, famous for its traditional, elegant idol.
A South Kolkata icon known for spectacular lightwork and creative themes.
Famous for jaw-dropping, larger-than-life installations.
A North Kolkata favourite known for towering, intricately crafted pandals.
Bold themes and immersive walk-through experiences.
Central Kolkata's crowd-puller with replicas of world landmarks.
An art-forward pandal that experiments with material, form, and concept.
Stunning use of light and shadow, like a contemporary art gallery.
Whether you're making a school poster or a greeting card, these steps keep it simple.
Draw a soft oval. Divide it lightly into three horizontal sections.
Two almond-shaped eyes and a vertical third eye above the brows.
Start with a wide base above the forehead and build upward in three or four layers.
Ten arms radiating outward, with the trishul, sword, and lotus as simple shapes.
A stylized lion beneath her feet — rounded body, mane, and tail.
Red saree, gold crown, bright weapons. Outline in a darker shade.
The questions people search for most about the festival and its dates.
Durga Puja 2026 runs from Maha Shashthi on October 16 to Vijaya Dashami on October 21. Mahalaya falls on October 10.
Use the live countdown at the top of this page. It counts down to Maha Shashthi on October 16, 2026.
Mahalaya October 10, Shashthi October 16, Saptami October 17 & 18, Ashtami October 19, Navami October 20, Vijaya Dashami October 21.
Mahalaya September 21, Shashthi September 28, Saptami September 29, Ashtami September 30, Navami October 1, Vijaya Dashami October 2.
Mahalaya September 29, Shashthi October 5, Saptami October 6, Ashtami October 7, Navami October 8 & 9, Vijaya Dashami October 10.
The springtime observance during Chaitra Navratri, beginning March 19, 2026.
Durga Puja follows the Hindu lunisolar calendar, shifting by roughly 10–12 days each year relative to the Gregorian calendar.
It celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura — the triumph of good over evil.