Durga Puja 2025, also known as Sharadotsav or Durga Festival—will be celebrated from Sunday, September 28, to Thursday, October 2, 2025, with major public and religious observances starting from Mahalaya on September 21, 2025. Primarily celebrated in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Tripura, Bihar, and parts of Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, this ten-day Hindu festival honors Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
The festival is marked by elaborate rituals, pandal decorations, fasting, and public celebrations, with government offices, banks, and schools declaring Durga Puja holidays, especially in states like West Bengal.
This blog provides a detailed guide on Durga Puja 2025 dates, the holiday calendar, significance, rituals, and the best places to witness the grandeur of Bengali Durga Puja — including iconic locations like Deshapriya Park in Kolkata.
Key Highlights of Durga Puja
Durga Puja, often referred to as the grandest autumn festival of eastern India, is not just a celebration — it’s a cultural phenomenon. Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect during Durga Puja 2025:
Main Festival Dates:
| Festival Day | Date | Day of the Week |
| Mahalaya | September 21, 2025 | Sunday |
| Maha Panchami | September 27, 2025 | Saturday |
| Maha Sashthi | September 28, 2025 | Sunday |
| Maha Saptami | September 29, 2025 | Monday |
| Maha Ashtami | September 30, 2025 | Tuesday |
| Maha Navami | October 1, 2025 | Wednesday |
| Vijaya Dashami | October 2, 2025 | Thursday |
Regions with Official Holidays for Durga Puja:
| Holiday | State |
| Durga Puja Official Holiday | West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Tripura, Bihar, and parts of Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh |
Types of Holidays Observed:
| Type of Holiday | Observed Dates (2025) | Applicable Regions |
| Government Holiday | Sept 29 – Oct 2 | West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Odisha, Tripura |
| Bank Holiday | Sept 29 – Oct 2 (incl. Gandhi Jayanti) | Mainly West Bengal; varies in other states |
| School Holiday | Sept 21 (Mahalaya)–Oct 2 (Dashami) | West Bengal, Tripura, Assam |
| Private Sector Holiday | Usually Oct 1–2 | Across India (case-specific) |
| Restricted/Optional Holiday | Varies (usually Oct 2 or Ashtami/Navami) | Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Karnataka, etc. |
Impact on Banking Operations during Durga Pooja
Banks remain closed from September 29 to October 2, 2025, in West Bengal and other celebrating regions. Plan your banking and financial tasks accordingly.
Durga Puja Holiday
Durga Puja, also known as Sharadiya Pujo, brings not just spiritual fervor but also a much-anticipated festive break, especially in eastern India. In 2025, the Durga Puja holiday will span from Sunday, September 28 (Maha Shasthi), to Thursday, October 2 (Vijaya Dashami).
♦ West Bengal, Tripura, Odisha, Assam, Bihar, and Jharkhand typically declare a public and government holiday for the key puja dates:
⇒ Maha Saptami (Sept 29)
⇒ Maha Ashtami (Sept 30)
⇒ Maha Navami (Oct 1)
⇒ Vijaya Dashami (Oct 2).
♦ In these states, Durga Puja is a bank holiday as per the Reserve Bank of India’s official calendar. Schools, colleges, and government offices shut down completely during this period, making it one of the longest and most culturally significant holidays in the region.
♦ While the rest of India may not observe all four days as official holidays, West Bengal treats this as its grand annual pause — with many people taking extended leaves starting from Mahalaya (Sept 21).
♦ It’s not just a celebration; it’s an all-encompassing festival season, marked by pandal-hopping, shopping, travel, and community bonding.
Suggested Read: Ayudh Pooja
Importance of Durga Puja
Rooted in the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, the festival symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.
⇒ Public Life Transformation: Streets, homes, and neighborhoods are decorated with themed pandals, lights, folk art, and devotional music.
⇒ Spiritual Significance: It’s a time for prayer, reflection, and reconnecting with one’s faith.
⇒ Family & Community Bonding: Families reunite, old friends reconnect, and entire communities participate in collective celebration.
⇒ Massive Economic Impact:
Seasonal employment for idol-makers, artisans, drummers, decorators, caterers, and local vendors.
According to the British Council (2019), Durga Puja contributes over ₹32,000 crores to West Bengal’s economy—about 2.6% of its GDP.
⇒ Cultural Identity & Pride: For Bengalis, it’s a deeply emotional and cultural experience—celebrated as a homecoming.
⇒ Emotional Connection: The phrase “Maa ashche” (Mother is coming) captures the anticipation and devotion leading up to the festival.
History of Durga Puja
→ Ancient origins: Mentions of Goddess Durga appear in early texts like the Devi Mahatmya (circa 400–600 CE).
→ Mythological base: Celebrates Durga’s creation by Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva to slay Mahishasura.
→ Medieval evolution: Royal families and zamindars in Bengal popularized community celebrations from the 16th century.
→ Religious text references: Cited in the Ramayana and Mahabharata, including Lord Rama worshipping Durga.
→ First organized Puja: Some records trace early community pujas to the late 1500s in West Bengal.
→ Colonial period impact: Became a symbol of cultural unity and resistance during British rule.
→ The modern form evolved into a grand public festival with art, music, dance, and social themes.
→ Global recognition: Kolkata’s celebration listed in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (2021).
Different Types of Durga Puja
→ Sharadiya Durga Puja: The most popular and widely celebrated form, observed in autumn (Ashwin month), especially in West Bengal.
→ Vasant or Basanti Durga Puja: Celebrated in spring (Chaitra month), considered the original seasonal worship of Durga.
→ Barowari Puja: Community-organized pujas open to the public, often hosted in large themed pandals with social participation.
→ Bonedi Bari Puja: Traditional pujas held in old aristocratic Bengali households, marked by ritualistic precision and family heritage.
→ Kumari Puja: Worship of a prepubescent girl as the living embodiment of the goddess, commonly performed on Ashtami.
→ Gosani Puja (Odisha): A regional variant where massive clay idols of Mahishasura Mardini are paraded and worshipped in Puri.
→ Durga Puja in Temples: Celebrated with elaborate rituals in major temples like Belur Math and Dakshineswar in Kolkata.
Durga Puja Rituals & Traditions
Here are the core rituals and customs followed during Durga Puja:
• Mahalaya: Marks the beginning of the festival; signifies the descent of Goddess Durga to Earth.
• Bodhon (Shashthi): The ritual of invoking the goddess; her idol is unveiled for worship.
• Saptami (Day 2): Navapatrika snan — symbolic bathing of nine plants representing the goddess.
• Ashtami (Day 3):
→ Pushpanjali: Offering of flowers during prayers.
→ Sandhi Puja: Conducted at the junction of Ashtami and Navami; marks the slaying of Chanda-Munda.
• Navami (Day 4):
→ Maha Aarti: Final grand prayer before immersion.
→ Homa: Fire ritual for peace and prosperity.
• Dashami (Day 5):
→ Sindoor Khela: Married women apply vermilion to each other.
→ Visarjan: Idol immersion symbolizing Goddess Durga’s return to Mount Kailash.
Ways to Celebrate Durga Puja
Here’s a straight-to-the-point breakdown of how people across India and the world celebrate Durga Puja:
⇒ Pandal Hopping: People visit elaborately themed pandals (temporary structures) to witness stunning idols and artistic displays.
⇒ Anjali and Aarti Participation: Devotees offer flowers (pushpanjali) and attend morning and evening aartis with devotion.
⇒ Traditional Dress & Attire: Both men and women dress in new, often ethnic clothes every day during the Puja.
⇒ Sindoor Khela: On Vijayadashami, married women smear each other with vermilion in a celebration of feminine power.
⇒ Cultural Performances: Dance, music, drama, and recitations take place in many pandals and auditoriums.
⇒ Food and Bhog: Special vegetarian meals (bhog) are served in community feasts. Streets are lined with food stalls offering local delicacies.
⇒ Dhak Beats & Dhunuchi Dance: Traditional drummers (dhakis) fill the air with rhythm while devotees dance with incense pots.
⇒ Family Gatherings & Gifts: Families reunite, exchange sweets, and celebrate with relatives and neighbors.
⇒ Idol Immersion Procession: On the final day, processions are held as idols are taken to rivers or water bodies for immersion (visarjan).
Famous Destinations for Durga Puja Celebration
Here are the top places where Durga Puja is celebrated with unmatched grandeur and devotion:
Kolkata, West Bengal
Known as the epicenter of Durga Puja. Home to iconic pandals like Deshapriya Park, Bagbazar, and College Square. UNESCO recognized the Kolkata Durga Puja as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2021.
Cuttack, Odisha
Famous for its Chandi Medha idols decorated with silver filigree. More than 100 pandals across the city.
Delhi
Several prominent Bengali associations celebrate the festival. Kashmere Gate Durga Puja, one of the oldest, dates back to 1910.
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Multiple community pujas are organized by Bengali groups. Powai Bengali Welfare Association hosts one of the largest events.
Tripura
Agartala’s Durgabari Temple is a major pilgrimage center. Over 2,500 community pujas are held across the state.
Assam
Celebrated widely, especially in the Barak Valley and cities like Silchar and Guwahati.
Bihar and Jharkhand
Cities like Patna and Ranchi host community pujas that attract huge crowds.
Bangladesh
Though a minority celebration, Durga Puja is observed with traditional fervor in cities like Dhaka at the Dhakeshwari Temple.
International Celebrations
Major cities like London, New York, Toronto, Tokyo, Dubai, and Sydney host Durga Puja events by diaspora communities.
Final Thoughts
Durga Puja isn’t just a festival; it’s an emotion, a celebration of culture, tradition, and unity. As the streets of Kolkata and many parts of India (and even beyond!) light up with joy, the air echoes with dhak beats, and hearts fill with devotion, this ten-day extravaganza stands as a true symbol of the victory of good over evil.
For 2025, the main celebrations of Durga Puja run from September 28 to October 2, with Mahalaya falling on September 21. These dates mark essential public and bank holidays in states like West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha, bringing life to a festive pause.
From witnessing mesmerizing pandals to offering anjali, participating in sindoor khela, and watching the final visarjan—every moment is steeped in tradition and spiritual grace.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Durga Puja a national holiday?
No, it’s not a national holiday across India, but it is a major state holiday in West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Odisha, and other eastern states.
Is Durga Puja a school holiday?
Yes, schools in regions like West Bengal and the Northeast remain closed, typically from Mahalaya to Dashami.
Will banks be closed during Durga Puja?
Yes, banks are closed in states where it’s a public holiday, especially from Sept 29 to Oct 2, 2025, as per RBI’s regional holiday list.
Why is Durga Puja celebrated?
It celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
How many days for Durga Puja 2025?
The main celebration lasts five days — from Sashthi (Sept 28) to Dashami (Oct 2, 2025).
Which is the main day of Durga Puja?
Maha Ashtami (Sept 30, 2025) is often considered the most sacred and significant day of worship.
What are the 9 days of Durga Puja?
The nine days (Navratri) lead up to Durga Puja and include rituals from Pratipada to Navami, ending in Dashami; Durga Puja overlaps with the last five days.
What is the story behind Durga?
Goddess Durga was created by the gods to defeat Mahishasura, a demon no man or god could kill, as told in the Devi Mahatmya.
Are Durga and Parvati the same?
Yes, Goddess Durga is a fierce form of Parvati, representing strength and protection in Hindu mythology.
What is done in Durga Puja?
Devotees worship elaborately crafted idols of Durga, perform rituals, offer prayers (anjali), and take part in cultural festivities.
Who started Durga Puja first?
Historically, royal families and zamindars of Bengal initiated the Puja in the 16th–17th century; earlier forms existed in religious texts.
How to do Durga Pooja at home?
You can perform a simple home puja with an idol or photo, offer flowers, incense, chant Durga mantras, and read from the Devi Mahatmya.
What is the connection between Durga Puja and Dussehra?
Both mark the victory of good over evil; Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami) is the final day of Durga Puja and also celebrates Rama’s victory over Ravana.
Are Durga Puja and Vijayadashami the same?
Vijaya Dashami is the last day of Durga Puja, symbolizing Durga’s victory and her return to Mount Kailash.
What is the connection between Durga Puja and Navratri?
Durga Puja aligns with the last five days of Navratri, especially celebrated with grandeur in East India.
What is the story behind Durga Puja?
It reenacts the myth of Durga’s battle against Mahishasura, emphasizing courage, divine power, and righteousness.
Which is the most auspicious day of Durga Puja?
Maha Ashtami is widely considered the most spiritually significant day.
Which day is special for Durga Devi?
Ashtami (8th day) is dedicated to the goddess’s warrior form and is marked by Sandhi Puja and Kumari Puja.
Which is the main day of Durga Puja?
Again, Maha Ashtami (Sept 30, 2025) is the central focus for most devotees.
Why is Saptami important in Durga Puja?
Saptami (Sept 29, 2025) marks the ritual awakening of Durga, known as Kola Bou snan, signifying the beginning of active worship.
Why is Ashtami important in Durga Puja?
It’s the day Durga is believed to have killed Mahishasura; Sandhi Puja, held between Ashtami and Navami, is considered the climax of the festival.
