# Vishwakarma Puja: the festival of tools, machines and kites

> Vishwakarma Puja is the worship of Vishwakarma, the divine architect and craftsman of Hindu tradition, by workers, engineers, artisans and businesses. Because it follows the solar calendar it usually falls on 17 September, at Kanya Sankranti, the end of the Bengali month of Bhadra. In Bengal factories, workshops, garages and offices clean and garland their tools and machines, set up images of Vishwakarma, and in Kolkata the day is famous for kite flying; for many Bengalis it signals that Durga Puja is near.

Source: https://pujoparikramaguide.in/festivals/vishwakarma-puja/ (updated 2026-10-06)

**Vishwakarma Puja** (in Bengali often *Biswakarma Puja*) is the worship of **Vishwakarma**, the divine architect, engineer and craftsman of Hindu tradition. It **usually falls on 17 September**, because it follows the solar calendar: it is held on **Kanya Sankranti**, when the sun enters the sign of Virgo, the last day of the Bengali month of Bhadra. In Bengal it is a festival of work and workplaces. Factories, workshops, garages, printing presses, shops and offices clean and decorate their tools and machines and worship Vishwakarma, and in Kolkata the sky fills with kites.

For many Bengalis the day has another meaning too: it is the first festival of the autumn season and a sure sign that [Durga Puja](/durga-puja/) is only weeks away.

## Who is Vishwakarma?

In Hindu tradition Vishwakarma is the craftsman of the gods. Myths and epics credit him with building palaces and cities for the gods, and with forging divine weapons and chariots. Accounts vary from text to text, and in some traditions he is also seen as a creator of the universe itself, which is one meaning of his name, "maker of all".

He is the patron deity of anyone who makes or builds: carpenters, smiths, masons, weavers, mechanics, engineers, architects and factory workers. Several artisan communities in India regard him as their ancestor.

### How he is shown in Bengal

Bengali images of Vishwakarma have a recognisable style. He is usually shown as a young or middle-aged man with a moustache, with four arms holding tools such as a hammer, a measuring instrument or a scale, and with an **elephant** as his vahana (mount). Elsewhere in India he is often depicted as an older, bearded sage riding a swan. Both forms are traditional.

## Why the date is fixed

Most Bengali festivals follow the lunar calendar and move around the Gregorian calendar from year to year. Vishwakarma Puja is different: it is tied to a **sankranti**, the sun's passage from one zodiac sign to the next, and solar dates stay close to the Gregorian ones. That is why it usually falls on 17 September, occasionally a day either side, depending on the exact time of the sankranti. If you need certainty for a particular year, check the panjika.

## Worship in factories and workshops

Vishwakarma Puja is, above all, a workplace festival. On the day:

- **Machines rest.** Tools and machinery are cleaned, oiled, decorated with flowers, sandal paste and vermilion marks, and not used for work.
- **The image is installed.** A clay image of Vishwakarma is set up on the shop floor, in the workshop or in a small pandal outside the factory gate.
- **The puja.** A priest performs the worship, often in the morning, with flowers, fruit, sweets and incense; workers and owners attend together.
- **Prasad and a meal.** Prasad is shared, and many workplaces hold a meal for all staff, followed by music or a small celebration.

Vehicles get their share: taxis, autorickshaws, buses, lorries and private cars are washed and garlanded. Computer and electronics shops, printers, and even offices with nothing more than desks and laptops often hold a small puja. For many workers it is one of the few days in the year when the whole workforce celebrates together.

The day also shows Bengal's industrial history. Along the Hooghly, where jute mills, engineering works and dockyards grew up, Vishwakarma Puja has long been a major event, and in some industrial areas it rivals the bigger festivals in local importance.

## Kite flying in Kolkata

The most visible custom in Kolkata is **kite flying** (*ghuri orano*). From morning, rooftops in many neighbourhoods are crowded with families and friends flying paper kites, and the sky fills with colour. Kite fights, in which one flier tries to cut another's string, are part of the fun, and the cry of "*bho-kaatta!*" goes up whenever a kite is cut loose. Kite shops in the old city are busy in the days before.

There is no single agreed explanation of why kites are flown on this day; it is best described as a cherished local custom. A few safety points are worth keeping in mind:

- avoid flying kites near overhead electric lines and railway tracks;
- do not use glass-coated or synthetic string, which injures people and birds and is restricted in many places;
- keep children away from unprotected roof edges.

## Where Vishwakarma Puja fits

| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Date | Usually 17 September (Kanya Sankranti) |
| Deity | Vishwakarma, the divine architect and craftsman |
| Who celebrates | Workers, artisans, engineers, businesses, transport operators |
| Signature customs | Worship of tools and machines, workplace meals, kite flying |
| What comes next | [Mahalaya](/durga-puja/rituals/mahalaya/), then Durga Puja |

After Vishwakarma Puja, the countdown to the Pujas begins in earnest. Mahalaya, which opens Devi Paksha, falls on **Saturday 10 October** in 2026, and Durga Puja runs to Bijoya Dashami on **Wednesday 21 October 2026**. For the whole season in order, see the [festival season hub](/festivals/), and for Durga Puja dates and pandal planning see the [dates page](/guide/dates/) and the [Kolkata guide](/guide/).

## Frequently asked questions

**When is Vishwakarma Puja?**
Vishwakarma Puja usually falls on 17 September. It follows the solar calendar, falling on Kanya Sankranti, the day the sun enters Virgo, so in some years it may shift by a day; check the panjika.

**Why is Vishwakarma Puja always on 17 September?**
Unlike most Hindu festivals, which follow the lunar calendar, Vishwakarma Puja is tied to a solar event, the sun's entry into Kanya (Virgo). Solar dates line up closely with the Gregorian calendar, so the festival usually lands on the same date.

**Who is Lord Vishwakarma?**
Vishwakarma is the divine architect and craftsman of Hindu tradition, credited in myth with building palaces and cities for the gods and making their weapons and chariots. He is revered by engineers, architects, artisans and industrial workers.

**Why are kites flown on Vishwakarma Puja?**
Kite flying on Vishwakarma Puja is a long-standing custom in Kolkata and parts of Bengal, and rooftops fill with kites and friendly kite fights. Explanations vary; it is best understood as a popular folk custom rather than part of the formal worship.

**How is Vishwakarma Puja celebrated in factories?**
Workplaces close or slow down for the day. Machines and tools are cleaned, decorated and not used, an image of Vishwakarma is installed and worshipped, and workers share prasad and often a meal together.