Durga Puja 2023
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 2023, Durga Puja runs from Friday, 20 October 2023 to Tuesday, 24 October 2023.
Maha Saptami: Saturday, 21 October 2023
- Shukla Saptami begins: 20 Oct 2023, 11:25 PM
- Shukla Saptami ends: 21 Oct 2023, 9:53 PM
Date and timings for Kolkata.
All days of Durga Puja 2023
| Date | Observance | Tithi / timing |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 14 Oct | Mahalaya / Sarva Pitru Amavasya | Aparahna muhurat: 12:32 PM to 2:52 PM |
| Friday, 20 Oct | Maha Shashthi (Bodhon) | Shukla Shashthi: 20 Oct 2023, 12:32 AM to 11:25 PM |
| Saturday, 21 Oct | Maha Saptami | Shukla Saptami: 20 Oct 2023, 11:25 PM to 21 Oct 2023, 9:53 PM |
| Sunday, 22 Oct | Maha Ashtami | Shukla Ashtami: 21 Oct 2023, 9:53 PM to 22 Oct 2023, 7:59 PM |
| Monday, 23 Oct | Maha Navami | Shukla Navami: 22 Oct 2023, 7:59 PM to 23 Oct 2023, 5:45 PM |
| Tuesday, 24 Oct | Vijaya Dashami | Shukla Dashami: 23 Oct 2023, 5:45 PM to 24 Oct 2023, 3:14 PM |
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 2023?
In 2023, Durga Puja runs from Friday, 20 October 2023 to Tuesday, 24 October 2023. (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.