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Durga Puja

Hindu festival in Indian subcontinent

Key facts

Nickname: Durgotsava, Sharadotsava
Status: Public holiday in Indian states of West Bengal , Odisha , Tripura , Bihar , Assam and in the countries Bangladesh and Nepal , Optional holiday in Pakistan
Genre: Religious and cultural festival
Date: 17 October to 21 October 2026 (Dates vary annually per the Hindu lunisolar calendar)
Begins: Mahalaya
Ends: Vijaya Dashami
Frequency: Annual
Founders: Rama , according to the legends
Participants: Mainly Eastern , Northeast India and Hindus in Bangladesh and Nepal
Major events: Worshipping Hindu deities, family and other social gatherings, shopping and gift-giving, feasting, pandal visiting, and cultural events
Main observation: Ceremonial worship of Goddess Durga

via Wikipedia infobox

Article

Durga Puja ( ISO: Durgā Pūjā, Bengali pronunciation: [d̪uɾɡapud͡ʒa] ), also known as Durgotsava or Sharadotsava, is a major Hindu festival honouring the goddess Durga and commemorating her victory over Mahishasura. It is the biggest festival among Bengali people living in India, and is also celebrated by the Hindus in Bangladesh and the Maithili community of Bihar. In 2021, 'Durga Puja in Kolkata' was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The festival is observed in the Indian calendar in the month of Ashvin (September–October) on the Hindu luni-solar calendar. It lasts ten days, with the final five being most prominent. Even though Durga Puja and Navaratri are both dedicated to the Hindu goddess Durga and are observed simultaneously, they are not the same festival.