Durga Puja
Durga Puja Calendar

Durga Puja Calendar 2013

The Durga Puja festival calendar — from Mahalaya through Maha Shashthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Vijayadashami, with the tithi for each day.

Durga Puja 2013 lists 9 dates, beginning with Mahalaya / Sarva Pitru Amavasya on 4 October.

October 2013

  • Mahalaya / Sarva Pitru Amavasya

    Friday, 4 October 2013 Krishna Chaturdashi

    Tithi 6:54 AM, Oct 3 6:37 AM, Oct 4

    The last day of Pitru Paksha for ancestral tarpan, and the herald of Durga Puja.

  • Sharad Navratri Begins (Ghatasthapana)

    Saturday, 5 October 2013 Shukla Pratipada

    Tithi 6:04 AM, Oct 5 5:16 AM, Oct 6

    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.

  • Durga Puja — Maha Shashthi

    Thursday, 10 October 2013 Shukla Shashthi

    Tithi 10:00 PM, Oct 9 7:51 PM, Oct 10

    Bodhon and Kalparambha — the formal welcome of Goddess Durga that opens the puja.

  • Durga Puja — Maha Saptami

    Friday, 11 October 2013 Shukla Saptami

    Tithi 7:50 PM, Oct 10 5:38 PM, Oct 11

    Nabapatrika is bathed and Goddess Durga is worshipped on the seventh day of the puja.

  • Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami

    Saturday, 12 October 2013 Shukla Ashtami

    Tithi 5:38 PM, Oct 11 3:26 PM, Oct 12

    The grandest day of Durga Puja, with Kumari Puja and the Sandhi Puja at dusk.

  • Durga Puja — Maha Navami

    Sunday, 13 October 2013 Shukla Navami

    Tithi 3:25 PM, Oct 12 1:17 PM, Oct 13

    The ninth day of Durga Puja, marked by Navami Homa and the final grand worship.

  • Dussehra / Dasara (Vijayadashami)

    Sunday, 13 October 2013 Shukla Navami

    Tithi 3:25 PM, Oct 12 1:17 PM, Oct 13

    The victory of good over evil — effigies of Ravana are burnt and Durga is bid farewell.

  • Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja

    Sunday, 13 October 2013 Shukla Navami

    Tithi 3:25 PM, Oct 12 1:17 PM, Oct 13

    Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami.

  • Kojagari Lakshmi Puja

    Friday, 18 October 2013 Shukla Purnima

    Tithi 5:34 AM, Oct 18 4:53 AM, Oct 19

    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.

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.