Every festival season if Durga puja, I have people wondering the same thing, when is the Durja asthami? A lot of times it can get tricky to understand the dates because oftentimes they can overlap too depending on our Hindu calendar.Â
Durga Puja 2026 Dates in Short
| Day |  Date  |  Day of Week |
| Mahalaya            | October 10, 2026. | Saturday |
| Maha Shashthi    | October 16, 2026. | Friday |
| Maha Saptami. | October 17/18 2026 | Sat–Sun |
| Maha Ashtami | October 19, 2026 | Monday |
| Maha Navami | October 20, 2026 | Tuesday |
| Vijaya Dashami | October 21, 2026 | Wednesday |
Why Some Calendars Show Different 2026 Dates
There are two interesting reasons why some calendars show different dates or two days altogether. The first reason is that the days decided for Durga Puja are based on tithis which are lunar days and rather than your regular 24 hours cycle. Now what happens with these tithis is that it often doesn’t sync with the 24 hours cycle and that’s the reason sometimes two days can overlap with each other.Â
This is exactly what is happening with this year’s double Saptami/adhik saptami this year, the tithi begins at 5:54 AM on October 17 and doesn’t end until 8:27 AM the following morning. Depending on which sunrise a panjika anchors its observance to, Saptami will end up on the 17th, or the 18th, or sometimes both.
Another reason why this thing is so common is due to Bengal’s two different Panjika. Bengal has two long-running almanac traditions that both work a bit differently and this is the reason why they can overlap at times. The Bishuddha Siddhanta Panjika was first published in 1890 and built on calculation methods refined by 19th-century reformist astronomers. The other panjika is the Gupta Press Directory Panjika, an equally established tradition, sometimes landing on slightly different tithi transitions when a shift falls close to sunrise, exactly the situation this year. Now none of the above traditions is wrong or right, it’s just they have worked differently, hence the drastic change. I personally chose a panjika that was followed by a friend who lives here. There is a tradition of following a particular panjika in re family so I ended up following too instead of asking around which one should I follow.Â
Day-by-Day Breakdown
The Durja puja pandals start building a few days or sometimes monthly prior to the festival. Although the idol is shown at Mahalaya, followed by Maha Shashti when the main pooja starts. Saptami, Asthami, and Navami are the main days of puja and then vijaydashmi is the day of visarjan.
Mahalaya- October 10, 2026
Devi Paksha starts as the Pitru Paksha ends. The whole family wakes at dawn for the Mahishasura Mardini recitation. This tradition is related to the Akashvani’s annual broadcast. So many people visit the nearby river to perform the tarpan for their ancestors. This is the time people start shopping for the festival.
Maha Shashthi- October 16, 2026
Maha Shashthi is the day when main puja starts. During the evening the Bodhon ritual, the waking of the Goddess within her idol. Also the presence of Amantran and Adhivas. Most of the pandals unveil their idols to the public for the first time. The crowds turn to the pandal in large numbers just to get a glimpse of the idol in their favourite pandal.
Maha Saptami- October 17–18, 2026
This day starts with Nabapatrika Snan. Nabapatrika Snan is basically nine small plants put together, the bunch of plants are dressed like a bride. They are bathed and then put beside The Ganesha Idol. The bunch of plants is popularly known as Kola Bou. The tithi spans both dates this year, some pandals will perform the ritual on 17th and others on the 18th so make sure you check with your respective pandal representatives.
Maha Ashtami- October 19, 2026
This is one of the most significant days of Durja puja. We start with Pushapanjali which means we offer flowers with mantras on an empty stomach. So many pandals conduct kumari puja which is basically worshipping a young girl as a living form of Goddess. This is followed by Sandhi Puja at the 24 minute junction between Asthami and Navami. This is believed to be the time where the Goddess struck her final blow against Mahishasura. This day is where the crowd peaks.
Maha Navami- October 20, 2026
This is the last day of the ritual. This day starts with havan and ends with aarti. This day is particularly slow as people start reflecting on their life, the whole year and the festival in general. It’s always hard to say goodbye to the Goddess.
Vijaya Dashami- October 21, 2026
The festival marks the end with Dussehra. You’ll witness Sindoor Khela where married women smear vermillion on each other. Preparations for Kojagori Lakshmi Puja typically begin soon after, since it falls on the following full moon.
Mahalaya to Puja: The Gap
The gap between Mahalaya to Puja from 10th to 16th October, shows how interesting the lunar calendar works. Mahalaya falls on the Amavasya, the new moon which is close to Pitru Paksha. Shashthi falls on the 6th tithi followed by the Shukla Paksha. The five tithis between them from Pratipada through Panchami are on the calendar for any puja happening on these days.Â
Durga Puja Dates for 2027, 2028, 2029Â
Year.    Maha Shashthi.       Vijaya Dashami
-    To be confirmed      To be confirmed
-    To be confirmed      To be confirmedÂ
-    To be confirmed     To be confirmed
The reason these dates are to be confirmed is because these dates depend on panjika. The dates come out when we are near to this year or month because we need fresh astronomical readings. The general rule i.e. Dura Puja happens around September to October.
How Durga Puja Dates Are Calculated
Durga Puja always falls on Ashwin, during Shukla Paksha. The moon is half, which is why festivals are around September and October. The Hindu calendar is lunisolar. We track the moon’s phases, including an extra month every three years. This helps the lunar year stay in line with the Solar year.
In the lunar month, it is called a tithi which is the time the moon takes to move 12 degrees further from the sun. The moon’s orbital speed varies and that’s why the tithi length varies too. Sometimes it is under 24 hours and sometimes it can go beyond that.Â
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the exact date of Durga Puja 2026?
The Durga puja celebrations starts from Maha October 16 through to October 21.
Is Durga Puja in September or October 2026?
In 2026, Durga puja is in October.
Why are there two Saptami dates in 2026?
The tithi begins at 5:54 AM on October 17 and ends at 8:27 AM on October 18
When is Mahalaya 2026?
The Mahalaya is on October 10, 2026.
When is Maha Ashtami 2026?
The Maha Asthami is on October 19, 2026.Â
When is Vijaya Dashami 2026?
The Vijay Dashami is on October 21, 2026.
How many days after Mahalaya does Durga Puja start in 2026?
It starts after Six days as the Shashthi falls on October 16.
When is Durga Puja 2027?
The Exact dates will depend on panjika calculations and will be published near the start of 2027.Â
