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.
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.
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.
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:
- By 25 September — anything needing blouse stitching or alteration.
- By 5 October — standard orders anywhere in India, comfortably before the courier rush.
- By 10 October — the practical last call. After Mahalaya, every courier in eastern India is carrying several times its usual load.
Overseas orders should go out by 20 September. We ship worldwide, and Puja parcels abroad are more often caught by customs timing than by distance.
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?
Order by 5 October for comfortable delivery within India, and by 20 September for international addresses.
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