Durga Puja 2026 dates: Mahalaya to Vijaya Dashami calendar explained
Durga Puja 2026 begins with Mahalaya on October 10 and the main five-day observance runs from October 17 to October 21, according to West Bengal’s SAHAJ portal.
Durga Puja 2026 has entered the countdown phase after Mahalaya on October 10. West Bengal’s official SAHAJ Puja Permission Portal lists the main festival sequence from Maha Shashthi on October 17 through Vijaya Dashami on October 21.
The calendar matters for visitors planning pandal trips, devotees arranging pushpanjali and families checking holiday dates. Maha Saptami falls on October 18, Maha Ashtami on October 19, Maha Navami on October 20 and Vijaya Dashami on October 21.
Dates and observances can vary by region and local panchang practice, so visitors should confirm ritual timings with their puja committee or local temple. This guide reports the published festival dates; it does not replace a priest’s instruction or a local event notice.
For commuters, the most practical planning step is to choose one area at a time, check the latest transport advisory and keep extra time for queues near popular pandals.
