Updated (Mahalaya) · DeepestFeelings
Quick answer: Durga Puja 2026 in Kolkata runs from Maha Shashthi on Friday 16 October to Bijoya Dashami on Wednesday 21 October, with Mahalaya today, 10 October. Below are four free, downloadable pandal maps – North & Central, South & South-East, Port area and South-West & South Suburban (Behala, Jadavpur) – plus the nearest Metro stations and the best time to visit each cluster.
Dates below follow the Drik Panchang Durga Puja calendar for Kolkata. Some Bengali panjikas place a tithi a few hours differently, so check your local puja committee's schedule for anjali and Sandhi Puja timings.
| Day | Date | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Mahalaya | Sat, 10 Oct 2026 | Tarpan at the ghats, Mahishasuramardini broadcast at dawn; Devi Paksha begins |
| Maha Shashthi | Fri, 16 Oct 2026 | Bodhon (awakening) and Adhibas; most big pandals are fully open by evening |
| Maha Saptami | Sat, 17 Oct and Sun, 18 Oct 2026 | Nabapatrika (Kola Bou) snan at dawn; first big pandal-hopping night |
| Maha Ashtami | Mon, 19 Oct 2026 | Pushpanjali, Kumari Puja and Sandhi Puja; the busiest day for crowds |
| Maha Navami | Tue, 20 Oct 2026 | Navami puja, homa and bhog; last full night of pandal hopping |
| Bijoya Dashami | Wed, 21 Oct 2026 | Sindoor Khela and immersion (bisarjan) processions to the Ganga ghats |
Kolkata's pujas fall into four practical clusters. Covering one cluster per outing saves hours, because traffic between North and South Kolkata during Puja nights is slow and many roads near the big pandals turn one-way or pedestrian-only.
| Map | Neighbourhoods | Known for | Nearest Metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| North & Central | Bagbazar, Kumartuli, Ahiritola, Sovabazar, Shyambazar, College Street, Sealdah | Heritage sarbojanin pujas, traditional idols, bonedi bari (old family) pujas | Sovabazar Sutanuti, Shyambazar, Girish Park, Central (Blue Line) |
| South & South-East | Ballygunge, Gariahat, Deshapriya Park, Rashbehari, Kalighat, Kasba | Large theme pandals and art-installation pujas | Kalighat, Rabindra Sarobar (Blue Line) |
| Port area | Kidderpore, Watgunge, Ekbalpur, Garden Reach, Metiabruz | Neighbourhood pujas along the river, fewer crowds | Road access; Majerhat for the southern end |
| South-West & South Suburban | Behala, Barisha, Thakurpukur, New Alipore, Tollygunge, Jadavpur, Naktala | Award-winning theme pujas, especially in Behala | Behala Chowrasta, Sakherbazar (Purple Line); Mahanayak Uttam Kumar, Netaji (Blue Line) |
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North Kolkata is where the city's community puja tradition is oldest. Kumartuli, the potters' quarter on the Hooghly, is where most of Kolkata's Durga idols are sculpted, and the pujas around it – Kumartuli Park, Bagbazar Sarbojanin and Ahiritola Sarbojanin – are known for traditional ekchala (single-frame) idols and the riverside setting. Further south, College Square is famous for its lit-up pond, and Santosh Mitra Square and Mohammad Ali Park draw large crowds in Central Kolkata.
Route tip: start at Bagbazar and walk south through Kumartuli and Ahiritola to Sovabazar – the pujas are a few minutes apart and Sovabazar Sutanuti Metro is at the end of the walk. Leave the College Street and Sealdah pujas for a separate leg via Girish Park or Central Metro. Mornings and after midnight are the least crowded.
South Kolkata is the centre of the theme-puja movement, where pandals are built as full art installations. The Gariahat–Ballygunge belt packs several big names close together: Ekdalia Evergreen, Singhi Park, Ballygunge Cultural and Maddox Square, the last also a favourite evening hangout. Around Rashbehari and the Lakes you will find Deshapriya Park, Tridhara Sammilani and Hindusthan Park.
Route tip: take the Blue Line to Kalighat for Deshapriya Park and Tridhara, then walk east along Rashbehari Avenue towards Gariahat for Ekdalia, Singhi Park and Ballygunge Cultural. Queues here are longest on Ashtami evening; Shashthi or Saptami afternoon is far easier.
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The Port area is the Kolkata Police Port Division along the Hooghly in the south-west of the city – Kidderpore, Watgunge, Ekbalpur, Garden Reach and Metiabruz. Its pujas are mostly neighbourhood sarbojanin celebrations rather than headline theme pandals, which makes the area a quieter option when the North and South clusters are packed.
Route tip: streets here are narrow and dock traffic is heavy, so go by car or taxi to one point and walk between nearby pujas. The area links easily with New Alipore and Behala on the same trip.
The south-west and south-suburban belt has become one of the strongest theme-puja zones in the city. Behala alone has well-known pujas such as Barisha Club, Behala Notun Dal and Sahajatri along Diamond Harbour Road, while Suruchi Sangha in New Alipore, Naktala Udayan Sangha, and the Jadavpur–Garfa pujas round out the area.
Route tip: the Purple Line runs under Diamond Harbour Road, so Behala Chowrasta and Sakherbazar stations put you within walking distance of the Behala pujas. For Tollygunge, Naktala and Jadavpur, use the Blue Line to Mahanayak Uttam Kumar or Netaji. Crowds here are usually lighter than in Ballygunge, which suits families.
Kolkata's Durga Puja was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2021 – one more reason the city's pandals draw visitors from across India and abroad.
Per the Drik Panchang calendar for Kolkata, Mahalaya is on Saturday 10 October 2026, Maha Shashthi on Friday 16 October, Maha Saptami on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October (the tithi spans both days in eastern India), Maha Ashtami (with Sandhi Puja) on Monday 19 October, Maha Navami on Tuesday 20 October and Bijoya Dashami on Wednesday 21 October 2026.
North Kolkata (Bagbazar, Kumartuli, Ahiritola, College Square) is best for heritage pujas and traditional idols, while South Kolkata (Ekdalia, Singhi Park, Deshapriya Park, Tridhara) and Behala in the south-west are best for large theme pandals. Pick one cluster per evening rather than crossing the city.
Stick to a single map cluster, start before noon or go after midnight when queues are shorter, and walk between pandals that are close together. Use the Metro to move between clusters, because many roads near big pandals become one-way or closed to cars in the evening.
On the Blue Line, Sovabazar Sutanuti serves Bagbazar, Kumartuli and Ahiritola; Girish Park and Central serve the College Street and Santosh Mitra Square area; Kalighat and Rabindra Sarobar serve the Deshapriya Park, Tridhara and Lake area pujas. On the Purple Line, Behala Chowrasta and Sakherbazar serve the Behala pujas.
The Port area is the Kolkata Police Port Division along the Hooghly in the south-west of the city: Kidderpore, Watgunge, Ekbalpur, Garden Reach, Metiabruz and the surrounding wards.
Yes. All four maps are free to download, print and share, including on WhatsApp, Instagram and other social media.
The pandal maps on this page are DeepestFeelings.com. You may download, print and share them free of charge for personal, non-commercial use, including on WhatsApp, Instagram and other social media, provided the DeepestFeelings credit stays visible. Republishing the maps on another website, in print for sale, or in any commercial product needs written permission – contact us.
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