Durga Puja
দুর্গা পূজা
The great autumn festival of Bengal, marking the Goddess Durga's annual homecoming. Celebrated over five main days in community pandals and in family homes.
- Where it is observed
- West Bengal · Assam · Odisha · Tripura · Jharkhand · and Bengali communities nationwide
- Communities
- Bengali Hindu families and puja committees
- When to send
- 2–5 weeks ahead
- Invitation shape
- A day-by-day invitation. Each of the five days carries its own rituals and timings, and guests often attend only specific days.
Who invites whom
Puja committees invite their locality and patrons; families with a bonedi bari puja invite relatives and friends to their home.
Timing & dates
Committees typically invite three to four weeks ahead, after Mahalaya. Family pujas invite closer in, but guests travelling to Kolkata for the festival book transport much earlier.
2026–27 date guidance
In 2026 the main Durga Puja days fall between 16 and 20 October, with Dussehra on 20 October. Sources differ on the exact placement of Ashtami and Dashami — confirm against your committee's or family's panjika before printing dates.
The ceremonies
Practice varies by family, community and region — not every household observes all of these.
Mahalayaমহালয়া
Marks the Goddess's invocation and the start of Devi Paksha, a week before the main days.
Shashthiষষ্ঠী
The sixth day — Bodhon, the ceremonial unveiling of the Goddess's face, and the formal beginning of the puja.
Saptamiসপ্তমী
The seventh day, beginning with the Nabapatrika bath at dawn.
Ashtamiঅষ্টমী
The eighth day — Pushpanjali in the morning, and Sandhi Puja at the junction of Ashtami and Navami.
Navamiনবমী
The ninth day, with the Maha Aarti and the last full day of celebration.
Dashamiদশমী
The tenth day — Sindoor Khela, followed by the immersion of the idol.
What the invitation must include
- Each day named with its date, and the timing of key rituals — Pushpanjali and Sandhi Puja especially
- Pandal or home address with a map link
- Bhog timings, and whether guests should register for it
- Cultural programme schedule, where the committee hosts one
- Committee or family contact number
Wording examples
Adapt these to your family's own voice — square brackets mark what you replace.
[Committee Name] cordially invites you and your family to our Durga Puja celebrations. [Dates] at [Pandal Address].
We warmly invite you to join our family for Durga Puja at our home. Pushpanjali on Ashtami at [Time], bhog to follow.
Create your Durga Puja invitation
Every function, muhurat, venue and RSVP built around your celebration — and shareable on WhatsApp in a single link.
Related guides
Navratri & Garba Nights
Nine nights honouring the Goddess, celebrated in Gujarat with garba and dandiya raas — circular dances performed nightly around an earthen lamp or an image of the Goddess.
Golu · Bommala Koluvu
During Navratri, families arrange dolls and figurines on an odd number of tiered steps and invite women and children to visit, sing, and receive sundal and tamboolam.
Ganesh Chaturthi
The arrival of Ganpati in homes and community pandals, celebrated with daily aarti for a period chosen by the household — commonly one and a half, five, seven or ten days — ending in visarjan.