Durga Puja 2022
3 October
Ashtami Tithi - Monday, 3 October 2022
Ashtami Tithi Begins - 18:46 on (2 October 2022 )
Ashtami Tithi Ends - 16:37 on (3 October 2022)
Durga Puja 2023
22 October
Ashtami Tithi - Sunday, 22 October 2023
Ashtami Tithi Begins - 21:52 on (21 October 2023)
Ashtami Tithi Ends - 19:58 on (22 October 2023)
Durga Puja 2027
07 October
Ashtami Date - Thursday, 07 October 2027
Ashtami Date Starts From 04:13 Am (07 October 2027)
Ashtami Date Ends - Till 06:27 In The Evening (08 October 2027)
Durga Puja 2028
26 September
Ashtami Date - Tuesday, 26 September 2028
Ashtami Date Starts From 06:32 Am (25 September 2028)
Ashtami Date Ends - Till 06:58 Am (26 September 2028)
Durga Puja 2029
14 October
Ashtami Date - Sunday, 14 October 2029
Ashtami Date Starts From 04:58 Am (14 October 2029)
Ashtami Date Ends - Till 04:28 Am (15 October 2029)
Durga Puja 2030
04 October
Ashtami Tithi – Friday, 04 October 2030
Ashtami Tithi Starts From 10:24 Pm (03 October 2030)
Ashtami Date Ends - Till 08:30 (04 October 2030)
Durga Puja 2031
23 October
Ashtami Date - Thursday, 23 October 2031
Ashtami Tithi Starts From 02:11 Pm (23 October 2031)
Ashtami Date Ends - Till 12:00 Night (23 October 2031)
Durga Puja 2032
12 October
Ashtami Date - Tuesday, 12 October 2032
Ashtami Date Starts From 10:01 (11 October 2032)
Ashtami Date Ends - Till 08:24 (October 12, 2032)
The most popular festival in the Indian state of West Bengal, Durga Puja, also called Durgotsav, is an annual Hindu festival during which devotees revere Goddess Durga. This festival marks the epic battle, and victory, of Goddess Durga over the powerful buffalo demon, Mahishasura. The festival is celebrated to epitomise the victory of good over evil.
Durga Puja, also known by its many traditional names like Akalbodhan, Sharadiya Pujo, Sharadotsav, Maha Pujo, Maayer Pujo, and Durga Pujo, is observed in the month of Ashvin, according to the Hindu Lunar calendar.
Following the Gregorian calendar, the festival falls in the months of September or October.
The festival of Durga Puja is also popular in states like Assam, Tripura, Odisha, Bangladesh and Nepal, where it is locally called Dashain.
The festival dates coincide with Vijayadashami (or commonly known as Dussehra). On Dussehra, the victory of Lord Rama is celebrated over the evil king, Ravana. The Ramlila is enacted, and effigies of Ravana are burnt.
Legend associated with Durga Puja
According to the Hindu Mythology, from the collective energy of all Gods, as an embodiment of Shakti (meaning divine feminine power), emerged Goddess Durga. She was created to destroy the unbeatable demon, Mahishasura.
Durga in Sanskrit means 'the impenetrable’. Goddess Durga represents the ultimate power.
Another story revolves around Lord Rama. It is believed that Lord Rama prayed to Goddess Durga before his battle with the demon, Ravana. He worshipped the Goddess by offering 108 blue lotuses and lighting 108 lamps, and with her divine blessings, rose victorious over Ravana.
During Durga Puja, the Divine Mother is worshiped in her various forms as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. On the first three nights of the festival, the Goddess is worshiped in her form as Durga. On the following three, she is worshipped as Goddess Lakshmi and then as Saraswati Devi on the last three nights.
The following day, the tenth day of the festival, is called Vijayadasami. Vijaya means ‘victory’. Devotees believe that this victory could either symbolise the victory of good over evil, or the victory of a person over his own mind, which can only be achieved, when these three forms of the Goddess are worshiped. On Vijayadashami, many devotees also keep fast and pray to Goddess Durga to be able to achieve victory over all obstacles in their lives.
Customs and rituals-
Celebrations for Durga Puja include beautifully decorated idols and decorated public puja pandals. The idols are decorated with flowers, clothes, jewellery, and red vermillion. Various sweets are offered to the Goddess as prashad. The idol of Lord Ganesha is also decorated and placed alongside the idol of Goddess Durga, as she is considered to be Lord Shiva's wife, Parvati's avatar, and thus, Lord Ganesha’s mother.
Goddess Durga is worshipped in many forms, the most famous being that of Kumari (virgin). On the day of Ashtami, unwed girls are worshipped. This ritual is considered as the purest form of worship.
In Bengal, a popular ritual is Sindur Khela. On the last day of Durga Pooja, married women gather at the pooja pandals and smear each other with sindur (vermillion), similar to how Indians play with colours on Holi. This ritual is to bid farewell to Goddess Durga. The idols of the goddess are immersed, head first, into rivers,. Family gatherings,exchanging sweets and gifts with loved ones are a popular tradition.
Consult our expert astrologers online to learn more about the festival and their rituals.