Navratri in Kolkata: a guide for every community

Kolkata spends the nine nights on Durga Puja, the city's biggest festival. But Kolkata has long been home to families from every part of India, Gujarati and Marwari traders in Burrabazar and Bhowanipore, Punjabi, Bihari and Odia families, Tamil and Telugu households in the south of the city, and they keep their own Navratri customs alongside the pandals. This guide is for anyone who wants both: your own traditions and Kolkata's Pujo.

Navratri 2026 in Kolkata: the dates

Calendars differ by a day for some communities. Follow your own panchang for fasting and home rituals, and the Bengal dates above for the pandals.

Dussehra and Ravan dahan

North Indian families in Kolkata mark Dussehra with Ramlila and the burning of Ravana's effigy. In recent years the city's biggest Ravan dahan has been held at Central Park in Salt Lake, organised by the Salt Lake Sanskritik Sansad, with towering effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad, a fire show and a crowd of many thousands. Smaller Ravan dahans are held by neighbourhood committees in several parts of the city.

Watch the organisers' announcements for the 2026 date: Ravan dahan usually follows the national Dussehra date, which in 2026 most calendars give as Tuesday 20 October, a day before Bengal's Bijoya Dashami. Central Park is a short walk from Central Park metro station on the Green Line, and the Salt Lake pandals are close by, so you can combine the two.

Garba and dandiya nights

Kolkata's garba and dandiya nights are mostly ticketed events run by community associations, clubs, hotels and event companies, along with private gatherings of Gujarati and Marwari families. They are announced close to Navratri on event listing apps and in community groups, so check those in the first week of October. Most run late into the night, which fits neatly around a pandal visit in the early evening. New to it? Read our garba and dandiya guide for the basic steps, what to wear and the etiquette.

Also readNavratri and Dussehra across India

Golu in Kolkata homes

Tamil and Telugu families in Kolkata keep Golu, the Navratri display of dolls on steps, at home. If a friend invites you, go in the evening, admire the display, and accept the thamboolam and sundal you are offered. Read about the customs in the Golu guide.

Fasting during Pujo

If you keep a Navratri fast, plan for the pandals: most of the food around them, from rolls to phuchka, is not vrat food. A few tips:

• Eat a proper vrat meal before you set out, and carry fruit, roasted makhana, dry fruit and water.
• Pure-vegetarian restaurants, many in Bhowanipore and Burrabazar, often add Navratri (vrat) menus during the nine days; call ahead.
• Bengal's bhog at community pandals is vegetarian (khichuri, labra, payesh), but it is cooked with rice and lentils and ordinary salt, so it is not vrat food.

See Navratri fasting rules for what is usually allowed.

Durga Puja if you're not Bengali

You don't need to be Bengali to enjoy Kolkata's Pujo; the whole city is invited. A few things that help:

• Know the words. Anjali is the morning flower offering, bhog is the food offered and shared, sindoor khela is the married women's farewell on Dashami. The glossary has the rest.
• Ashtami morning. Join a pushpanjali: the priest says the mantra and everyone repeats it. On the same day, the Kumari Puja at Belur Math honours a young girl as the Goddess, much as kanya pujan does.
• Plan around the crowds. The famous pandals are busiest from 6 pm to midnight; go early morning or after 2 am. The pandals by metro guide and late-night pandal hopping show how.
• Wear comfortable shoes. You will walk 10 km on a good night; see what to wear and pandal-hopping tips.
• Use the app in Hindi. The Pujo Parikrama app works in English, Bengali and Hindi.

Bhowanipore, home to many Gujarati and Marwari families, has well-known pandals of its own, such as Bhowanipore 75 Pally; see the Bhowanipore area guide. Near Burrabazar in central Kolkata, Mohammad Ali Park is known for its lavish replicas and theme pandals.

Not in Kolkata?

See how other communities keep the same nine nights in Navratri across India: Bathukamma, Mysuru Dasara, Kullu Dussehra, Ayudha Puja and more.