Durga Puja 2017
Durga Puja is Bengal's greatest festival, celebrating Goddess Durga's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura and her annual visit to her parental home with her children. The main days are Shashthi to Vijaya Dashami in the bright fortnight of Ashwin.
In 2017, Durga Puja runs from Tuesday, 26 September 2017 to Saturday, 30 September 2017.
Maha Saptami: Wednesday, 27 September 2017
- Shukla Saptami begins: 26 Sept 2017, 4:41 PM
- Shukla Saptami ends: 27 Sept 2017, 7:08 PM
Date and timings for Kolkata.
All days of Durga Puja 2017
| Date | Observance | Tithi / timing |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, 19 Sept | Mahalaya / Sarva Pitru Amavasya | Aparahna muhurat: 12:43 PM to 3:09 PM |
| Tuesday, 26 Sept | Maha Shashthi (Bodhon) | Shukla Shashthi: 25 Sept 2017, 2:27 PM to 26 Sept 2017, 4:41 PM |
| Wednesday, 27 Sept | Maha Saptami | Shukla Saptami: 26 Sept 2017, 4:41 PM to 27 Sept 2017, 7:08 PM |
| Thursday, 28 Sept | Maha Ashtami | Shukla Ashtami: 27 Sept 2017, 7:08 PM to 28 Sept 2017, 9:36 PM |
| Friday, 29 Sept | Maha Navami | Shukla Navami: 28 Sept 2017, 9:36 PM to 29 Sept 2017, 11:50 PM |
| Saturday, 30 Sept | Vijaya Dashami | Shukla Dashami: 29 Sept 2017, 11:50 PM to 1 Oct 2017, 1:36 AM |
How the date is fixed
Maha Saptami falls on Shukla Saptami of Ashwin. The day is decided by the tithi prevailing at sunrise (udaya tithi). When the tithi touches that time on two days, the day it covers more is used.
Calculated for Kolkata. Festival dates can differ by a day between cities and between regional traditions; your family priest's panchang has the final word.
How it is celebrated
Images of the goddess are installed in pandals and homes; Saptami begins with the bathing of the nabapatrika, Ashtami brings the pushpanjali and Sandhi puja, Navami the grand bhog, and on Dashami married women play sindoor khela before the immersion (bisarjan).
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Frequently asked questions
When is Durga Puja in 2017?
In 2017, Durga Puja runs from Tuesday, 26 September 2017 to Saturday, 30 September 2017. (Kolkata)
Why do calendars sometimes show different dates for Durga Puja?
Hindu festivals follow the lunar tithi, which begins and ends at different clock times. Each festival has a rule about which part of the day the tithi must cover — sunrise, midday, dusk or midnight. When the tithi straddles two days, calendars that apply the rule for a different city, or a different tradition, can land on different days. We show the rule we used and the tithi timings so you can check.