Interesting Facts About Durga Puja in Kolkata, West Bengal

Kolkata, the former capital of British India, is a city steeped in culture and tradition. The hub of Bengali culture, Kolkata has been hosting Durga Puja, one of the biggest festivals in the region, for centuries. The main five-day festival is celebrated during the Bengali month of Ashwin, and in 2026, the main celebrations will take place from October 17 to October 21.

The festival is an occasion for people from all walks of life to come together and celebrate the victory of good over evil, represented by Goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura.

Durga Puja Dates 2026 – 17 October to 21 October 2026

Some of the interesting facts about Kolkata Durga Puja are:

• Durga Puja in Kolkata is traditionally celebrated over five main days.
• These five days are called Maha Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Maha Dashami (Vijaya Dashami).
• It is a festival to celebrate the victory of good over evil and to seek the blessings of Goddess Durga, who defeated the buffalo demon Mahishasura and restored peace and righteousness.
• Durga Puja is associated with Mahalaya, which marks the beginning of Devi Paksha and traditionally signals the approach of Durga Puja. However, the main five-day Puja begins with Maha Shashthi. The last day is Vijaya Dashami, which is also associated with Dussehra in many other parts of India. While Durga Puja celebrates Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura, Dussehra in many northern and western regions commemorates Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana.
• Apart from West Bengal, Durga Puja is also widely celebrated in neighbouring states such as Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Tripura and Assam. It is also celebrated in several foreign countries by Bengali and Indian communities.
• As Vijaya Dashami marks the end of the festival, Bengali people bid farewell to Goddess Durga through visarjan or immersion of the idols in water.
• According to Hindu mythology and Bengali tradition, Goddess Durga visits her maternal home on Earth from Mount Kailash during this time. On Dashami, she begins her return journey to Lord Shiva, accompanied by her four children: Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh.
• Some amazing facts about Kolkata Durga Puja are that each day of the festival has its own significance.
• For instance, on Mahalaya, many traditional artisans perform Chokkhu Daan, the ritual of painting the eyes of the Durga idol. However, the exact timing and practice can vary among artisans and puja traditions.
• On Maha Shashthi, the idols of Maa Durga and her children are formally welcomed and the traditional Bodhon ritual is performed. However, many popular pandals in Kolkata open to visitors before Shashthi, sometimes around Mahalaya or even earlier, depending on the organisers.
• In the early morning of Maha Saptami, the presence of the Goddess is ritually invoked through various ceremonies. One of the important rituals is the Nabapatrika Puja, popularly known as Kola Bou Snan. The Nabapatrika consists of nine plants, with a banana plant as the central plant, and is traditionally wrapped in a saree and placed beside Lord Ganesha.
• The last day of Durga Puja in Kolkata is marked by the celebration of Vijaya Dashami. People greet each other, traditionally through Kolakuli (embracing), and exchange sweets and various homemade snacks.
• Kolkata Durga Puja celebrations start with the opening of pandals, cultural programmes and various community events. These are followed by food festivals and other festive activities.
• Meeting family members, coming home and eating delectable dishes at various popular restaurants is also an important part of experiencing Durga Puja in Kolkata and exploring the city beyond its famous pandals.
• Some of the interesting facts about Kolkata Durga Puja pandals are that many of them are customised according to a different theme every year.
• The pandals are prepared for months, from the basic structure and idols to intricate artworks and decorations.
• Some pandals are famous in Kolkata for decorating the idols with real gold ornaments. Such pandals generally have heightened security arrangements during the festival.
• The idols look different in different parts of Kolkata. In North Kolkata, you can often see the traditional Daker Saaj, a classic style of decorating Goddess Durga’s idol. In South Kolkata, the look of the idols often changes in accordance with the theme of the pandals.
• Several competitions with different segments are held during Durga Puja in West Bengal. The winners and runners-up are selected in categories such as Best Idol, Best Theme, Best Artwork and several others.
• If you explore West Bengal’s Durga Puja pandal photo galleries, you will notice many homely celebrations of this festival. There are Rajbaris (royal houses) and Bonedi Baris (ancestral aristocratic houses) that celebrate Durga Puja in their homes and courtyards with relatives, friends and family. Some of these places can be explored in Kolkata, such as Shobhabazar Rajbari and Thanthania Dutta Bari, but for many others, you may need permission from the members of those families.
• Some of the must-visit Durga Puja pandals and heritage pujas in Kolkata include Bagbazar Sarbojonin, Nabankur Sangha, Tala Park, College Square, Babubagan, Ekdalia, Mudiali Club, Singhi Park, Badamtala, Chetla Agrani, Tridhara, Shobhabazar Rajbari, Chhatu Babu-Latu Babu House, Chandra Bari, Thanthania Dutta Bari, Kumartuli Sarbojanin and Sabarna Roy Choudhury House.

Kolkata becomes full of lights and is beautifully decked up on the occasion of Durga Puja every year. It is also a great time to learn about the place, its cuisines, street foods, traditions and rituals. If you are a keen traveller and want to explore Kolkata and West Bengal during the time of Durga Puja, join us on our Puja Tours. Let’s celebrate the grand festival together! Comment here if you are excited to visit Durga Puja pandals with us.

Other Interesting Blogs to Read

• Durga Puja Festival Guide
• Best Places to Visit in West Bengal
• Top Pandals to Visit During Durga Puja in Kolkata
• Festival of Durga Puja in Kolkata – Embrace the Festive Vibes in the City of Joy