Mark Your Calendar: October 7-21, 2026
There are festivals, and then there is Durga Puja in Calcutta. If you’re planning your India journey for 2026, let us tell you why you should block October 7-21 in your calendar – dates when the City of Joy becomes the stage for the world’s most spectacular fusion of art, devotion, culture, and community. These two weeks, with the main festivities concentrated in five extraordinary days, will offer you an experience unlike anything else on earth.
The Story You’ll Witness Come Alive
As you walk through Calcutta’s pandal-lined streets in October 2026, you’ll be stepping into a story that’s been told for millennia. The narrative of Durga Puja speaks of the demon king Mahishasura who terrorized heaven and earth until the gods combined their divine energies to create an invincible force – Goddess Durga. Armed with weapons from each deity, riding a magnificent lion, with ten powerful arms, she battled for nine days before vanquishing evil on the tenth.
But in Bengal, you’ll discover something more intimate. Here, Durga isn’t just a warrior goddess; she’s Uma, the beloved daughter returning to her maternal home each autumn with her four children – Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesh, and Kartik. This dual identity – fierce protector and cherished daughter – infuses the celebration with both grandeur and tenderness. You’ll feel it in the air, see it in the rituals, and recognize it in the tears shed when she departs.
From Zamindari Mansions to the Streets: A Living History
When you join Enriching Journeys for Durga Puja 2026, we’ll take you beyond the famous community pandals to witness where this tradition began. In 1610, in what is now Bangladesh, Raja Kangshanarayan hosted the first recorded Durga Puja. By the late 18th century, wealthy zamindars (landlords) in Calcutta were hosting elaborate private pujas that became markers of prestige and power.
We’ll arrange exclusive access to some of these heritage bonedi bari (aristocratic household) pujas, where families have been worshipping for over two centuries. You’ll witness rituals unchanged by time, performed in crumbling yet magnificent old Calcutta mansions, feeling the weight of history in every Sanskrit chant.
The transformation to community celebrations – the famous “Baroari Pujas” – began in the early 20th century. The first public puja in Calcutta appeared in 1910 at Balaram Bose Ghat Road in Bhowanipore. This democratization of what was once an elite affair turned Durga Puja into Bengal’s ultimate cultural expression, and you’ll experience both worlds with us.
Your Journey Through the Festival: What to Expect
Mahalaya (October 7)
Wake before dawn. We’ll gather you for the ritual listening of “Mahishasura Mardini” – a 90-minute radio program that has signaled the beginning of Durga Puja since 1931. You’ll hear Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s legendary voice recounting the goddess’s tale, and understand why generations of Bengalis won’t start puja without this auditory tradition. This is also when you’ll witness the painting of Durga’s eyes on the clay idols – a moment charged with anticipation.
The week between Mahalaya and Shashti offers a unique opportunity. We’ll take you to Kumartuli, the potters’ quarter, where you’ll see frantic last-minute preparations – artisans applying final touches, idols being transported through narrow lanes, and the infectious energy of impending celebration. You’ll meet the sculptors, understand their craft passed down through generations, and see the goddess taking her final form.
Shashti (October 17)
The day you’ll feel Calcutta shift into a different gear entirely. The goddess is ceremonially welcomed with rituals we’ll help you understand and participate in. The city that never quite sleeps will now not sleep at all for the next four days, and neither will you – not because you’re exhausted, but because you won’t want to miss a moment.
Saptami, Ashtami, and Navami (October 18-20)
These three days will redefine what you think is possible in celebration. We’ll guide you through dozens of pandals, each more creative than the last. Imagine walking into a recreation of the Sistine Chapel, then turning a corner to find yourself in a reimagined Hogwarts, followed by an abstract installation addressing climate change – all housing exquisite Durga idols.
You’ll navigate crowds moving like rivers of humanity, but with our expert planning and local connections, you’ll access the most sought-after pandals without the usual multi-hour queues. The rhythmic beating of dhak drums will become your heartbeat. The scent of incense, shiuli flowers, and bhog (ritual food offering) will embed itself in your memory.
We’ll ensure you taste authentic bhog – the blessed vegetarian feast of khichuri, labra, and sweets. You’ll explore street food paradise, sampling everything from kathi rolls to mishti doi. You’ll experience the “pandal hopping” culture, joining locals who walk kilometers each night, dressed in new clothes, meeting friends at every corner.
Dashami (October 21)
We’ll take you to witness Sindoor Khela, where married women in pristine white saris smear each other with vermillion in a riot of red and joy, bidding farewell to Ma Durga. You’ll feel the collective emotion as millions prepare to say goodbye to their beloved goddess.
Then comes the immersion processions. Thousands of idols, some towering stories high, are carried through streets pulsing with music and dancing crowds. We’ll position you at the banks of the Hooghly River for sunset, where you’ll witness one of the world’s most moving spectacles – clay goddesses returning to the water from which they came, dissolving back into earth as thousands chant prayers and farewells.
Beyond Religion: Your Cultural Immersion
What makes this experience extraordinary – and why UNESCO designated Durga Puja as “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” in 2021 – is its universal embrace. You’ll see Muslims creating the idols, Christian families pandal-hopping, and people from every background united in celebration. This isn’t just religious tourism; it’s witnessing how culture transcends boundaries.
Between October 7-21, 2026, you’ll experience Calcutta at its most magical. A blend of devotion and carnival, ancient tradition and cutting-edge innovation, intimate prayer and massive celebration. You’ll understand why Bengalis plan their year around these days, why expatriates fly home from around the world, and why once experienced, Durga Puja calls you back forever.
Your Journey Begins Now
At Enriching Journeys, we’re already crafting experiences for Durga Puja 2026. Our team doesn’t just show you the pandals; we connect you with the artists creating them, the families performing century-old rituals, the drummers keeping tradition alive, and the communities for whom these five days are everything.
We’ll handle the complexity – the accommodation in a city bursting at its seams, the navigation through crowds, the timing to see the most spectacular pandals, the access to heritage pujas closed to general tourists. You simply immerse yourself in an experience that will touch your soul and expand your understanding of what celebration, community, and culture can be.
October 7-21, 2026. Two weeks to witness the build-up, the explosion of joy, and the bittersweet farewell. One city transformed. An experience that stays with you forever.
Ready to witness the extraordinary? Let’s start planning your Durga Puja journey today.
DURGA PUJA 2026 WITH ENRICHING JOURNEYS October 7-21, 2026
- Exclusive heritage puja access
- Expert cultural guides & historians
- Curated pandal routes avoiding crowds
- Behind-the-scenes artist interactions
- Authentic culinary experiences
- Premium accommodation in peak season
- Flexible itineraries (5-14 days)