Durga Puja and Kali Puja 2026 Dates in West Bengal

Updated October 2026 · HappyFares

Pujo season runs long in Bengal, from the first tarpan at Mahalaya to the sindoor khela on Dashami, and it keeps going through Kali Puja and Bhai Phota three weeks later. Here are the confirmed 2026 dates, cross-checked against the state holiday list and Bengali panjika sources.

What are the exact 2026 dates for Durga Puja, from Mahalaya to Bijoya Dashami?

Sandhi Puja, the roughly 48 minute window that joins Ashtami and Navami, falls on the morning of 19 October this year. Exact clock timings for Sandhi Puja vary by panjika and by city, so check a Kolkata-specific panchang closer to the date rather than relying on a single published time.

Why does Bengal’s Bijoya Dashami fall a day after the rest of India’s Dussehra in 2026?

The central government’s 2026 holiday list marks Dussehra on Tuesday, 20 October, and most of India observes Vijayadashami that same day. Bengal’s own panjika, however, calculates the Dashami tithi as running into the next day, so the state’s official Vijay Dashami holiday, and the community pujo rituals of sindoor khela and idol immersion, fall on Wednesday, 21 October instead. This is a known, recurring difference in how the tithi is read across regional calendars, not an error in either calendar.

When is Kojagari Lakshmi Puja and Kali Puja in 2026?

Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, observed on the first full moon night after Durga Puja, falls on Sunday, 25 October 2026. Bengal, along with Odisha and Assam, worships Lakshmi on this night rather than waiting for the pan-India Diwali date. Kali Puja then falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, the same new moon night as Diwali itself, since Kali Puja is tied to the Kartik Amavasya that Lakshmi Puja elsewhere in India also shares.

When exactly is Bhai Phota 2026?

This one genuinely has two correct answers depending on which panjika you follow. The Dwitiya tithi runs from the afternoon of 10 November into the afternoon of 11 November, so one set of Bengali panjikas marks Bhai Phota on Tuesday, 10 November, while the Bisuddha Siddhanta panjika places it on Wednesday, 11 November, following the sunrise rule for which tithi governs the day. West Bengal’s state holiday list accommodates this by extending the break across both 11 and 12 November, so check your family’s own panjika for the exact tilak timing, but either day falls within the recognised window.

What should you know about flying into Kolkata or Bagdogra during Pujo?

Flights into Kolkata around Shashthi and the days leading up to Ashtami tend to be busier than an average weekend, as Pujo draws both visiting family and pandal-hopping tourists into the city. Bagdogra, the gateway for Darjeeling, Gangtok and the Dooars, sees a similar seasonal lift, since the pujo holidays line up with pleasant hill-station weather and many Bengali families travel north for a short break right after immersion. Expect fuller flights and firmer fares through the Shashthi to Dashami window and again around Kali Puja, rather than a single identifiable peak day. For route-specific planning, see our Durga Puja Kolkata 2026 flights and booking strategy and Kali Puja 2026 Kolkata flights guide.

Common Questions

Is Mahalaya a public holiday in West Bengal?

Mahalaya itself, 10 October 2026, is not typically a separate gazetted holiday; the formal Durga Puja holiday block in West Bengal begins a few days later and runs through Bijoya Dashami and beyond.

Why do some calendars show Durga Puja ending on 20 October and others on 21 October?

Both are correct for different audiences. The pan-India Dussehra and Vijayadashami fall on 20 October per the central holiday list, while West Bengal’s own panjika and state holiday calendar place Bijoya Dashami on 21 October, one tithi later.

Is Kali Puja the same day as Diwali in West Bengal?

Yes, in 2026 both fall on Sunday, 8 November, since Kali Puja and Lakshmi Puja are observed on the same Kartik Amavasya night, just worshipped differently depending on the region.

When should I book flights for Durga Puja 2026?

As early as your leave allows. The Shashthi to Dashami window, 17 to 21 October 2026, is a fixed, well-known travel period, so fares on routes into Kolkata and Bagdogra tend to firm up well ahead of the dates rather than closer to departure.

Does Bhai Phota fall before or after the pan-India Bhai Dooj?

They are the same festival on the same tithi, just named differently. Depending on the panjika, both are marked on 10 or 11 November 2026, matching the pan-India Bhai Dooj dates.

Is Kojagari Lakshmi Puja the same as Diwali?

No. Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, 25 October 2026 in Bengal, Odisha and Assam, is a separate full moon night Lakshmi worship that comes about two weeks before the pan-India Diwali and Kali Puja date of 8 November.

Panjika-based dates can vary by a day between regional calendars. Confirm the exact date and tilak or puja timing with your family’s own panjika before booking non-refundable travel.