When is Durga Puja 2025 – Most Awaited Bengali Festival
When is Durga Puja 2025?
Dates for Durga Puja 2025 – Sunday, 28 Sept, 2025 to Thursday, 2 Oct, 2025
For the last one month I had been closely following the artists here in Bangalore making idols of Goddess Durga. Right from kneading the clay, molding to various shapes and features; it has been a long colorful journey. The artists will leave for Kolkata soon to attend the festival there.
When is Durga Puja?
As per lunar calendar festival of Durga Puja is celebrated in bright lunar fortnight of 7th Hindu month – Ashwin, which generally is on either September or on October. This period is called Devi Paksha.
Lunar calendar is a lot different from the solar calendars that we follow. Hence every year the dates of Durga Pujo festival falls in different months – September or October.
2024 Durga Puja dates: Wed, 9 Oct, 2024 – Sun, 13 Oct, 2024
Durga Puja 2023: Fri, Oct 20, 2023 – Tue, Oct 24, 2023
2022 Durga Puja Dates: 1st Oct to 5th Oct.
2021 Durga Puja Dates: 11th Oct to 15th Oct.
2020 Durga Puja dates: 17th October to 26th October Maha Sashthi date for 2020 is on 22 October.
Date for Mahalaya 2020 is on 17th September. This year it is 35 days ahead of Durga Puja due to rare occurrence of a phenomenon called mala maash, lunar month which has 2 amavasya (new moons).
As per scriptures no auspicious rites and rituals can be performed in a mala maash. For this reason instead of celebrating Durga Puja in Ashwin month it is postponed to Kartik month in lunar calendar.
2019 dates of Durga Puja Festival: 29th September to 8th October
2018 dates of Durga Puja festival: 9th October to 19th October
Durga Puja Festival Days
Durga Puja is a 10 day festival; but for the Bengalis it is the last 5 days that is filled with fun and enjoyment. This festival is about new clothes, dance, drama, fun, socializing, and majorly about food. The festival of Durga Pujo goes on for six days. Other aspects of life come to a standstill, particularly for Bengalees.
In fact each day of Durga Puja has names and specific rituals and significance.
Mahalaya – This is the first day of Pujo (that is how Bengalis pronounce it). Hindus believe the Goddess Durga descends from Heaven to rid Earth of a notorious demon Mahisasur. The 3 eyes of Maa Durga are painted on this day.
Days 2 to 5 – During these days the idols are given finishing touches. They are painted and adorned with colorful saris for the Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati and dhoti for Lord Ganesha and Kartik. By 5th day all idols would have been transported to the respective pandals.
Panchami – Some grand pandals start celebrations on the 5th day itself with Pachami Pujo. In the evenings, before the puja begins, they have Anando Mela. This is a community organised event when women offer home-cooked Bengali delicacies. They include the popular biryani of Bengal, Kosha Mangsho, Mutton Chops, Fish fritters, sweets of Bengal. Children put up variety entertainment programs and men folk eat and of course look into the final touches for pujo pandal.
You can read more: Panchami of Durga Pujo Celebrated with Anandomela.
Shashti – As the name indicates is the 6th day of the pujo, the day of unveiling of Goddess Durga amidst hymns and chants. Most places pujo fervor begins on this day. Mega celebrations and pandal hopping start from this day. The crowd is less and I try to see as many as possible, especially the distant ones from home. Traffic gets crazy on these days of festivals.
Read more on Shoshti here: Maha Shashti of Durga Pujo
Saptami – 7th day of Pujo, the excitement is Bengali crowds is palpable. Pandal hopping is in full swing now, mostly to eat from food stalls of Pandals and to catch up with friends. The day’s prayers are dedicated for Maha Snan (holy bath or bathing ritual) and Pran Prathishta (infusing life).
Check this to know more: Significance of Maha Saptami of Durga Pujo
Ashtami – Durga Ashtami is the most auspicious day of this 10 day festival. On this day Goddess Chamunda appeared from the forehead of Mother Durga and annihilated Chanda, Munda, and Rakthabija (the demons who were associates of Mahishasura). Devout Hindus are on a strict vegetarian diet on this day.
Navami – Transition from ashtami to navami is the most crucial moment when Goddess Durga slays Mahisasur the demon, the very purpose of Her descent on earth. Non vegetarian food is relished by Bengali people on this day. People participate in Dhunuchi Naach, dance with glowing embers in an earthen pot in the evenings of this day.
Dashami – The 10th and last day of Durga Puja festival. Goddess is finally bid good bye. After boron of Goddess and sindur khela, the idols of Goddess is immersed in water. People part after exchanging greetings of Shubho Bijoya!
Know more: Significance of immersion of idols of Goddess Durga.
The last day of this Devi Paksha is celebrated as Kojagori Lokkhi (Lakshmi) Pujo. With that the festivities come to an end and the wait begins for pujo of next year!
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Happy Pujo to all!
Happy Durga Puja Indrani….:). Lovely photos..
Great post, Subho Durga Puja _()_
Nice post 🙂 Happy Durga Puja to you 🙂
Waiting to see it all with you. 🙂
Nice pictures Indrani 🙂 Virtually visualized how terra cruda idols are made because of this post of yours. Happy Durga Puja 🙂 TC! Keep smiling 🙂
lovely images…your images made me home sick :'-(….happy puja
Interesting and Nice pics 🙂
Maa Asche! Sarodiyar Subechha! lovely pics!
Nice photos, Happy Pujo to you too…khub bhaalo kaTuk pujor dingulo… 🙂
Even I wanna visit the artisans at work.
Nice pics, Indrani!
Happy Pujo to you & your family 🙂
Happy Durga Pujo.
বাঙ্গালোরে প্রবাসী বাঙ্গালীদের তত উত্সাহ দেখলাম না যেরকম অন্য জায়গায় দেখা যায়। তবু যারা আসেন আন্তরিকতার ছোয়া থাকে। পুজো তে আনন্দ করুন
Happy puja Indrani!
Happy Pujo Indrani. Very beautiful. When I used to live in Bangalore around 2005 and despite my honest effort I couldn't find any pundals or statue there. I'm really very happy to know the current celebration. Thanks for this wonderful sharing 🙂
Wonderful post as always!!!
While I'm not even sure of my beliefs these days, I do know I believe in goodness and kindness and peace for humanity. I love that we can share each others beliefs and festivals in harmony and it is wonderful to share in your gods and goddesses and festivals so far away in a land I love.
Wonderful images, so interesting!
I was wondering if the whole process is eco friendly. Any fibre glass used? good post!!
Have a wonderful time. Sounds like so much fun. I like the first, plainer statues as well but I think I would also love the amazing colors and textures and patterns of the ones depicted in the last photo.
Thanks for posting this. So interesting.
Gina
It always fascinates me to see the preparations for a festival. Here I personally like the rustic terracotta statues better than the fully painted ones, but either way, I hope everyone has a blast at the festival.
I wonder if the statues in the first picture were originally painted? I'm always struck by what a fantastic sight that must have been at the time. We're used to a very color saturated world, with many images available to us, but originally…oh she must have seemed so magical!
Happy Pujo to you.
In a complete aside, I was raised an Episcopalian and it's really a very nice, accepting faction of the Christian church. I went to Sunday school ever Sunday, I heard all the lessons. I grew up, left the church, never regretted it. All the kind sermons, and all the long lessons never quite resonated with me. It was an Indian shopkeeper who delivered the biggest truth I've personally ever encountered about the possibility of divinity in this world.
I was buying a skirt and we got to talking about a statue of Vishnu that was at the cash register, I believe Vishnu, I asked which god the statue depicted, and we talked for quite a bit. I mentioned that I wasn't really sure what I believed and he said, "All paths to God are valid."
And I knew it was absolutely, without question, the truth of the matter.
Very interesting. And Happy pandal trotting. 🙂
Very nice images. Happy Durga Pujo to you too!
It is always fun to plan a photo series and yours sounds interesting.
Wow fantastic. The craftsmen are really talented.
How many times I have wished for a few more hands and arms. I guess one has to be a goddess to be granted wishes like that.
A very, very rich culture.
Interesting rich culture!
Having so many arms reminds me of a modern day multitasker.
Always love your posts and photos!
Have a nice week
Gr, Bram
Nice pictorial report.
Just back from Calcutta where I saw Durgas in various stages of creation !
Interesting to see how the idols are made.
how amazing and extremely talented. Judith (Precious Moments)
Such a wonderful post…so informative. Love the photos as well!
Beautiful!
Hugs
SueAnn
Artists must be having lots of fun moving from place to place in festivals. I like the man working on that intricate piece.
fascinating look into your world!
Always love your posts and photos and information, Indrani! Can't wait to learn more and see more photos about Durga Pujo! Hope you have a great week!
Sylvia
Very interesting post and I enjoyed the photographs so much.
Thanks for a very interesting and informative post. It was interesting to see the various stages of the making of the idol.
Oh wow.. very cool. I learn so much visiting here.
I thoroughly enjoy visiting your blog Indrani. Thank you very much for sharing these wonderful photos and for this post on the Hindu religion.
such artistry and talent.
Superb dear
The real master craftsmen who give life to a statue.
Fabulous shots. Love the way we can see the whole process…
Awesome post…Indrani!!
Very interesting!
hey, this makes me miss calcutta!
waiting for completion