Durga Puja 2026: All set for the beat of the dhak

Published: October 16, 2026 12:08 pm IST

As artisans in Kolkata’s Kumartuli give the final touches to clay idols of the goddess, Durga Puja 2026 readies to unfold across the country with the familiar cadence of the dhak. This guide brings together a pan-India look at the festival—its key events, regional expressions, and the hands that shape its icons—so readers can immerse themselves in the celebrations whether or not they are able to go pandal hopping in person.

A pan-India guide to the festivities

The coverage highlights the principal events planned in cities across India, offering an at-a-glance sense of what to watch for through the Puja days. For those who are unable to step out, it serves as a quick way to follow the major themes, sights, and moments that define the season in different urban centres.

Beyond West Bengal: The festival’s traveling tradition

The guide explores how Durga Puja, rooted in Bengal’s cultural life, has travelled beyond the State’s borders. It considers how communities elsewhere interpret and adopt the celebration, ensuring that while the ritual core remains, the form and atmosphere shift in response to new settings.

Every city, its own flavour

From décor styles and pandal designs to music and food, the look and feel of Durga Puja vary widely by city. The collection examines these differences, showing how local cultures, neighbourhood histories, and community groups shape the festival’s character in each place.

Inside the artisans’ workshops

Readers are taken into workshops to see how the idols come to life in the lead-up to the Puja. The stories focus on the craft traditions, the seasonal rhythms of work, and the creative choices that give each image of the goddess and her retinue its distinct presence.

For those who cannot go pandal hopping

If you cannot visit pandals in person, this guide offers a way to stay connected to the festival. It brings together key updates and features so you can follow the momentum of the days—immersion planning, cultural programmes, and the many neighborhood-scale highlights—through curated reporting.

Photo: An artisan prepares the idol of Goddess Durga ahead of the Durga Puja festival at Kumartuli, in Kolkata, on October 4, 2026. Photo credit: ANI

As the conch shells sound and the festivities begin, this collection provides a window into how Durga Puja 2026 is being celebrated across India, capturing both the shared spirit and the local nuances that make the festival distinctive in every city.