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Durga Puja 2024: Dates, Vidhi, and Rituals
Since I can remember, my sister and I have waited the whole year for two things: summer vacations and Durga Puja. Today, through this post, we at RNTalks are happy to bring you the Durga Puja Dates, Vidhi, and Rituals.
Embrace Durga Puja 2024 with its vibrant rituals and significance! Discover how each day of the festival brings its own customs and celebrations celebrating good triumphing over evil.
Durga Puja, is one of the most revered festivals in Hinduism which commemorates the triumph of Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
Also Read: Sharad Navratri Dates India | Best Navratri Quotes
This year, in 2024 this spirited five-day celebration, known as Durgotsava, will start from Tuesday, October 8.
Beyond its religious significance, Durga Puja serves as a cultural and spiritual gathering for millions of devotees, particularly in India, symbolising the victory of good over evil.
Durga Puja 2024: Date and Time
Event | Day/Date |
Day 1 – Panchami | Tuesday, October 8, 2024 |
Day 2 – Shashthi | Wednesday, October 9, 2024 |
Day 3 – Saptami | Thursday, October 10, 2024 |
Day 4 – Ashtami | Friday, October 11, 2024 |
Day 5 – Navami | Saturday, October 12, 2024 |
Day 6 – Dashami | Sunday, October 13, 2024 |
Durga Puja 2024: Durga Puja Vidhi

The Durgotsava or Durga Puja festival lasts for five days, starting on Shashthi (the sixth day of the waxing moon) and ending on Vijayadashami.
Each and every ritual and ceremony in this elaborate puja has a distinctive role to play. Here’s an overview of the various rituals associated with the festival:
Shashthi (Kalparambha)
The beginning of Durga Puja festivities is Kalparambha. It is performed on Shashthi Tithi (the sixth day) of Devi Paksha. This ritual involves invoking Goddess Durga in a Ghata (holy pot) filled with water.
The pot symbolises the divine presence of the Goddess. The Kalasha is placed on a mound of rice, and a coconut with mango leaves is placed atop the pot.
This is followed by the recitation of mantras, inviting the Goddess to reside in the Kalasha during the festival.
Bodhan (Shashthi): The Bodhan ceremony is performed on Shashthi’s evening. It signifies the awakening of Goddess Durga after her long slumber.
The priest ties a mirror to a Bilva tree (Bael tree), and through this mirror, the idol of Goddess Durga is reflected. Offerings of fruits, flowers, and sweets are made, and the chanting of hymns and mantras follows.
Maha Saptami Puja (Seventh Day)
Maha Saptami marks the beginning of the main puja rituals. A banana tree, known as ‘Nabapatrika,’ is bathed in the holy water of a river or pond and is dressed in a traditional saree.
The Nabapatrika symbolises Goddess Durga, and it is placed next to the idol of the Goddess. The Saptami Puja involves offering prayers, flowers, fruits, and other items while chanting mantras.
Maha Ashtami Puja (Eighth Day)
Maha Ashtami is considered the most significant day of Durga Puja. It is on this Maha Ashtami day that Goddess Durga is considered to have slain the demon Mahishasura, thus signifying the triumph of good over evil.
In addition to Ashtami and Navami Pujas, Sandhi Puja is performed. Sandhi Puja is considered the most auspicious moment of Durga Puja. Offerings such as flowers, fruits, sweets, and the lighting of are made to the Goddess.
The devotees chant the Durga Saptashati or Chandi Path, which is a collection of 700 verses dedicated to Goddess Durga.
Also Try This Quiz: 30 Questions Quiz Navratri, Durga Puja, and Dussehra by RNTalks
Maha Navami Puja (Ninth Day)
Maha Navami is the concluding day of Durga Puja. It involves the Mahasnan (holy bath) of the deity and the special Navami Puja, followed by the recitation of sacred texts.
Offerings to the Goddess include nine different types of leaves and flowers. The day concludes with Maha Aarti, a ceremony in which lamps are lit, and devotional songs are sung in praise of Goddess Durga.
Sindur Khela, Vijayadashami and Durga Visarjan
Vijayadashami, the final day of Durga Puja, symbolizes good triumphing over evil and the return of Goddess Durga to her celestial abode.
Sindur Khela is a Bengali Hindu ritual that is performed on the final day of Durga Puja, also known as Vijayadashami or Dussehra.
It is a vibrant and joyous Bengali Hindu ritual celebrated on the last day of Durga Puja, known as Vijayadashami.
Traditionally, married women gather at the pandals (temples) to bid farewell to Goddess Durga, symbolizing her departure to her marital home.
As part of the ritual, they apply sindur (vermilion) on the goddess’s forehead and feet, then playfully smear it on each other, marking a celebration of marital bliss and womanhood.
With laughter, camaraderie, and red hues filling the air, the goddess’ protective energy and the auspiciousness of marriage are symbolized.
The celebration has become increasingly symbolic of sisterhood and empowerment in recent years, transcending marital status in some interpretations.
The immersion ceremony, or Durga Visarjan, takes place on this day. It is customary for Goddess Durga’s idol to be taken to a river or sea amidst grand processions and then immersed, symbolizing her departure from Earth.
Now a days many puja commitees are resorting to eco friendly durga idol which is immersed in a locally made tank to reduce polluting the rivers and other water bodies.
Devotees bid farewell to the Goddess with the hope that she will return again next year. The day also symbolises the beginning of new ventures, as it is considered highly auspicious.
Durga Puja 2024: Significance of Weekdays for Arrival and Departure

The day on which Goddess Durga arrives and departs is considered an omen.
Maa Durga has 4 other vahanas other than the Lion. According to mythology and astrology, if she arrives on a horse, it signifies impending war or turmoil, while if she arrives on an elephant, it means prosperity and good fortune. Similarly, her departure on a boat signifies an abundance of rain and a good harvest.
Also Read: 4 Different Vahanas of Maa Durga Other Than The Lion
Durga Puja is more than a festival; it’s an expression of faith, unity, and the victory of good over evil.
Each Durga Puja ritual deepens the connection between devotees and the divine, fostering a sense of community and devotion that transcends boundaries.
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