Navratri and Durga Puja 2026: Major Hindu Festivals Approach as October Celebrations Near

India is preparing for a major festive period as Navratri and Durga Puja 2026 approach in October. Shardiya Navratri is scheduled to begin on October 11, while the main Durga Puja celebrations in West Bengal will run from October 17 to October 21, according to official tourism, government and Indian Meteorological Department calendars.

The festivals are closely connected through the worship of Goddess Durga and the broader Shakti tradition, but their customs and peak celebration days vary significantly across India. For devotees, families, visitors and businesses, the dates mark the beginning of one of the country’s busiest religious and cultural periods of the year.

When does Navratri begin in 2026?

According to the Government of India’s official Incredible India tourism portal, Navratri will be observed from October 11 to October 19. The nine-night festival is associated with the worship of different manifestations of the Goddess and is celebrated in distinctive ways across India’s regions.

In Gujarat and parts of western India, the period is strongly associated with Garba and Dandiya, alongside fasting and religious observances. In northern India, Navratri traditionally leads into Dussehra, while eastern India places particular emphasis on Durga Puja.

The official Maharashtra Tourism listing likewise gives October 11 as the start of the Navratri period and describes worship of forms of Goddess Shakti including Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.

Durga Puja reaches its peak in mid-October

West Bengal’s official SAHAJ Puja Permission Portal lists Mahalaya on October 10, followed by the principal Durga Puja observances from Maha Shashthi through Vijaya Dashami. Its 2026 calendar gives the following dates:

Festival day	Date
Mahalaya	October 10
Maha Chaturthi	October 15
Maha Panchami	October 16
Maha Shashthi	October 17
Maha Saptami	October 18
Maha Ashtami	October 19
Maha Navami	October 20
Vijaya Dashami	October 21

The Government of West Bengal’s holiday information also confirms Durga Puja holidays around these dates, including Maha Panchami on October 16, Maha Ashtami on October 19, Maha Nabami on October 20 and Dashami on October 21.

Kolkata’s official tourism information on the Incredible India portal identifies the principal celebration period as October 17 to October 21, describing the final five days as the central period of the city’s Durga Puja festivities.

Why the dates can look different across India

Readers may notice that different calendars give slightly different dates for Dussehra, Vijayadashami and Durga Puja. This is not necessarily a contradiction.

The Indian Meteorological Department’s Rashtriya Panchanga lists October 18 as Durga Puja Saptami in Bengal, October 19 as Maha Ashtami, October 20 as Mahanavami in Bengal and October 21 as Vijaya Dashami in Bengal. The same calendar identifies October 20 as Vijayadashami or Dussehra in the broader national festival calendar.

This reflects regional religious calendars and traditions. In Bengal, Durga Puja follows its own sequence of major observances, while in several other parts of India the nine-day Navratri cycle culminates in Vijayadashami on October 20.

For anyone planning travel, religious visits or public events, the safest approach is therefore to check the calendar for the specific state or city rather than relying on a single nationwide date.

A festival season with different regional identities

Although Navratri and Durga Puja share a focus on Goddess Durga and Shakti, the celebrations can look very different from one region to another.

Western India: Gujarat and Maharashtra are known for community celebrations, devotional gatherings and traditional Garba and Dandiya events.

Northern India: Navratri is widely associated with fasting, temple worship and the eventual celebration of Dussehra, which symbolises the victory of good over evil.

Eastern India: West Bengal, particularly Kolkata, turns Durga Puja into a major public celebration combining worship, artistic installations, music, food and community gatherings.

The Government of India’s tourism portal describes Kolkata’s Durga Puja as a celebration centred on elaborate temporary pandals, carefully designed idols and extensive artistic and cultural activity.

Mahalaya begins the countdown in Bengal

For Bengali communities, Mahalaya on October 10 will mark an important point in the countdown to Durga Puja.

The date precedes the main five-day celebration and has a strong cultural and religious significance in Bengal. From there, the sequence moves through Shashthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and finally Dashami.

The official West Bengal puja portal confirms the October 10 Mahalaya date and the subsequent schedule for 2026.

What visitors and devotees should keep in mind

The concentration of celebrations over a relatively short period means October will be an especially significant month for religious tourism and cultural activity.

Those planning to visit major celebration centres should check local arrangements before travelling. Festival schedules, public access, traffic restrictions, transport arrangements and individual puja committee programmes can vary from one location to another.

The distinction between festival date and local event schedule is also important. An official religious calendar establishes the principal observances, but individual pandals, temples, neighbourhood associations and cultural organisations may announce their own programmes separately.

This outlet’s assessment

The 2026 calendar highlights how one festive season can unite different traditions without making them identical. Navratri, Durga Puja and Vijayadashami are linked by the worship of Shakti and themes of divine power and the triumph of good, but regional customs give each celebration its own character.

For readers, the most useful takeaway is the calendar distinction: Navratri begins on October 11, while Bengal’s principal Durga Puja period begins with Maha Shashthi on October 17 and culminates in Vijaya Dashami on October 21. Checking the relevant regional calendar is essential for anyone making travel or religious plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Navratri start in 2026?

Shardiya Navratri begins on October 11, 2026, according to the Government of India’s Incredible India tourism portal.

When is Durga Puja in West Bengal?

The main Durga Puja celebration in West Bengal runs from October 17 to October 21, with Mahalaya falling on October 10.

When is Maha Ashtami?

In the 2026 Bengal Durga Puja calendar, Maha Ashtami falls on October 19.

When is Vijaya Dashami in Bengal?

The Indian Meteorological Department’s Rashtriya Panchanga lists October 21, 2026, as Vijaya Dashami in Bengal.

Why is Dussehra sometimes shown on a different date?

Festival dates can differ because regional Hindu calendars and traditions determine the principal observance. The IMD calendar lists October 20 as Mahanavami in Bengal and as Vijayadashami/Dussehra in the broader national calendar, while Bengal’s Vijaya Dashami is observed on October 21.