Durga PujaWeekOct 16
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Durga Puja is a major Hindu festival, especially in Bengal and among Bengali communities worldwide, celebrating the goddess Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura. It features elaborate pandals, rituals, art, music, and community celebration.
History
References date back over 500 years, with the festival gaining its grand public form in the 18th-19th centuries in Kolkata. It combines ancient worship traditions with artistic innovation in the form of massive temporary temples (pandals) and iconic clay idols that are immersed at the end.
How It's Celebrated
Visit beautifully decorated pandals, enjoy cultural performances, eat festive Bengali food, participate in or watch the idol immersions (visarjan), wear new clothes, and join in the community joy. In many places it has become a major tourist and cultural draw.