Durga Puja 2025: Start And End Date; Check Complete Schedule And Rituals

Durga Puja 2025, a significant Hindu festival which honours Goddess Durga's triumph over the buffalo demon Mahishasura, symbolising good's victory over evil. Observed in the month of Ashvin, the festival spans ten days, with the last five days being the most prominent. While Durga Puja and Navratri coincide, they are distinct celebrations. Devotees perform pujas in homes and public spaces, adorned with temporary pandals, accompanied by cultural performances, feasting and processions. The festival also marks the worship of Goddess Durga's family, including Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya. Concluding with Vijayadashami, the celebrations end with the immersion of Durga idols, signifying her return to her celestial abode.

Durga Puja is celebrated with great enthusiasm in West Bengal, where significant and majestic Pandals are set up to welcome the Goddess. Durga Puja festivities consists of varied events like Maha Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami that features Sandhi Puja and Kumari Puja, Maha Navami when Maha aarti takes place, and Vijayadashami when Sindoor Khela and Durga Visarjan take place.

This year, Durga Puja 2025 starts on 28th September 2025. Check all the important information regarding the schedule and rituals associated with this grand festival below.

Durga Puja 2025: Start And End Date

Durga Puja 2025 start date falls on 28th September 2025, Sunday and end date falls on 2nd October 2025, Thursday with Vijayadashami.

Durga Puja 2025: Schedule

Durga Puja marks the victory of Maa Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. (Image Source: Canva) 

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Durga Puja 2025: Rituals

Durga Puja 2025 celebrates the divine victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura, symbolising good's triumph over evil. Below is the list of significant events during Durga Puja:

Maha Shashti: This day marks Durga Puja's beginning in Bengal with Bodhon, welcoming Goddess Durga and her family. This ritual invokes divine energy among devotees, setting the stage for the revered goddess's presence.

Maha Saptami: On this day. Goddess Durga's idol is bathed in the Ganges and worshipped with Nabapatrika. Devotees chant mantras, seeking blessings and boons from the divine, celebrating Shakti's incarnations with great fervour.

Maha Ashtami: This day is Durga Puja's most sacred day. Priests awaken the idol with chanting, while devotees offer Pushpanjali and prayers. Kumari Puja and Sandhi Puja mark the day's spiritual significance, filled with devotion.

Maha Navami: This day concludes formal customs with Maha Aarti. Cultural festivities, music, dance and drama ensue. Devotees break their fast with Bhog and Prasad, celebrating Goddess Durga's benevolence and kindness.

Vijaya Dashami: This sacred day marks Goddess Durga's and Lord Rama's victories. Idol immersion, firecrackers and cultural programs characterise the celebrations. In Bengal, Goddess Durga bids farewell, and devotees revel in the festive spirit. Sindoor Khela is also celebrated by both married and unmarried women alike on this day.

Other Significant Ceremonies Associated With Durga Puja:

- Bodhana: On Shashthi, Bodhana invokes Goddess Durga through ghatasthapana and pranapratistha, symbolising her awakening and welcoming, and preparing the idol for worship with divine energy.

- Adhivasa: This ceremony involves symbolic offerings to Goddess Durga, seeking blessings and protection. 

- Navapatrika Snan: On Saptami, Navapatrika Snan ritually bathes nine plants representing Goddess Durga in holy water, underscoring her manifestation in nature and nurturing role with sacred significance.

- Sandhi Puja and Ashtami Pushpanjali: Ashtami features pushpanjali and Sandhi Puja, a 48-minute ritual honouring Goddess Durga's majesty with lotuses, lamps, and bhog offerings, sometimes accompanied by symbolic sacrifices.

- Homa and Bhog: On Navami, a sacred fire ritual (homa) and bhog offerings are made to Goddess Durga, intensifying the spiritual connection with the divine and venerating young girls in Kumari Puja.

- Sindoor Khela, Dhunuchi Naach, and Immersion: Vijaya Dashami celebrates Durga's triumph with Sindoor Khela, Dhunuchi Naach, and idol immersion, symbolising the goddess's return to her celestial abode with blessings.

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Durga Puja celebrates Maa Durga's triumph over Mahishasura, symbolising the victory of goodness over wickedness. This festival honours the strength of natural forces and feminine power, coinciding with the agricultural season's bounty and renewal.