Durga Puja 2025 Festival Dates and Timings: Complete Calendar and Regional Guide

Durga Puja is one of the most important and most celebrated festivals in India and Bangladesh. It is not just a religious festival, but also a cultural and social celebration that brings people together.

Durga Puja marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon king Mahishasura, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. Every year, millions of devotees wait eagerly to know the Durga Puja 2025 Dates and Timings so that they can plan their rituals, travel, and pandal hopping.

Why Durga Puja is Celebrated

Before learning about the Durga Puja 2025 Dates and Timings, let us understand why the festival is celebrated.

• Victory of Dharma over Adharma: Goddess Durga defeated Mahishasura after a fierce battle of nine nights and ten days.
• Worship of Shakti: The puja celebrates feminine divine energy (Shakti) that protects the universe.
• Cultural Unity: It is not limited to religion. People from all walks of life enjoy music, dance, drama, and art during Durga Puja.
• Family and Community Bonding: Families reunite, and entire communities work together to build pandals and organize events.

Durga Puja 2025 Dates and Timings – Detailed Schedule

Durga Puja follows the Hindu lunar calendar. The main celebration lasts five days: Shashthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, and Dashami. But preparations begin from Mahalaya.

Here is the complete Durga Puja 2025 Dates and Timings:

Mahalaya – Beginning of Durga Puja 2025

• Date: Sunday, September 21, 2025
• Tithi: Amavasya
• Significance: Marks the end of Pitru Paksha (fortnight of ancestors) and the start of Devi Paksha. On this day, people perform tarpan to honor ancestors. Radio and television broadcast the famous “Mahishasura Mardini” recitation in Bengal.

Shashthi – Welcoming the Goddess

• Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2025
• Rituals: Kalparambha (beginning), Bodhan (invocation of the Goddess), Adhivas, Amantran. The face of Durga’s idol is unveiled.
• Timings: Shashthi Tithi – September 23, 10:45 AM to September 24, 12:55 PM.

Saptami – Navapatrika Puja

• Date: Thursday, September 25, 2025
• Rituals: Nabapatrika Puja (nine plants tied together and worshipped as nine forms of Goddess Durga), Mahasnan (ritual bathing).
• Timings: Saptami Tithi – September 24, 12:55 PM to September 25, 2:30 PM.

Ashtami – Sandhi Puja and Kumari Puja

• Date: Friday, September 26, 2025
• Rituals: Kumari Puja (worship of young girls as the embodiment of Goddess), Sandhi Puja at the junction of Ashtami and Navami (most sacred time).
• Timings: Ashtami Tithi – September 25, 2:30 PM to September 26, 3:45 PM.

Navami – Maha Navami Homa

• Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
• Rituals: Maha Navami Puja, Homa (sacred fire), Bhog distribution.
• Timings: Navami Tithi – September 26, 3:45 PM to September 27, 4:40 PM.

Vijaya Dashami – Immersion of the Goddess

• Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025
• Rituals: Sindoor Khela (married women play with vermilion), Visarjan (immersion of idols), greetings of Shubho Bijoya.
• Timings: Dashami Tithi – September 27, 4:40 PM to September 28, 5:25 PM.

Durga Puja 2025 Calendar (SEO Rich)

Here is the Durga Puja 2025 Calendar showing the exact dates of each day:

This Durga Puja 2025 Calendar helps devotees easily follow all days and rituals.

Regional Variations in Durga Puja 2025 Dates and Timings

Though the Durga Puja 2025 Dates and Timings are the same across India, the style of celebration differs by region.

Durga Puja in West Bengal

• West Bengal, especially Kolkata, is the cultural heart of Durga Puja.
• Grand pandals with unique themes attract millions of visitors.
• Traditional Dhunuchi dance, Shankh (conch) blowing, and melodious dhak drumming fill the air.
• “Adda” (gatherings of friends and families) and street food are major attractions.

Durga Puja in Assam

• In Assam, Durga Puja is celebrated with equal grandeur.
• Pandals are decorated with Assamese cultural motifs.
• In Guwahati and Silchar, big puja committees organize fairs, dramas, and traditional Bihu dance performances.
• The immersion processions in the Brahmaputra River are a grand sight.

Durga Puja in Odisha

• In Odisha, Durga Puja coincides with the festival of Dussehra.
• Cuttack is famous for its silver and gold filigree pandals.
• Special folk dances and traditional Odissi performances are arranged during the evenings.
• The atmosphere in Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, and Berhampur is also festive.

Durga Puja in Bihar

• In Bihar, Durga Puja is celebrated with devotion, especially in Patna, Gaya, and Muzaffarpur.
• Pandals are smaller but full of local cultural touch.
• Ramlila performances are common during this time.
• Vijaya Dashami is also celebrated with Ram Navami processions, merging Durga Puja with Dussehra traditions.

Importance of Knowing Durga Puja 2025 Dates and Timings

• Devotional Accuracy: Rituals must be performed at correct timings.
• Planning: Helps families plan their puja visits and holidays.
• Organizing Events: Puja committees need exact dates for cultural programs.
• Travel: Devotees traveling from other cities or countries can fix their plans.

Durga Puja is more than just a festival; it is a celebration of strength, faith, art, and community bonding. Knowing the Durga Puja 2025 Dates and Timings helps everyone participate in the rituals at the correct time and enjoy the festival fully. Whether in Bengal, Assam, Odisha, or Bihar, each region adds its own cultural beauty, making Durga Puja a unique experience.

As we approach Durga Puja 2025, let us prepare to welcome Goddess Durga with devotion, joy, and unity.

FAQs on Durga Puja 2025 Dates and Timings

Q1. When is Mahalaya in 2025?
Mahalaya falls on September 21, 2025.

Q2. When does Durga Puja 2025 begin?
Durga Puja begins with Shashthi on September 24, 2025.

Q3. What is the date of Durga Ashtami in 2025?
Durga Ashtami is on September 26, 2025.

Q4. When is Navami in 2025?
Navami will be celebrated on September 27, 2025.

Q5. When is Vijaya Dashami in 2025?
Vijaya Dashami is on September 28, 2025.

Q6. What is the importance of Sandhi Puja in 2025?
Sandhi Puja, performed at the juncture of Ashtami and Navami, is the most sacred time of the festival.

Q7. Which state celebrates Durga Puja the most grandly?
West Bengal, especially Kolkata, is world-famous for its Durga Puja celebrations.

Q8. How do people in Assam celebrate Durga Puja 2025?
In Assam, cultural events, Bihu dances, and immersion in the Brahmaputra River mark the celebrations.

Q9. What is special about Odisha’s Durga Puja 2025?
Odisha’s Durga Puja is famous for Cuttack’s silver and gold filigree pandals.

Q10. How is Durga Puja different in Bihar?
In Bihar, Durga Puja combines with Dussehra traditions, with Ramlila and Ram Navami processions.