Durga Puja is an important festival of the Hindus that is celebrated for ten days in the Ashvina month, which is the seventh month in the Hindu Panchang. According to the Gregorian calendar, however, this festival occurs in the months of September or October, and this year, it will start on the 28th of September.
Ashtami Tithi Begins - 04:31 PM on Sep 29, 2025
Ashtami Tithi Ends - 06:06 PM on Sep 30, 2025
Ashtami Tithi Begins - 08:27 AM on Oct 18, 2026
Ashtami Tithi Ends - 10:51 AM on Oct 19, 2026
Ashtami Tithi Begins - 04:13 AM on Oct 07, 2027
Ashtami Tithi Ends - 06:27 AM on Oct 08, 2027
Ashtami Tithi Begins - 06:32 AM on Sep 25, 2028
Ashtami Tithi Ends - 06:58 AM on Sep 26, 2028
Ashtami Tithi Begins - 04:58 AM on Oct 14, 2029 Ashtami Tithi Ends - 04:28 AM on Oct 15, 2029
Ashtami Tithi Begins - 10:24 PM on Oct 03, 2030
Ashtami Tithi Ends - 08:30 PM on Oct 04, 2030
Ashtami Tithi Begins - 02:11 AM on Oct 23, 2031
Ashtami Tithi Ends - 12:00 PM on Oct 23, 2031
Ashtami Tithi Begins - 10:01 PM on Oct 11, 2032
Ashtami Tithi Ends - 08:24 PM on Oct 12, 2032
Durga Puja in 2025 will be celebrated from September 28th to October 2nd, concluding on a Thursday.
Maha Sashti - 28th September 2025, Sunday, Durga Shashthi Bilva Nimantran, Kalparambha, Akal Bodhon, Amantran and Adhivas
Maha Saptami - 29th September 2025, Momday, Durga Saptami, Kolabou Puja
Maha Ashtami - 30th September 2025, Tuesday: Durga Ashtami, Kumari Puja, Sandhi Puja
Maha Navami - 1st October 2025, Wednesday: Maha Navami, Durga Balidan, Navami Homa
Vijaya Dashami - 2nd October 2025, Thursday: Durga Visarjan, Vijayadashami, Sindoor Utsav
This festival is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Goddess Durga over the ruthless demon named Mahishasura. It is particularly celebrated with great fervor in the states of Bengal, Assam, and the other Northeastern states of the country. The festival is celebrated on the same days as Navratri, the festival celebrating the nine forms of Goddess Durga over a period of nine days. This festival is more commonly celebrated in the states of Northern and Western India, and it pays homage to the manifestation of Shakti or the divine feminine entity.
The festivities of these ten days begin with the Kalash Sthapana. Let us look at the puja vidhi for the Kalash Sthapana in a little more detail-
Wake up early and wear new clothes after taking a bath.
Clean the puja place carefully.
Take a pot made out of clay and put soil inside it. Following this, spread some rice on top of it. Add another layer of soil and put some water on it to set the soil.
Tie a kalava on the neck of the pot and fill it with Ganga Jal.
Add akshat, supari, durva, and some coins in the water.
Put five mango leaves on top of the Kalash and cover the pot with a lid.
Take a coconut and wrap it in a red cloth. Tie a kalava around it and put the coconut on top of the Kalash.
Invoke Goddess Durga to accept the offerings and reside inside the Kalash for the nine days of the puja.
Light a dhoop and Diya infront of the Kalash.
Offer fruits, flowers, fragrances, and sweets to the Kalash.
Perform the Durga aarti to conclude the Kalash Sthapana.
The festival of Goddess Durga is said to bring courage to the devotees as Durga Mata blesses her followers on these auspicious days. The emboldened spirit of the devotees is thus able to fight off any evil during these days, just like Goddess Durga fought Mahishasura. The Goddess is also called Shakti, which means power, and it is this power that fills the heart of her devotees in these ten days. Furthermore, performing the puja of Goddess Durga is said to bring Saubhagya, which is fortune, and Samriddhi, which is prosperity, to an individual. Astrologically, this is due to Venus getting strengthened by performing Durga Mata’s puja. When Venus gets strengthened, marital bliss is also showered upon the individual.
Apart from this, these days of the Mata are believed to be extremely auspicious, and any project undertaken during this time is bound to reach the heights of success.
The celebrations of this day are a reminder that good prevails over all things evil as Goddess Durga vanquished the demon Mahishasura on this festival. This is the time when, as per the belief of Hindu mythology, the Goddess visits the earthly realm to bless her devotees each year.
This festival holds a special importance for the people of Bengal, but it is celebrated with equal splendor in the states of Assam, Odisha, Bihar, Tripura as well as Jharkhand. People start the preparations of welcoming the Goddess on the day of Mahalaya. The 10-day festival comes to an end with the celebrations of Dusshera, also known as Vijay Dashmi. The name Vijay Dashmi is fitting because Durga mata gained victory over Mahishasura on this particular day, bringing the festivities to a close after nine days.
This festival is extremely important to the Bengali community, and they celebrate it with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm. Now, let us look at the special puja rituals for each of the ten days of this festival-
Pratipada Tithi- The Shailputri puja and Ghatasthapana puja are performed on the first day of the festival. Desi ghee laddoos are offered to the Goddess on this day. Goddess Shailputri is an incarnation of Goddess Parvati and wields a Trishul on her hand.
Dwitiya Tithi- Goddess Parvati observed great penance to obtain Lord Shiva as her husband; hence this form of the Goddess is known as Brahmacharini. Devotees appease her by serving her fruits and sugar on this day.
Tritya Tithi- The third avatar of the Goddess is Chandraghanta mata. She is the fiercest incarnation of Durga and is known for her anger. Devotees serve her kheer on this day.
Fourth Tithi- Kushmanda mata is also worshipped on this day with an offering of Malpua to appease her.
Panchami Tithi- Skandamata puja is performed on Panchami as she is the fifth avatar of Goddess Durga. To pray for good health on this day, devotees offer bananas as bhog to the Goddess.
Shasthi Tithi- Offerings of honey are made to the Katyayni mata on this day. This form of the Devi is said to bless her followers with life as sweet as honey for their devotion towards her.
Saptami Tithi- The seventh incarnation of the Goddess is prayed to on this day. Kalratri mata is believed to protect one and all from every evil and devotees offer her jaggery to show their devotion.
Ashtami Tithi- Coconut is the special bhog of this day and is offered to Goddess Mahagauri, who is a symbol of penance and perseverance, as per Hindu mythology.
Navami Tithi- Goddess Siddhidatri’s puja is performed on this auspicious day. She is the ninth form of Goddess Durga and is a symbol of wisdom. Til or sesame seeds are said to appease the Goddess and are thus served as bhog.
Dashami Tithi- Durga visarjan takes place on this day as Vijaya Dashmi marks the end of this festival. Grand processions are taken out on the streets amidst much pomp and spectacle, and the idols of Durga are immersed in water, bidding farewell to the Goddess until next year.
Demon Mahishasura finds a mention in a lot of Hindu scriptures as he managed to receive a boon from Lord Brahma. Observing strict penance, Mahishasure gained the blessing of immortality from Lord Brahma. Due to this, he grew arrogant, exerting his power over the innocent, torturing them, bullying the devtas, as no man or God could kill him. Seeing the havoc he wrecked, the deities prayed for his destruction. To end his tyranny, Goddess Durga was created.
Durga Mata fought with the demon for ten days, and on the tenth day, she slew him, putting an end to his wrath. Since that day, Durga Puja dates and time have been celebrated to mark the victory of good over the evil forces of nature.
The Goddess in her various forms is celebrated during these propitious days bringing luck, abundance, and strength to all those who seek her blessings with devotion in their hearts. She fills her bhakts with a renewed spirit of confidence and courage, making them take on the world with their head held high.
Want to know the auspicious Durga Puja dates and time? Connect with Astroyogi astrologers right away!
Date | Thursday, 21 November 2024 |
Tithi | Krishna Shashthi |
Day | Thursday |
Paksha | Krishna-Paksha |
Sunrise | 6:49:11 |
Sunset | 17:25:32 |
Moonrise | 22:44:5 |
Nakshatra | Pushya |
Nakshtra Till | 15 : 37 : 31 |
Yog | Shukla |
Yog Till | 12 : 1 : 23 |
Karan I | Vanija |
Surya Rashi | Scorpio |
Chandra Rashi | Cancer |
Rahu Kal | 13:26:54 to 14:46:26 |