Pujo ParikramaOpen appDurga Puja, explained: every ritual, story and recipe
71 guides to the festival: the meaning of each day and rite, the mantras with translations, the history, puja at home step by step, bhog recipes, Navratri and Bengal's whole festival season, and how to make the most of Kolkata's pandals.
- 71 guides
- 10 step-by-step
- 7 recipes
- 66 photos
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Durga PujaWhat is Durga Puja? The meaning behind the festivalWhat Durga Puja means: the Devi Mahatmya story of Mahishasura, Durga as Shakti, Uma's homecoming, Rama's akal bodhon and why the festival falls in autumn.
RitualsDurga Puja rituals day by dayDurga Puja rituals day by day: Mahalaya, Shashthi bodhon, Saptami Kola Bou, Ashtami anjali and Sandhi Puja, Navami homa, Dashami sindoor khela, 2026 dates.
At homeHow to do Durga Puja at homeA simple, respectful way to do Durga Puja at home: setting up a ghat, sankalpa, offerings, aarti, Ashtami anjali and Dashami visarjan, with a supplies list.
The five days, day by day
- Sat 10 Oct
MahalayaTarpan for the ancestors at dawn and Mahishasuramardini on the radio: the fortnight of the goddess begins.
- Sat 17 Oct
- Sun 18 Oct
- Mon 19 Oct
- Tue 20 Oct
- Wed 21 Oct
Photo stories 74
Every guide as a tap-through story in full-screen photos, about a minute each. See all 74 →
- ▶ 10 pagesDurga Puja 2026, day by day
▶ 8 pagesMaha Ashtami: the heart of Durga Puja
▶ 7 pagesBijoya Dashami: the farewell
▶ 10 pagesThree centuries of Durga Puja in Bengal
▶ 7 pagesHow Kumartuli makes the goddess
▶ 9 pagesThe Durga Puja bhog plate- ▶ 9 pagesDurga Puja at home, step by step
▶ 7 pagesThe sounds of Durga Puja
▶ 8 pagesPandal hopping in Kolkata: how to do it right
▶ 9 pagesNavratri: the nine nights of the Goddess
▶ 10 pagesBengal's festival season, from Vishwakarma to Jagaddhatri
▶ 10 pagesDurga Puja 2026 themes: Kolkata's big pandals
▶ 10 pagesDurga Puja 2026 by metro: pandals near each station
Step by step
Guides you can follow along with, with tick-box lists that remember your ticks on this phone.
- At home · 12 stepsHow to do Durga Puja at homeA simple, respectful way to do Durga Puja at home: setting up a ghat, sankalpa, offerings, aarti, Ashtami anjali and Dashami visarjan, with a supplies list.
Navratri · 10 stepsGhatasthapanaStep-by-step Navratri ghatasthapana (kalash sthapana) at home: sowing barley in soil, setting the kalash, coconut and mango leaves, muhurta tips and supplies.
Navratri · 8 stepsKanya pujanHow to do kanya pujan (kanjak) on Navratri Ashtami or Navami: inviting girls, washing feet, tilak, kalawa, the puri, chana and halwa meal, gifts and meaning.
Recipes · 1 h 10 minBhoger khichuriBhoger khichuri recipe with gobindobhog rice, roasted moong dal, ghee, whole spices and ginger, no onion or garlic, just like Durga Puja Ashtami bhog. Serves 4.
Recipes · 55 minLabraLabra torkari recipe: pumpkin, potato, radish, aubergine and greens cooked soft with panch phoron and ginger, no onion or garlic, as served with khichuri bhog.
Recipes · 1 h 10 minGobindobhog payeshGobindobhog payesh recipe: fragrant rice simmered in whole milk with bay leaf, cardamom and sugar, the sweet end of Durga Puja bhog, plus a nolen gur version.
Recipes · 35 minBeguniBeguni recipe: thin aubergine slices dipped in a spiced besan and rice-flour batter and fried crisp, the hot fritter served with khichuri in Durga Puja bhog.
Recipes · 40 minTomato khejur aamsotto chutneyBengali tomato chutney with khejur (dates) and aamsotto (dried mango), tempered with panch phoron: the sweet-sour chutney of the Durga Puja bhog plate. Vegan.
Recipes · 50 minNarkel naruNarkel naru recipe: fresh grated coconut cooked with jaggery and cardamom and rolled into balls, the classic home sweet for Bijoya Dashami and Lakshmi Puja.
Recipes · 1 h 20 minLuchi and alur domLuchi and alur dom recipe without onion or garlic: puffed maida luchi with a ginger-spiced baby potato curry, the Durga Puja Ashtami breakfast in many homes.
Durga Puja 10
What Durga Puja is, where it came from, the goddess and her stories.
Durga PujaWhat is Durga Puja? The meaning behind the festivalWhat Durga Puja means: the Devi Mahatmya story of Mahishasura, Durga as Shakti, Uma's homecoming, Rama's akal bodhon and why the festival falls in autumn.
Durga PujaThe story of Durga and MahishasuraThe story of Durga slaying Mahishasura from the Devi Mahatmya: the gods' radiance, the gifts of weapons, the shape-shifting buffalo demon and what it all means.
Durga PujaAkal BodhonAkal Bodhon explained: Rama's autumn worship of Durga in Krittibas Ojha's Bengali Ramayana, the 108 blue lotuses, his offered eye and why the puja is in autumn.- Durga PujaThe history of Durga Puja in BengalHow Durga Puja grew from zamindari and rajbari pujas to barowari and sarbojanin community festivals, theme pandals and UNESCO heritage status in Kolkata.
Durga PujaGoddess Durga and her familyHow to read a Durga Puja image: Durga's ten arms and weapons, the lion, Mahishasura, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, Kartik, their vahanas, ekchala and daker saaj.
Durga PujaDasha MahavidyaThe ten Mahavidyas explained: Kali, Tara, Shodashi, Bhuvaneshwari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi, Kamala, the Sati story and Bengal.
Durga PujaDurga Puja and UNESCOIn December 2021 UNESCO inscribed Durga Puja in Kolkata on its intangible cultural heritage list. What the listing means, why it was chosen and what changed.- Durga PujaKumartuli and the making of Durga idolsHow Kumartuli's potters make Durga idols: bamboo frame, straw, Ganga clay, punya mati, painting, shola, daker saaj, chokkhu daan on Mahalaya and visiting tips.
- Durga PujaDurga Puja around the worldHow Durga Puja is celebrated beyond Kolkata: Bengal's districts, Assam, Tripura, Odisha, Bihar, Delhi's CR Park, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Bangladesh and the diaspora.
- Durga PujaDurga Puja FAQDurga Puja FAQ: 40 quick answers on 2026 dates, meaning, rituals, food, etiquette, Kolkata travel and Navratri vs Durga Puja, with links to in-depth guides.
Rituals 15
Every rite from Mahalaya to Bijoya Dashami, with the mantras and what they mean.
- RitualsDurga Puja rituals day by dayDurga Puja rituals day by day: Mahalaya, Shashthi bodhon, Saptami Kola Bou, Ashtami anjali and Sandhi Puja, Navami homa, Dashami sindoor khela, 2026 dates.
- RitualsMahalayaMahalaya 2026 is on Saturday 10 October. What it means: the end of Pitri Paksha, tarpan at the Ganga ghats, the pre-dawn Mahishasuramardini and chokkhu daan.
- RitualsShashthiShashthi 2026 is Saturday 17 October: Kalparambha, the bodhon awakening of Durga by a bel tree, amantran and adhivas, unveiling of faces and Shashthi fasts.
RitualsSaptamiSaptami 2026 is Sunday 18 October: the dawn bath of the Nabapatrika (Kola Bou), its procession from the ghat, prana pratishtha and the start of the main puja.- RitualsMaha AshtamiMaha Ashtami 2026 is Monday 19 October: the morning pushpanjali, Kumari Puja, Sandhi Puja with 108 lotuses and lamps, fasting until anjali and what people wear.
RitualsMaha NavamiMaha Navami 2026 is Tuesday 20 October: the Navami puja, the homa fire offering, khichuri bhog, symbolic offerings in place of sacrifice and dhunuchi naach.
RitualsBijoya DashamiBijoya Dashami 2026 is Wednesday 21 October: darpan bisarjan, boron and sindoor khela, immersion processions, shanti jal and Bijoya greetings explained.- RitualsDurga Puja pushpanjali mantra, with meaningDurga Puja pushpanjali (anjali) mantras in Bengali and Devanagari with transliteration and meaning: Jayanti Mangala Kali, Sarva Mangala and how to offer.
RitualsYa Devi SarvabhuteshuYa Devi Sarvabhuteshu verses from Devi Mahatmya chapter 5 in Devanagari and Bengali with transliteration and meaning, plus when they are recited at Durga Puja.- RitualsChandi PathChandi Path explained: the Durga Saptashati's 700 verses in 13 chapters, its three episodes, Kavacham, Argala and Kilakam, and how to read or listen at home.
- RitualsSindoor khelaSindoor khela is the Bijoya Dashami ritual where women offer vermilion to Durga and smear it on each other: who takes part, how it is done, what to wear.
- RitualsDhunuchi naachDhunuchi naach is Durga Puja's dance with smoking clay incense burners to the dhak, held at evening arati from Saptami to Navami. Its meaning and safety tips.
- RitualsSandhi PujaSandhi Puja is the worship of Durga as Chamunda in the 48 minutes where Ashtami ends and Navami begins, with 108 lotuses and 108 lamps. Timing and legend.
RitualsKumari PujaKumari Puja is the Durga Puja rite in which a young girl is worshipped as the goddess, best known at Belur Math on Maha Ashtami. Its meaning, history and steps.- RitualsKola BouKola Bou, or Nabapatrika, is the bundle of nine plants worshipped as Goddess Durga on Saptami. The nine plants, their goddesses and why she stands by Ganesha.
At home 2
Step-by-step guides and tick-box checklists for a puja in your own home.
- At home · 12 stepsHow to do Durga Puja at homeA simple, respectful way to do Durga Puja at home: setting up a ghat, sankalpa, offerings, aarti, Ashtami anjali and Dashami visarjan, with a supplies list.
- At homeDurga Puja samagri listA complete Durga Puja samagri checklist for home worship: essentials, flowers and leaves, bhog, items for Ashtami anjali and Dashami, plus easy substitutions.
Recipes 8
Khichuri, labra, payesh and the sweets of the puja kitchen, step by step.
- RecipesDurga Puja bhog recipesHome recipes for the Durga Puja bhog thali: bhoger khichuri, labra, beguni, tomato chutney, payesh, narkel naru and luchi alur dom, mostly no onion or garlic.
- Recipes · 1 h 10 minBhoger khichuriBhoger khichuri recipe with gobindobhog rice, roasted moong dal, ghee, whole spices and ginger, no onion or garlic, just like Durga Puja Ashtami bhog. Serves 4.
- Recipes · 55 minLabraLabra torkari recipe: pumpkin, potato, radish, aubergine and greens cooked soft with panch phoron and ginger, no onion or garlic, as served with khichuri bhog.
- Recipes · 1 h 10 minGobindobhog payeshGobindobhog payesh recipe: fragrant rice simmered in whole milk with bay leaf, cardamom and sugar, the sweet end of Durga Puja bhog, plus a nolen gur version.
- Recipes · 35 minBeguniBeguni recipe: thin aubergine slices dipped in a spiced besan and rice-flour batter and fried crisp, the hot fritter served with khichuri in Durga Puja bhog.
- Recipes · 40 minTomato khejur aamsotto chutneyBengali tomato chutney with khejur (dates) and aamsotto (dried mango), tempered with panch phoron: the sweet-sour chutney of the Durga Puja bhog plate. Vegan.
- Recipes · 50 minNarkel naruNarkel naru recipe: fresh grated coconut cooked with jaggery and cardamom and rolled into balls, the classic home sweet for Bijoya Dashami and Lakshmi Puja.
- Recipes · 1 h 20 minLuchi and alur domLuchi and alur dom recipe without onion or garlic: puffed maida luchi with a ginger-spiced baby potato curry, the Durga Puja Ashtami breakfast in many homes.
Navratri 14
The nine nights across India: the Navadurga, ghatasthapana, fasting, garba and Dussehra.
- NavratriNavratri 2026What Navratri means, when Sharad Navratri 2026 falls, its rituals (ghatasthapana, Navadurga, fasting, garba) and how it differs from Bengal's Durga Puja.
NavratriNavratri and Dussehra across IndiaHow India marks Navratri and Dussehra region by region: Durga Puja, garba, Golu, Bathukamma, Mysuru Dasara, Kullu Dussehra, Ramlila, Ayudha Puja and Vidyarambham.
NavratriNavratri in KolkataNavratri and Dussehra in Kolkata for every community: where Ravan dahan happens, finding garba nights, vrat food, Golu at home, and how to enjoy Durga Puja if you're not Bengali.- NavratriNavadurgaThe nine forms of Durga, from Shailaputri to Siddhidatri: what each name means, how each is depicted and the offering commonly linked to each Navratri day.
- Navratri · 10 stepsGhatasthapanaStep-by-step Navratri ghatasthapana (kalash sthapana) at home: sowing barley in soil, setting the kalash, coconut and mango leaves, muhurta tips and supplies.
NavratriNavratri fasting rulesNavratri vrat explained: types of fast, foods commonly allowed (kuttu, singhara, sabudana, sama rice) and avoided, a sample day's meals and health cautions.- Navratri · 8 stepsKanya pujanHow to do kanya pujan (kanjak) on Navratri Ashtami or Navami: inviting girls, washing feet, tilak, kalawa, the puri, chana and halwa meal, gifts and meaning.
NavratriDussehra and VijayadashamiVijayadashami and Dussehra 2026 explained: Rama's victory over Ravana, Durga's over Mahishasura, Ravan dahan, Mysuru Dasara, Bengal's Bijoya and Shami puja.- NavratriGarba and Dandiya RaasGarba and Dandiya Raas explained: Gujarati origins, the garbo lamp, basic steps for beginners, what to wear (chaniya choli, kediyu) and etiquette at Navratri.
NavratriGoluGolu, the Navratri doll display of Tamil Nadu, Andhra (Bommala Koluvu) and Karnataka (Gombe Habba): the steps, which dolls go where, visiting, thamboolam and sundal.
NavratriBathukammaBathukamma explained: Telangana's women's festival of flowers during Navratri. How the flower tower is made, the nine days from Engili Pula to Saddula Bathukamma, songs and dates.
NavratriMysuru DasaraMysuru Dasara, Karnataka's Nadahabba: its history, the lit palace, the Jamboo Savari elephant procession, the torchlight parade and practical tips for 2026.
NavratriKullu DussehraKullu Dussehra explained: the week-long festival in Himachal's Kullu valley that begins on Vijayadashami, Raghunath's rath yatra, the visiting village deities and Lanka Dahan.
NavratriAyudha Puja, Saraswati Puja and VidyarambhamHow South India ends Navratri: Saraswati Puja and Ayudha Puja on Navami, when tools, vehicles and books are worshipped, and Vidyarambham, a child's first letters on Vijayadashami.
Festivals 7
From Vishwakarma Puja to Jagaddhatri: the festivals around Durga Puja in Bengal.
- 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.
FestivalsVishwakarma PujaVishwakarma Puja usually falls on 17 September: worship of the divine architect in factories and workshops, tools and machines, and kite flying over Kolkata.
FestivalsKojagari Lakshmi PujaKojagari Lakshmi Puja on Sharad Purnima, the full moon after Bijoya Dashami: what ko jagarti means, alpana and footprints, the home puja, bhog and the story.
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.
FestivalsBasanti PujaBasanti Puja is Durga Puja in spring, in Chaitra: its original season in Puranic tradition, King Suratha and Samadhi, family observance, Chaitra Navratri.
Culture 10
The dhak, the songs, pandal art, Kumartuli's image-makers, what to wear and how to photograph it.
- CultureDurga Puja foodWhat people eat at Durga Puja: khichuri bhog, labra, payesh, phuchka, rolls, mughlai paratha, rosogolla and sandesh, plus why bhog is shared and eaten together.
- CultureSubho Bijoya and Durga Puja wishesOriginal Subho Bijoya and Durga Puja wishes in Bengali, English and Hindi for family, friends, colleagues and Instagram, plus the custom of pranam and kolakuli.
- CulturePandal hopping in KolkataPractical Kolkata pandal hopping tips: the best hours to beat crowds, using the Metro, what to carry, kids and elders, safety, and which area is known for what.
CultureDurga Puja glossaryA Durga Puja glossary: 58 Bengali and Sanskrit words explained, from anjali, bodhon and dhunuchi to sindoor khela, daker saaj, bonedi bari and thakur dekha.- CulturePandal art and themesHow Kolkata's Durga Puja pandals are built: bamboo and cloth frames, decorators, theme pandals, rural artisans, Chandannagar lights, awards, and the timeline.
CultureEco-friendly Durga PujaHow to celebrate an eco-friendly Durga Puja: clay vs plaster of Paris idols, natural colours, immersion rules, artificial ponds, and less plastic and noise.
CultureMahishasuramardiniMahishasuramardini, the Mahalaya dawn broadcast on All India Radio: Birendra Krishna Bhadra's Chandi recitation, Pankaj Kumar Mullick's music, how to listen.- CultureAgomoni and Bijoya songsAgomoni and Bijoya songs explained: Bengal's Shakta songs of Uma's homecoming to Menaka and her return to Kailash, the poets behind them and where to hear them.
- CultureDhak and dhakiThe dhak is the plumed barrel drum of Durga Puja and the dhaki its player: how it is played, where dhakis come from, its rhythms and the kashor gong.
CultureBonedi bari pujasBonedi bari pujas are Kolkata's old family Durga Pujas, held in thakur dalans with ekchala idols and old rites. What sets them apart, where to go, etiquette.
Visit 5
Plan your pandal hopping: when to go, how to get around, and pujo with children or elders.
- VisitVisiting Kolkata for Durga Puja 2026Plan a Durga Puja 2026 trip to Kolkata: when to arrive, airport and stations, where to stay, metro and cabs, October weather, money, safety and a 3-day plan.
- VisitPujo VIP passes 2026Kolkata's two Durga Puja VIP passes for 2026 compared: price, pandals covered, valid dates, pickup, the pandals only one pass gets you into, and which to buy.
VisitWhat to wear for Durga Puja, day by dayWhat to wear for Durga Puja: pujor jama, tant, jamdani and Baluchari saris, garad for Ashtami anjali, lal-paar sada for sindoor khela, dhuti-panjabi and shoes.
VisitPhotographing Durga PujaHow to photograph Durga Puja on a phone or camera: pandal lighting, the goddess's face, crowds, dhunuchi at night, Kumartuli workshops, and photo etiquette.- VisitDurga Puja with children, elderly and disabled visitorsPlan Durga Puja in Kolkata with children, elderly parents or a disability: best hours, lost-child plans, strollers vs carriers, seating, access and medicine.