Durga Puja

What the festival celebrates

The festival marks the triumph of good over evil. Scriptures describe Durga defeating the shape-shifting demon Mahishasura. This act preserves cosmic order and shows the power of the feminine divine. Devotees also venerate Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, and Kartikeya alongside the main goddess. The event coincides with other autumn celebrations like Navaratri.

Origins and history

Ancient texts mention the goddess Durga, but the specific festival origins are unclear. Stone carvings from the twelfth century show her slaying the demon. Manuals from the fourteenth century detail the rituals. Wealthy families and royalty sponsored public events by the sixteenth century. Scholars link the rise of the festival to medieval social changes in Bengal.

How it is kept

Worship happens in homes and public spaces. Artisans build temporary structures known as pandals for the idols. The ten days begin with Mahalaya, when devotees offer water to ancestors. The sixth day welcomes the goddess with awakening rites. The final day concludes with the immersion of the images in water. Cultural performances and feasting fill the schedule.

Rituals and symbolism

Devotees recite the Devi Mahatmya text during the puja. They offer mantras and chants to the goddess. A bundle of nine plants called Navapatrika represents different forms of the divine. Each plant embodies a specific quality of the goddess. The rituals emphasize her role as a source of strength and peace. The festival blends spiritual devotion with community celebration.

How Durga Puja is kept

Communities construct temporary shrines called pandals. Idols of the goddess are installed on the sixth day after awakening rituals. Devotees visit these sites to offer prayers and gifts. The week includes cultural performances, family gatherings, and feasting. The festival ends on the tenth day with the immersion of the idols in local rivers or lakes.

When and where

It falls annually in the Hindu month of Ashvin, usually September or October. The date follows the lunisolar calendar. The ten-day period begins with Mahalaya and ends on Vijayadashami.

It is strongest in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and Bangladesh. Kolkata hosts the most famous public celebrations. Smaller observances occur in Nepal and among diaspora communities worldwide.

What Durga Puja means

The festival symbolizes the victory of righteousness over chaos. Durga represents the protective power of the mother. The Navapatrika bundle highlights nature's connection to the divine. Immersion signifies the goddess returning to her home, bringing blessings back to the people.

Days Durga Puja is marked

Durga Puja dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

Questions people ask about Durga Puja

See also

DiwaliA five-day festival of lights celebrated across India and its diaspora to mark the victory of light over darkness.NowruzThe Iranian new year at the March equinox, kept with fire, greenery and picnicsMawlidAn annual festival marking the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, marked by poetry, processions and feasts.HoliA spring festival of colours and bonfires that marks the end of winter and the triumph of good over evil.

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• Kolkata’s Durga Puja nominated for Unesco listHindustan Times, Article
• IT dept's taxation of Durga Puja irks MamataThe Hindu, Article
• A Kolkata Durga Puja pandal pays tribute to sex workersThe Indian Express, Article
• Kolkata’s Durga Puja nominated for Unesco listHindustan Times, Article
• IT dept's taxation of Durga Puja irks MamataThe Hindu, Article
• A Kolkata Durga Puja pandal pays tribute to sex workersThe Indian Express, Article

• Durga Puja on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.