Pujo VIP passes 2026: Porikroma Map Invitee Card or Pujor Passport?

The short answer: buy the Forum for Durgotsab Pujor Passport (₹999) unless you cannot collect its booklet in person on 12 to 14 October. Its exclusive pandals are the heavyweight ones, and the ₹49 difference does not matter. If you plan to hop across the whole city on several nights, buy both: ₹1,949 gets you VIP entry at 75 different pandals.

The two passes side by side

For 2026 the main puja days run from Shashthi, Saturday 17 October, to Bijoya Dashami, Wednesday 21 October; see the full 2026 dates. Both passes start on 15 October, so you can use them on Chaturthi and Panchami too, when many big pandals are already open and the crowds are thinner.

How much the two lists overlap

The two passes share 31 pandals. Another 23 are only on the Porikroma card and 21 are only on the Pujor Passport, which makes 75 different pandals if you hold both.

That overlap is why the choice comes down to the exclusives: the 31 shared pandals are covered whichever pass you buy.

Pandals only on the Pujor Passport (21)

These carry the Passport's case. Several of them draw some of the longest queues in the city.

• Kolkata (17): Ballygunge Cultural, Hindusthan Club, 66 Pally, Bosepukur Talbagan, Purbachal Shakti Sangha, Pally Sarodiya, Behala Friends, Hatibagan Sarbojanin, Kashi Bose Lane, Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha, Tala Barowari, Kumartuli Sarbojanin, Hatibagan Nabin Pally, New Town Sarbojanin, Barisha Club, Abasar, Santoshpur Avenue South
• Howrah (4): Salkia Alapani, Bantra Mohila Sangha, Olaibibitola, Ichapur Shivaji Sangha

Also readPandal hopping in Kolkata

Pandals only on the Porikroma card (23)

Its exclusives lean towards the east of the city, including Salt Lake, New Town, Ultadanga and Beleghata, plus two big central names, Santosh Mitra Square and Chaltabagan.

Mudiali Club, Mitali Club, Beleghata Sandhani, Ultadanga Karbagan, Ultadanga Jagaran Sangha, Santosh Mitra Square, Chaltabagan Lohapatty, Sikdar Bagan, Aswininagar Bandhu Mahal, Dum Dum Park Yubak Brinda, Salt Lake EC Block, Pratapaditya Road Trikon Park, Vivekananda Sporting, Pally Unnayan Samity, Kendua Shanti Sangha, Paddapukur Youth, Chinar Park Adhibasibrinda, Masterda Smriti Sangha, Bandhudal Sporting, Sovabazar Beniatola, Attarpara Unnayan Samity, DB Block (New Town) and AK Block (Salt Lake).

Big pandals that are on neither pass

Some of the most famous pujas sell no VIP entry through either pass. Everyone joins the same queue, so timing is everything: go early in the morning, about 7 to 11 am, or after about 1:30 am, until around 4:30 am.

• Sreebhumi Sporting Club and Tala Prattoy in the north and north-east
• College Square and Mohammad Ali Park in central Kolkata
• Suruchi Sangha, Ekdalia Evergreen, Singhi Park, Tridhara Sammilani, Chetla Agrani and Deshapriya Park in the south

Each pandal page in the guide shows its quietest hours and nearest Metro station.

Which pass is right for you

Buy the Pujor Passport if:

• someone in your group can reach Sovabazar or Kalighat between 12 and 14 October, 12 noon to 8 pm, to collect the booklet;
• your route takes in North Kolkata's big names (Hatibagan, Kumartuli, Kashi Bose Lane) or the Ballygunge and Kalighat cluster;
• you want the round-the-clock window for after-midnight hopping.

Buy the Porikroma card instead if:

• nobody can collect the Passport booklet in person on 12 to 14 October (Porikroma can be home-delivered);
• you want the very early hours after Navami night: it runs until 5 am on 21 October, so check whether the Passport's last day ends at midnight on the 20th;
• most of your nights will be in Salt Lake, New Town, Ultadanga or Kankurgachi, where many of its exclusives are.

Buy both (₹1,949 for 75 pandals) if you are doing heavy pandal hopping across the city over several nights.

Before you go

• Book on the official app or site, District for Porikroma and BookMyShow for the Pujor Passport, rather than buying from a reseller.
• For the Pujor Passport, put the collection trip in your calendar: 12 to 14 October, 12 noon to 8 pm.
• Count your group: four people per pass, and on the Passport children five and over count.
• Plan routes by area, with the shared and exclusive lists above.
• For pandals on neither pass, plan an early-morning or after-midnight visit.

Our pandal hopping tips cover timing, Metro routes and what to carry, and the visitor's guide covers getting around the city during the pujo.