Durga Puja 2026: Ashtami, Navami & Sandhi Puja Dates
Exact tithi windows for Shashthi to Dashami in 2026, the Sandhi Puja time, and the Ashtami date confusion explained.
Durga Puja 2026: Mahalaya is on Sat, 10 Oct 2026, and the main five days run from Shashthi to Vijayadashami (Fri, 16 Oct 2026 to Tue, 20 Oct 2026). Durga Ashtami is Mon, 19 Oct 2026 (some calendars list Sun, 18 Oct 2026), and the all-important Sandhi Puja falls around 10:28 am–11:16 am IST. The same nine nights are Sharad Navratri elsewhere in India — see the Navratri 2026 guide for colours and a crystal per day.
Durga Puja 2026: tithi windows (IST)
| Puja day | Tithi begins | Tithi ends |
|---|---|---|
| Shashthi (Bodhon / Akaal Bodhan) | Fri 16 Oct, 3:26 am | Sat 17 Oct, 5:55 am |
| Maha Saptami | Sat 17 Oct, 5:55 am | Sun 18 Oct, 8:29 am |
| Maha Ashtami | Sun 18 Oct, 8:29 am | Mon 19 Oct, 10:52 am |
| Maha Navami | Mon 19 Oct, 10:52 am | Tue 20 Oct, 12:51 pm |
| Vijayadashami (Bijoya Dashami) | Tue 20 Oct, 12:51 pm | Wed 21 Oct, 2:12 pm |
The Durga Puja sequence
- Mahalaya (Sat, 10 Oct 2026): the new moon before Navratri — also Sarva Pitru Amavasya. It marks the end of Pitru Paksha and the invocation of the goddess. See Pitru Paksha 2026.
- Shashthi to Saptami: the goddess's face is unveiled and the Kola Bou (Nabapatrika) is bathed and installed.
- Ashtami: Anjali in the morning and Kumari (Kanya) Puja. Sandhi Puja at the Ashtami–Navami junction, with 108 lamps.
- Navami: the culminating puja and havan.
- Dashami (Tue, 20 Oct 2026): Sindoor Khela and the immersion (Bisarjan); Vijayadashami / Dussehra elsewhere.
Crystals for the goddess's altar
Many households keep a sphatik (clear quartz) at the centre of the altar and add red red jasper or carnelian for Durga's Mars-linked energy. Everything here is traditional belief, not a promise of results.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Durga Ashtami 2026?+
Durga Ashtami 2026 is Mon, 19 Oct 2026 by the sunrise rule; some calendars list Sun, 18 Oct 2026 using the midday rule. The tithi runs Sun 18 Oct, 8:29 am to Mon 19 Oct, 10:52 am IST.
What is the Sandhi Puja time in 2026?+
Sandhi Puja falls at the Ashtami–Navami junction, about 10:28 am to 11:16 am IST on Mon, 19 Oct 2026. Pandals publish exact city timings.
When is Mahalaya 2026?+
Mahalaya 2026 is Sat, 10 Oct 2026, the new moon (Sarva Pitru Amavasya) before Navratri.
When is Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026?+
Tue, 20 Oct 2026 — the day the Dashami tithi covers the afternoon. In Bengal it is also Bijoya Dashami, with immersion.
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