Durga Puja 2026 Dates: A Six-Day Outfit and Shopping Plan

Durga Puja 2026 arrives in mid-October, and in Bengal the shopping starts long before the pandals go up. If you are planning outfits for yourself or for the whole family, here are the dates, what each day traditionally calls for, and the order-by cut-offs that actually matter.

Durga Puja 2026: the dates

• Mahalaya — Saturday, 10 October 2026. Devi Paksha begins, with the Mahishasura Mardini broadcast before dawn and the eyes painted on the idols at Kumartuli.
• Maha Shashthi — Friday, 16 October 2026. Bodhon, and the Puja properly begins.
• Maha Saptami — Saturday, 17 October 2026.
• Maha Ashtami — Sunday, 18 October 2026. Anjali morning, and the biggest dressing day of the five.
• Maha Navami — Monday, 19 October 2026. Sandhi Puja.
• Vijaya Dashami — Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Sindoor Khela and bisarjan.

The dates follow the lunisolar calendar and shift every year, so do check your local panjika for exact timings in your city.

What each day traditionally calls for

Shashthi — ease over drama

The first evening of pandal hopping is long and usually warm. Cotton, linen and light silks earn their place here. Browse cotton and linen sarees, or a soft Kota if you are walking all evening.

Saptami — the Bengali weaves

Saptami is when the handloom comes out. Dhakai Jamdani, tussar and taant all belong to this day. If you own one good Jamdani, this is the morning for it — and the morning to wear it atpoure, the Bengali way.

Ashtami — the one everyone photographs

Anjali in the morning, visiting through the evening. This is the day people dress for, and traditionally it means silk: Banarasi, Kanjivaram, or a Katan or Tissue silk. Red and white, gold zari, or a deep jewel tone. Torn between a saree and a suit for the morning? See salwar suit or saree for Ashtami anjali.

Navami — dressed up, but comfortable

Navami evening runs late. A designer saree or a well-cut salwar suit both work — many people move to a suit or an indo-western set by this point simply because it is easier to move in.

Dashami — lal paar sada

The white saree with the red border is Dashami. Sindoor Khela, the last darshan, the goodbye. Nothing else quite does the job. Look under traditional sarees for the classic red-and-white pairing, and read how to wear lal paar sada.

For the men, and for the children

Five days needs more than one kurta. Our menswear line RANJH covers kurta pajama for the daytime and kurta jacket sets for the Ashtami and Navami evenings. For children, kidswear runs from lehengas to kurta sets.

When to order

Work backwards from Shashthi on 16 October. Every cut-off, and what to do if you have missed one, is in Order This Week: Delivery Timelines for Puja 2026. In short:

• By 5 October — anything going to a metro address that you want in hand before Mahalaya, with a few days to spare.
• By 8 October — the last comfortable date for a straightforward metro delivery with no alteration.
• After 10 October — the festival week itself. Courier networks in Kolkata slow to a crawl through Puja; treat anything ordered now as arriving after Dashami.

A saree still needs its fall and pico before it can be worn, and a blouse needs a tailor. If you are short of time, buy ready: a salwar suit, a co-ord set or a Anarkali is wearable the day it arrives. For an overseas address, call 98305 95959 before you order.

Shopping in person

If you would rather drape it before you buy it, our Kolkata stores are open through the season — Park Street and Gariahat — along with our other stores in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Vijayawada and Kanchrapara.

Frequently asked questions

When is Durga Puja in 2026?

Mahalaya falls on 10 October 2026, and the main days run from Maha Shashthi on 16 October to Vijaya Dashami on 20 October.

How many sarees do I need for Puja?

Most people plan four to six outfits across the five days, mixing one or two silks for Ashtami and Navami with lighter cottons and handlooms for the longer evenings.

What colour saree is worn on Vijaya Dashami?

White with a red border — lal paar sada — is the traditional Dashami saree, worn for Sindoor Khela.

When should I order to receive everything before Puja?

By 5 October for a metro address with a few days to spare, and by 8 October at the latest for a straightforward delivery with no alteration. After Mahalaya on 10 October, expect delivery after Dashami.

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