Saptami: the Kola Bou and the start of the main puja

Maha Saptami is the day the main Durga Puja worship begins. Its signature rite happens at dawn: the Nabapatrika (naba, nine; patrika, leaves or plants), affectionately called the Kola Bou (banana bride), is bathed, dressed and carried back to stand beside Ganesha. Then the priest performs prana pratishtha and the puja proper starts. In 2026 Saptami falls on Sunday 18 October.

Nabapatrika snan: the dawn bath

Early in the morning, before or around sunrise, the priest and a small procession take the Nabapatrika to water. In Kolkata that usually means a ghat on the Hooghly; pujas far from the river often use a pond or bathe the plants in the pandal with water brought for the purpose.

The Nabapatrika is a bundle of nine plants (banana, colocasia, turmeric, jayanti, bel, pomegranate, ashoka, arum and paddy), tied with a white aparajita creeper and a pair of bel fruits. Each plant stands for a form of the goddess; see Kola Bou and the nine plants for the full list.

The bath is carried out with mantras and with waters and substances that vary by tradition: river water, scented water, water from different sources and so on. Dhakis play, conch shells sound and women ululate (ulu). It is one of the most photographed scenes of the festival.

Dressing the Kola Bou

After the bath the plants are wrapped in a new sari, usually white or cream with a red border, with the end drawn over the top like a bride's veil. Vermilion is applied, and the Nabapatrika is carried back to the pandal or thakur dalan (worship hall) in procession, under an umbrella in many traditions.

She is placed beside Ganesha, traditionally on his right. Because of this, and because she looks like a veiled bride, she is popularly called Ganesha's wife, but in ritual terms she is the goddess herself in plant form.

Prana pratishtha and the main puja

Once the Nabapatrika is installed, the priest performs prana pratishtha (establishing life), invoking the goddess into the clay image. Some traditions also perform a ritual "opening of the eyes" at this point. From here on the idol is worshipped as the living deity.

The Saptami puja follows, with offerings to Durga and to every deity of the image: Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, Kartik, the lion, and even Mahishasura. The day's bhog (food offering) is cooked and offered; in the evening comes the sandhya arati, with lamps, the dhunuchi (incense burner), conch and dhak. Many pandals see the first dhunuchi naach of the season after Saptami arati.

The order of these rites, and whether some are done the evening before, varies by family tradition and the panjika followed.

Also readKola Bou

Saptami at home and in family pujas

In households that hold their own puja, Saptami morning is the busiest of the year in the kitchen and the thakur ghar (prayer room). Women of the family often prepare the offerings: fruit cut and arranged on brass plates, sweets, naibedya (uncooked offerings of rice, fruit and sweets) and the cooked bhog. Many families eat vegetarian food on the puja days until Dashami, though customs vary widely. If you are planning a puja at home, see Durga Puja at home and the samagri list.

Saptami is also when many Bengalis wear the first of their new puja clothes and begin visiting relatives and pandals in earnest.

What to expect as a visitor

• Early morning: the ghats and the procession routes in North Kolkata are lively from first light. Dress modestly, keep a respectful distance from the rites and ask before close-up photography.
• Day: crowds are lighter in the morning and afternoon than in the evening.
• Night: Saptami night is one of the four busiest nights of the festival. See pandal hopping tips and the Kolkata guide for routes and crowd forecasts.

Old family pujas such as Sovabazar Rajbari and community pujas near the river such as Bagbazar and Ahiritola are good places to see the Saptami rites in a traditional setting. The North Kolkata heritage trail strings them together.

Before and after

Saptami follows the awakening on Shashthi and leads into Maha Ashtami, with its pushpanjali and Sandhi Puja. For the full sequence see Durga Puja rituals day by day.