Bengali festival calendar: the rest of 2026 and all of 2027
Pujo Parikrama team2 min read · Updated
The dates of Bengal's big festivals from Kali Puja 2026 to Jagaddhatri Puja 2027, calculated for Kolkata. Kali Puja and Diwali are on Sunday 8 November 2026 and Bhai Phonta on Wednesday 11 November. In 2027 Saraswati Puja falls on Thursday 11 February, Durga Puja's Saptami on Wednesday 6 October (twelve days earlier than in 2026), Kali Puja on Thursday 28 October and Jagaddhatri Puja on Sunday 7 November. These festivals follow the lunar calendar, so always confirm with your panjika.
▶ Photo story · 9 pagesBengali festival calendar: the rest of 2026 and all of 2027
At a glance
- Sun 8 Nov 2026Kali Puja and Diwali
The new moon of Kartik. Bhoot Chaturdashi is the evening before, Saturday 7 November.
- Wed 11 Nov 2026Bhai Phonta
Dwitiya of Kartik's bright fortnight. Some families keep it a day earlier by custom.
- Thu 19 Nov 2026Jagaddhatri Puja (Navami)
By Drik Panchang's Kolkata calendar; some calendars give 18 November. Chandannagar celebrates over several days around it.
- Thu 11 Feb 2027Saraswati Puja
Vasant Panchami, the fifth day of Magh's bright fortnight. The puja is done in the morning.
- Wed 6 Oct 2027Durga Puja: Saptami
Shashthi and the bodhon fall on Tuesday 5 October. The dates of Ashtami, Navami and Dashami differ between calendars, so check the panjika.
- Thu 28 Oct 2027Kali Puja
Lakshmi Puja for Diwali is listed for Friday 29 October.
- Sun 31 Oct 2027Bhai Phonta
Bhai Dooj by Drik Panchang's Kolkata calendar.
- Sun 7 Nov 2027Jagaddhatri Puja (Navami)
Navami tithi runs from early on 7 November to early on 8 November in Kolkata.
Durga Puja is over, but Bengal's festival year isn't. These are the dates of the big festivals still to come in 2026 and all through 2027, calculated for Kolkata. They follow the lunar calendar, so the tithi can start or end at an odd hour, and calendars sometimes disagree by a day. Treat this page as a planner, and confirm with your panjika or your family priest before the day.
The rest of 2026
- Kali Puja and Diwali: Sunday 8 November. Bengal worships Kali on the new moon of Kartik, usually through the night, while much of India worships Lakshmi. Bhoot Chaturdashi, with its fourteen lamps and fourteen greens, is the evening before. Read more: Kali Puja and Diwali.
- Bhai Phonta: Wednesday 11 November. Sisters put the phonta on their brothers' foreheads. See Bhai Phonta.
- Jagaddhatri Puja: Thursday 19 November (Navami). That is Drik Panchang's date for Kolkata; some calendars give 18 November. Chandannagar's lights and Krishnanagar's processions run over several days around it. See Jagaddhatri Puja.
2027
- Saraswati Puja: Thursday 11 February. Vasant Panchami, a morning puja, and the day every Bengali student remembers.
- Durga Puja: Saptami on Wednesday 6 October. Shashthi and the bodhon are on Tuesday 5 October. Pujo 2027 comes twelve days earlier than 2026, when Saptami was on 18 October. Calendars disagree on the later days in 2027, so check the panjika for Ashtami, Navami and Dashami before you book anything.
- Kali Puja: Thursday 28 October, with Lakshmi Puja for Diwali on Friday 29 October.
- Bhai Phonta: Sunday 31 October.
- Jagaddhatri Puja: Sunday 7 November.
We'll add more dates, such as Poila Baisakh and Rath Yatra, once they are confirmed. For how the season fits together, see Bengal's festival season.
Questions people ask
When is Durga Puja 2027?
Maha Saptami of Durga Puja 2027 falls on Wednesday 6 October 2027, with Shashthi on Tuesday 5 October, by Drik Panchang's calendar for Kolkata. That is twelve days earlier than in 2026, when Saptami was on 18 October. Calendars differ on the dates of Ashtami, Navami and Dashami in 2027, so check your panjika before you plan.
When is Kali Puja 2026?
Kali Puja 2026 is on Sunday 8 November, the same night as Diwali. Bhoot Chaturdashi is the evening before, Saturday 7 November.
When is Bhai Phonta 2026?
Bhai Phonta 2026 is on Wednesday 11 November. Some families observe it a day earlier, on Pratipada, by custom.
When is Jagaddhatri Puja 2026?
Drik Panchang's calendar for Kolkata puts Jagaddhatri Puja (Navami) on Thursday 19 November 2026; some other calendars give Wednesday 18 November. Chandannagar and Krishnanagar celebrate over several days around it, so check the local committees' schedules.
When is Kali Puja 2027?
Kali Puja 2027 is on Thursday 28 October by Drik Panchang's calendar for Kolkata, with Lakshmi Puja for Diwali on Friday 29 October and Bhai Dooj on Sunday 31 October.
When is Saraswati Puja 2027?
Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami) 2027 falls on Thursday 11 February. In Kolkata the puja is done in the morning.
Read next
- FestivalsBengal's festival seasonBengal's festival season in order: Vishwakarma Puja, Durga Puja, Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, Kali Puja with Diwali, Bhai Phonta, Jagaddhatri and Basanti Puja.
FestivalsKali Puja and DiwaliKali Puja in Bengal falls on the new moon of Kartik, with Diwali: Kali's iconography, night-long worship, Dakshineswar, Kalighat, Bhoot Chaturdashi and lamps.
FestivalsBhai PhontaBhai Phonta, Bengal's Bhai Dooj: sisters put a phonta of sandal paste, kajal and curd on brothers, the famous chant, the meal, gifts and the Yama-Yamuna story.
FestivalsJagaddhatri PujaJagaddhatri Puja on Shukla Navami of Kartik: the goddess on a lion over an elephant, Krishnanagar and Raja Krishnachandra, Chandannagar's lights and procession.
Durga PujaDurga PujaDurga Puja explained: what it is, its history and rituals, the goddess and her family, Kumartuli idols, the 2026 dates and how to see Kolkata's pandals.