Durga Puja 2026 Date — Monday, October 19, 2026
When is Durga Puja in 2026? Durga Puja 2026 falls on Monday, October 19, 2026.
Observance: Durga Ashtami (Maha Ashtami). City calendars may vary slightly by sunrise and amanta or purnimanta tradition — confirm with your local mandir.
Durga Puja 2026 — full list of dates
| Observance | Date & day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mahalaya (Sarva Pitru Amavasya) | Sat, 10 October 2026 | |
| Navratri begins — Ghatasthapana | Sun, 11 October 2026 | |
| Maha Ashtami | Mon, 19 October 2026 | Sandhi puja |
| Maha Navami | Tue, 20 October 2026 | |
| Vijaya Dashami — Durga visarjan | Wed, 21 October 2026 |
Why we celebrate
Day 8 — Mahagauri; Kumari puja and sandhi puja in Bengal.
How it is celebrated
Daily Devi puja, golu/kolu display in South India, garba/dandiya in Gujarat, Durga puja in Bengal. Fasting or sattvic diet through nine days.
Puja timing
Morning and evening puja; Ghatasthapana on Day 1 during Shubh muhurta. Sandhya arati each night.
Foods & offerings
Fasting foods: sabudana, kuttu, fruits, milk. South India: sundal prasadam daily. Bengal: bhog to Ma Durga.
Rituals
- Ghatasthapana (Day 1): establish kalash, invoke Durga, sow barley/jowar.
- Daily: lamp, Devi stotram, offer flowers and naivedyam.
- Color-coded dress optional per day; visit temples for alankaram darshan.
- Kanya puja (invite young girls as Devi) on Ashtami or Navami in many homes.
- Ayudha puja / Saraswati puja on Mahanavami in several regions.
- Vijayadashami: visarjan, sindoor khela, and new beginnings.
Durga Puja dates by year
| Year | Date & day |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Tue, 30 September 2025 |
| 2026 | Mon, 19 October 2026 |
| 2027 | Thu, 7 October 2027 |
| 2028 | Tue, 26 September 2028 |
| 2029 | Sun, 14 October 2029 |
Hindu festivals around Durga Puja 2026
- Dussehra 2026 date — Wed, 21 October 2026
- Sharad Purnima 2026 date — Mon, 26 October 2026
- Sharad Navratri 2026 date — Sun, 11 October 2026
- Mahalaya Amavasya 2026 date — Sat, 10 October 2026
- Karva Chauth 2026 date — Thu, 29 October 2026
- Dhanteras 2026 date — Sat, 7 November 2026
- Naraka Chaturdashi 2026 date — Sun, 8 November 2026
- Diwali 2026 date — Mon, 9 November 2026
- Govardhan Puja 2026 date — Tue, 10 November 2026
- Bhai Dooj 2026 date — Wed, 11 November 2026
- Anant Chaturdashi 2026 date — Fri, 25 September 2026
- Chhath Puja 2026 date — Sun, 15 November 2026
