Durga Puja 2026: Dates, Sindoor Khela and What to Wear

Durga Puja 2026 runs from Maha Shashthi on Saturday 17 October to Bijoya Dashami on Wednesday 21 October, with Mahalaya opening the season on 10 October. If you are planning pandal visits, a pushpanjali, or your first sindoor khela, this guide covers the date of each day, what happens on it, what to wear, and how Soultheory bracelets fit in alongside your saree, panjabi and puja thali.

When is Durga Puja 2026?

Durga Puja 2026 is observed over five main days, from Shashthi on 17 October to Bijoya Dashami on 21 October. Bengali panjikas place each day by the tithi running at sunrise, which is why the Bengal schedule ends a day after North India's Dussehra.

Day	Date	What it marks
Mahalaya	Sat 10 Oct	Devi Paksha begins, Chandi path at dawn
Maha Shashthi	Sat 17 Oct	Bodhon, the awakening of the goddess
Maha Saptami	Sun 18 Oct	Navapatrika (Kola Bou) bath and installation
Maha Ashtami	Mon 19 Oct	Pushpanjali, Sandhi Puja around 10:28 to 11:16 AM IST
Maha Navami	Tue 20 Oct	Navami homa and bhog
Bijoya Dashami	Wed 21 Oct	Darpan visarjan, sindoor khela, immersion

Two notes before you plan. Shashthi tithi begins early on 16 October, so many pandals hold the Bodhon rites on Friday evening and open to visitors the same night. And North Indian calendars combine Ashtami and Navami on Monday and keep Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October, which we cover in our Dussehra guide. For kanya pujan and the Ashtami fast, see our Durga Ashtami guide. Your local puja committee follows its own panjika, so confirm the pushpanjali time with them.

What happens on each day of Durga Puja

Each of the five days has one central rite, and knowing it tells you when to be at the pandal. The countdown starts a week earlier on Mahalaya, when many Bengali homes wake before dawn for the Mahishasura Mardini recitation on the radio.

Maha Shashthi: Bodhon

In the evening the goddess is ritually awakened under a bel (wood apple) tree, followed by the Amantran (invitation) and Adhivas. The face of the idol is unveiled, and the first crowds of pandal hoppers arrive.

Maha Saptami: Navapatrika

At dawn nine plants tied together as the Navapatrika, often called Kola Bou, are bathed in the river or a pond, draped in a red-bordered saree and placed beside Lord Ganesha. The nine plants are traditionally believed to represent nine forms of the Devi.

Maha Ashtami: Pushpanjali and Sandhi Puja

This is the busiest morning of Durga Puja. Devotees fast until they offer flowers in the pushpanjali, often in their newest clothes. Sandhi Puja is held in the 48 minutes where Ashtami ends and Navami begins, when 108 lamps and 108 lotuses are offered to Devi Chamunda.

Maha Navami: Homa and bhog

Navami is the day of the homa (fire offering) and the large community bhog of khichuri, labra and payesh. Evenings are for cultural programmes and the last full round of pandal hopping.

Bijoya Dashami: Visarjan and sindoor khela

The priest performs darpan visarjan, a symbolic farewell where the goddess's reflection is seen in a mirror placed in a bowl of water. Married women then perform sindoor khela, the idol is carried for immersion, and families exchange "Shubho Bijoya" greetings with sweets.

Sindoor khela: what it is and how to join

Sindoor khela is the vermilion farewell on Bijoya Dashami, held after the darpan visarjan and before the idol leaves the pandal. Women first offer sindoor, sweets and paan to the goddess, then smear sindoor on each other's foreheads, cheeks and shakha-pola bangles.

The ritual is traditionally associated with married women and the wish for a long, happy married life. Many community pujas in Kolkata and beyond now welcome every woman who wishes to join, so ask the organisers if you are unsure. Practical points:

• Wear clothes you do not mind getting red, a white saree with a red border is the classic choice
• Carry a small pouch of your own sindoor if the pandal asks guests to bring it
• Keep wet wipes and a small towel in your bag
• Tie long hair back so the powder stays off it
• Remove porous stone bracelets or slip them into a pouch before the smearing starts
• Wipe any sindoor off metal and beads the same evening, before it sets

Sindoor and kumkum can stain light porous stones, so read our guide on haldi and kumkum on crystal bracelets before the day.

What to wear for Durga Puja, day by day

There is no fixed dress code, but Bengal has a well-loved rhythm of looks across the five days. Red, white and gold carry the festival, and they are traditionally associated with the strength and grace of Maa Durga.

• Shashthi: light cotton or tant saree, kurta or panjabi for the first evening out
• Saptami: handloom saree in a bright colour, or a dhoti with a silk panjabi
• Ashtami: your newest or finest outfit for pushpanjali, often a silk or Dhakai saree
• Navami: comfortable festive wear for bhog and late pandal hopping
• Dashami: white saree with a red border (lal paar sada) for sindoor khela
• Every day: flat, broken-in footwear, since pandal hopping means hours of walking

Bracelets sit easily with all of these. Red stones like carnelian and red jasper echo the lal paar border, and a rudraksha bracelet works with a panjabi or a saree alike. In crystal healing, red stones are traditionally believed to support courage and steady energy, which is why many people reach for them during the Devi festivals. Our Navratri colours guide maps a crystal to each of the nine days if you want a day-wise plan.

Pandal hopping checklist for Durga Puja

A good pandal night is mostly about planning for crowds, walking and late hours. Keep this list handy:

• Map five or six pandals per night by area, not by fame
• Go after midnight or early morning for the famous ones if you want shorter queues
• Carry water, a small snack and enough charge on your phone
• Keep UPI ready and some cash for food stalls and auto rides
• Wear a bracelet with a secure fit, crowds tug at loose strings
• Agree on a meeting point with your group in case you get separated
• Keep a light shawl for the walk home, October nights turn cool

UNESCO inscribed Durga Puja in Kolkata on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021, recognising the pandal art and community spirit that draw millions every year.

Durga Puja vs Navratri vs Dussehra

All three celebrate the Devi's victory over Mahishasura, but they are marked differently across India. According to the Durga Puja tradition, the goddess visits her parental home with her four children for these days and returns on Dashami.

Festival	Where it is biggest	Main days	Focus
Durga Puja	West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Tripura, Bihar	Shashthi to Dashami	Pandals, idol worship, sindoor khela
Navratri	Gujarat, North and West India	Nine nights	Fasting, garba, nine forms of Devi
Dussehra	North and South India	Tenth day	Ravan dahan, shami puja, Ayudha Puja

If you are in South India, the same days are Golu, Ayudha Puja and Vijayadashami, so one bracelet can travel with you across all three.

Recommended Soultheory bracelets for Durga Puja

These four pieces fit the festival look and the Devi theme of these days. Each one has a snug elastic fit for long pandal nights.

9 Mukhi Rudraksha Copper Bracelet

The nine-faced bead is traditionally associated with Maa Durga and the nine forms of Navadurga, which makes it the most fitting bead for Durga Puja. Read more in our 9 mukhi rudraksha guide, or see the 9 Mukhi Original Nepali Pure Copper Rudraksha Bracelet.

Red Carnelian Bracelet

Warm orange-red carnelian matches the red border of a festival saree and is traditionally believed to support confidence and vitality. See the Red Carnelian Natural Buddha Stone Bracelet.

Red Jasper Bracelet

Deep brick-red jasper is a grounding stone in crystal healing, a quiet choice for long Ashtami mornings and crowded evenings. See the Red Jasper Natural Buddha Stone Bracelet.

Rose Quartz with Golden Hematite

Soft pink rose quartz is traditionally associated with love and family bonds, a thoughtful Bijoya gift for a sister, mother or friend. See the Rose Quartz Bracelet with Golden Hematite.

Browse the full range in our gemstone bracelets collection.

FAQ about Durga Puja 2026

When is Durga Puja 2026?

Durga Puja runs from Maha Shashthi on 17 October to Bijoya Dashami on 21 October, with Mahalaya on 10 October. Saptami falls on 18 October, Ashtami on 19 October and Navami on 20 October as per Bengali panjikas.

On which day is sindoor khela in 2026?

Sindoor khela is held on Bijoya Dashami, Wednesday 21 October, after the darpan visarjan and before the idol is taken for immersion. Exact timings vary by pandal.

Why is Bijoya Dashami on 21 October when Dussehra is on 20 October?

Bengali panjikas fix each day by the tithi running at sunrise. Dashami tithi is current at sunrise only on 21 October, so Bengal and Bangladesh mark Bijoya Dashami a day after most of North India celebrates Dussehra.

Can I wear a crystal or rudraksha bracelet during pushpanjali and sindoor khela?

Yes, you can wear one for pushpanjali. For sindoor khela, slip porous stone bracelets into a pouch first, since vermilion can stain them, and wipe a rudraksha or metal bracelet clean the same evening.

Which bracelet suits Durga Puja the most?

A 9 mukhi rudraksha bracelet is traditionally linked to Maa Durga, while red stones like carnelian and red jasper match the festival's red and white colours. At Soultheory we suggest choosing the piece you will actually wear every day, since the intention you bring matters most in tradition.

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Important note: Information shared here reflects traditional Vedic beliefs and cultural practices. Individual experiences vary. This content is for educational and cultural purposes only - it is not medical, financial, or psychological advice. Consult qualified professionals for health, financial, or other personal decisions.