The Durga Puja festival calendar — from Mahalaya through Maha Shashthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Vijayadashami, with the tithi for each day.
October 2026
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Mahalaya / Sarva Pitru Amavasya
Tithi 9:34 PM, Oct 9 – 9:14 PM, Oct 10
The last day of Pitru Paksha for offering tarpan to ancestors, and the herald of Durga Puja.
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Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana)
Tithi 9:18 PM, Oct 10 – 9:25 PM, Oct 11
Nine nights of worship of Goddess Durga in her nine forms begin on Ashwin Shukla Pratipada, opened by the Ghatasthapana (kalash) ritual in Maharashtra and the garba and dandiya-raas nights of Gujarat; in Rajasthan the Karni Mata fair at Deshnok and the Jeen Mata fair draw great crowds.
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Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi
Tithi 3:25 AM, Oct 16 – 5:49 AM, Oct 17
Bodhon and Kalparambha — the formal welcome of Goddess Durga that opens the puja.
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Durga Puja — Maha Saptami
Tithi 5:54 AM, Oct 17 – 8:28 AM, Oct 18
Nabapatrika is bathed and Goddess Durga is worshipped on the seventh day of the puja.
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Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami
Tithi 5:56 AM, Oct 17 – 8:28 AM, Oct 18
The grandest day of Durga Puja, with Kumari Puja and the Sandhi Puja at dusk.
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Durga Puja — Maha Navami
Tithi 8:35 AM, Oct 18 – 10:52 AM, Oct 19
The ninth day of Durga Puja, marked by Navami Homa and the final grand worship.
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Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami)
Tithi 11:01 AM, Oct 19 – 12:52 PM, Oct 20
The victory of good over evil — effigies of Ravana are burnt and Durga is bid farewell.
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Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tithi 11:01 AM, Oct 19 – 12:52 PM, Oct 20
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami.
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Kojagari Lakshmi Puja
Tithi 12:07 PM, Oct 25 – 9:42 AM, Oct 26
On the Sharad Purnima night, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped through a vigil for prosperity; in Rajasthan, Jodhpur keeps the night with the Marwar Festival of folk music and dance.
September 2027
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Mahalaya / Sarva Pitru Amavasya
Tithi 1:53 PM, Sep 28 – 10:55 AM, Sep 29
The last day of Pitru Paksha for ancestral tarpan, and the herald of Durga Puja.
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Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana)
Tithi 10:49 AM, Sep 29 – 8:06 AM, Sep 30
Nine nights of worship of Goddess Durga begin on Ashwin Shukla Pratipada, opened by the Ghatasthapana (kalash) ritual in Maharashtra and the garba and dandiya-raas nights of Gujarat; in Rajasthan the Karni Mata fair at Deshnok and the Jeen Mata fair draw great crowds.
October 2027
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Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi
Tithi 2:32 AM, Oct 6 – 3:58 AM, Oct 7
Bodhon and Kalparambha — the formal welcome of Goddess Durga that opens the puja.
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Durga Puja — Maha Saptami
Tithi 4:13 AM, Oct 7 – 6:15 AM, Oct 8
Nabapatrika is bathed and Goddess Durga is worshipped on the seventh day of the puja.
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Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami
Tithi 4:01 AM, Oct 7 – 6:28 AM, Oct 8
The grandest day of Durga Puja, with Kumari Puja and the Sandhi Puja at dusk.
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Durga Puja — Maha Navami
Tithi 6:23 AM, Oct 8 – 9:02 AM, Oct 9
The ninth day of Durga Puja, marked by Navami Homa and the final grand worship.
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Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tithi 6:23 AM, Oct 8 – 9:02 AM, Oct 9
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped during Navratri.
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Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami)
Tithi 9:03 AM, Oct 9 – 11:41 AM, Oct 10
The victory of good over evil — effigies of Ravana are burnt and Durga is bid farewell.
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Sharad Purnima / Kojagari Lakshmi Puja
Tithi 6:53 PM, Oct 14 – 7:21 PM, Oct 15
The harvest full moon; kheer is set in the moonlight and Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped at night; in Rajasthan, Jodhpur keeps the night with the Marwar Festival of folk music and dance.
Tithi start and end times are shown in your local time. Festival dates follow the standard Indian (sunrise) calendar and may vary by a day in other regions, and may differ slightly from regional almanacs (especially around an Adhik Maas).
About the Durga Puja Calendar
The Durga Puja festival calendar — from Mahalaya through Maha Shashthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Vijayadashami, with the tithi for each day.
Each entry lists the festival or vrat with its date, the prevailing tithi, and a short note on the observance. Dates are shown for the current and the coming year.