Durga Puja 2025: When and How Are We Celebrating This Year?

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Emotions. Homecoming. Togetherness. For Bengalis, Durga Puja is synonymous with all these and more. It is the most awaited festivity of the year that goes far and beyond being just a religious carnival. Snowy cotton candy clouds floating in the clear azure sky of autumn, kaash phool swaying in the breeze on acres and acres of field, the pujo-pujo feel in the air.

Durga Puja or Durgotsav brings together people from all castes, creeds, religions, and walks of life in a unanimous celebration of togetherness under Goddess Durga’s blessings, making it one of India’s grandest festivals.

Why is Durga Puja celebrated?

Like most other Indian festivals, the celebration of Durga Puja dates its origin to the days of mythology.

When the shape-shifting demon king Mahisarur’s torment of the divine beings in Heaven escalated, Goddess Durga (reincarnation of Devi Parvati) emerged to slay the asura and protect Heaven and the mortal world from his atrocities. The battle ended with the victory of Goddess Durga, the ‘destroyer of evil,’ thus starting off a tradition of worshiping her on Durga Puja or Durgotsav.

How is Durga Puja celebrated?

Celebrations for the Durga Puja begin months ahead with the construction of artistic idols and ornate pandals (the main shelter erected for the idols). Puja shopping for new clothes and shoes is a must, with families gifting each other puja gifts. A few days before the main celebration begins, fairs, street food joints, and countless pop-up stores are up in the festive fervor, with streets and colonies lit up with colorful lights.

Prayers are offered to Goddess Durga every day, with each day signifying a new something. Side by side, devotees also worship Saraswathi, Lakshmi, Ganesha, and Karthik, who are children of Devi Durga.

Apart from attending pujas within the complexes, people go pandal hopping to witness the artistic creations, as each pandal and idol has a unique and remarkable theme for the occasion. Kolkata, for one, never fails to astonish the onlookers with beautifully decorated pandals and idols, be it at Shobhabazar Raj Bari, Deshapriya Park, or Maddox Square Park.

Durga Puja 2025 dates

Durga Puja is a 10-day festival. However, most of the significant celebrations take place in the last five days, starting from Maha Shashti.

Mahalaya: 21 September

Mahalaya precedes the main days of celebration of Durga Puja and marks the Agomoni or welcoming of Goddess Durga and her children (Lakshmi, Ganesh, Saraswati, and Kartik) from Kailash mountain to her natal home. As this day marks the start of her descent journey to her mortal devotees, artisans start painting the eyes of the goddess’ idol, an event known as chokkhudan.

Maha Shashti: 28 September

The sixth day, or Shashti, is when the deity is unveiled in front of the public. Prayers and rituals are observed, such as the playing of dhaks (a kind of drum) by the dhakis. One of the prime events of the day is Mahisasur Mardini, a theatrical enactment with songs and plays of Goddess Durga vanquishing the evil.

Maha Saptami: 29 September

The seventh day, or Maha Saptami, constitutes the ceremonial bath of the banana tree (also called Kola Bou for the occasion), draped in a red-bordered sari, and placed beside the idol of Ganesha.

Maha Ashtami: 30 September

On the eighth day or Maha Ashtami, it is believed that Goddess Durga defeated Mahisasur. All devotees start off the day with Pushpanjali (flower offerings) in the morning, and then feasts are organized in the afternoon. Khichdi (a dish of rice and lentils cooked together), curries, and other delicacies are served to all.

Maha Navami: 1 October

The culmination of Sandhi Puja announces the start of Navami. Large throngs of people gather to witness the Maha Aarti. Consequently, lots of puja committees also organize Dhunuchi (incense burner) dance competitions in the evening of Navami.

Vijaya Dashami: 2 October

Dashami is the day of bidding goodbye to the Goddess and awaiting her arrival once again the next year. Before the idol immersion or visarjan, women smear each other with red colors (the event is known as sindur khela), and the idols are carried out on a procession with music playing, dhaks beating, and people dancing to the beats.

The idols are then immersed in the holy Ganges as fireworks and crackers are burst. On this day, people exchange greetings and wish each other prosperity. They carry sweets for their friends and family while the children of the house seek the blessings of the elders.

The celebrations are slightly varied in different parts of the country. Many places in the northern and western parts of India observe it as Navratri over a span of nine days (Gujarat is well-famed for Navratri and Garba dances during this time), followed by Dussehra on the tenth day. Here too, the day marks the victory of the good over evil as people put effigies of Ravana ablaze.

Durga Puja pandals

Pandals are an integral part of the Durga Puja celebrations in West Bengal. The brightly colored idols, swarmed by devotees and intoxicated by the spirit of the holidays, are a landmark feature of the festivities.

How will Durga Puja 2025 be celebrated?

On the occasion of Durga Puja, the Government of West Bengal has announced that in the year 2025, the offices under the jurisdiction of the West Bengal government shall remain closed for 12 days, from 26 September to 7 October 2025. 

According to the Government of India, the restricted holidays for Durga Puja will be from Shashti, 28 September, to Dussera, 2 October 2025.

© PixaHiveThis year’s Durga Puja will be observed from 27 September to 2 October. The ceremony of “pran pratistha,” performed by painting the eyes on the idol of the goddess Durga, begins on Mahalaya on 21 September. 

The other auspicious days, Sasthi, Saptami, Ashtami and Navami, each have their unique importance and traditions. The culmination of the festivities is the immersion of the idols in waterways on Vijaya Dashami day. Devotees from all over the country are now thrilled to host one of the country’s most significant festivals, Durga Puja, once again with great favor and enthusiasm.

Happy puja, everyone! Maa Aaschen! Bolo Durga maye ki joy!