Durga Puja 2025 - Important Dates, Puja Timings and Rituals

Durga Puja 2025 is set to bring joy, devotion, and togetherness to millions across India and the world. Celebrated with grandeur in West Bengal and many other regions, this festival honours Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura, a timeless reminder of the triumph of good over evil.

The festivities begin with the sacred chants of Mahalaya and culminate with Vijayadashami, when the Goddess is given a heartfelt farewell. Each day in between carries its own rituals, traditions, and significance. Knowing the Durga Puja 2025 date and rituals helps devotees prepare for a spiritually fulfilling celebration.

Durga Puja 2025 Date, Rituals, Occasions & Significance

Also Read: Durga Temples in India You Must Visit This Durga Pooja

Durga Puja 2025: Date and Timings

Mahalaya- Invoking the Goddess

Date: 21^st – 22nd September 2025

Significance: Mahalaya marks the spiritual dawn of Durga Puja 2025. It symbolises the descent of Goddess Durga from Mount Kailash to earth, bringing hope, protection, and blessings for her devotees. The day is also dedicated to honouring ancestors through sacred offerings. Mahalaya fills the air with devotion, anticipation, and festive energy, as homes and communities prepare for six days of celebration.

Rituals: At daybreak, people listen to the iconic Mahishasura Mardini chants. Families gather along riverbanks and ponds to perform tarpan, offering prayers and water to departed souls. This blend of devotion and remembrance sets the tone for Durga Puja.

Shashthi - Welcoming the Goddess

Date: 28th September 2025 (Sunday)

Significance: Shashti marks the formal commencement of Durga Puja rituals. It represents the arrival of Goddess Durga on earth, leaving her heavenly abode to bless her devotees with protection and prosperity. The day holds deep cultural importance as it welcomes the Goddess into homes and community pandals, symbolising joy, devotion, and divine presence.

Rituals: The day begins with the Bodhan ceremony, where the Goddess is invoked, and a sacred Kalash is placed to represent her power. Another highlight is the unveiling of Maa Durga’s idol, when her radiant face is revealed, filling devotees with awe, reverence, and renewed spiritual energy.

Also Read: Feel the Festive Excitement: Explore Kolkata’s Durga Puja Pandals

Maha Saptami 

Date: 29th September 2025 (Monday)

Significance: Maha Saptami marks the beginning of full-scale Durga Puja celebrations. It highlights the sacred connection between divinity, humanity, and nature, symbolising fertility, prosperity, and universal balance. The day reminds devotees that Goddess Durga’s blessings extend not just to her worshippers but to all forms of life on earth.

Rituals: The day begins with the Nabapatrika snan, where nine plants representing nature’s life forces are bathed and draped in a red-bordered saree as Kola Bou. She is placed beside Lord Ganesha as his divine consort, embodying agricultural abundance and natural prosperity. This ritual beautifully blends devotion with reverence for nature.

Maha Ashtami

Date: 30th September 2025 (Tuesday)

Significance: Maha Ashtami is regarded as the most sacred and powerful day of Durga Puja. It symbolizes the pinnacle of devotion, courage, and divine strength. The day celebrates the Goddess in her fiercest form, highlighting her role as the destroyer of evil and protector of righteousness. Devotees believe that prayers offered on this day bring immense spiritual strength, peace, and protection.

Rituals: The morning begins with Ashtami Anjali, where devotees gather to offer flowers in collective prayer. Kumari Puja is also performed, worshipping young girls as living embodiments of Shakti. The evening’s highlight is the Sandhi Puja, performed with 108 lamps and lotus flowers, marking the Goddess’s decisive victory in battle.

Also Read: 5 Reasons to Visit Kolkata for Durga Pooja

Maha Navami 

Date: 1st October 2025 (Wednesday)

Significance: Maha Navami continues the grandeur of Durga Puja and represents the final stage of worship before the Goddess’s victory on Dashami. It is believed to mark the conclusion of her fierce battle with Mahishasura. Spiritually, Navami signifies triumph approaching and inspires devotees to seek her blessings for peace, prosperity, and strength. The day also reinforces community bonding through worship and cultural celebrations.

Rituals: Navami is observed with Maha Aarti, homa (fire offerings), and community gatherings. Devotees join together in prayer, while the sound of dhaak, incense, and chants create an unforgettable spiritual atmosphere. This day blends devotion with festive joy, preparing devotees for Vijayadashami’s emotional farewell.

Vijayadashmi - Farewell to the Goddess

Date: 2nd October 2025 (Thursday)

Significance: Vijayadashami marks the conclusion of Durga Puja and celebrates the ultimate victory of good over evil. It signifies Goddess Durga’s triumph over Mahishasura and her return to Mount Kailash after blessing her devotees. The day blends joy, gratitude, and sorrow, reminding devotees that while the Goddess departs physically, her divine presence and protection remain eternal.

Rituals: The afternoon is marked by Sindoor Khela, where married women apply vermilion to the Goddess and lovingly smear it on each other, praying for harmony and prosperity. In the evening, Visarjan takes place with grand processions as idols are immersed in rivers and lakes, accompanied by chants of “Asche bochor abar hobe” (She will return next year).

Conclusion

Durga Puja 2025 is more than a festival. It is a spiritual journey from Mahalaya to Vijayadashami, celebrating the victory of good over evil. Each ritual, from Sandhi Puja to Sindoor Khela, reflects devotion and cultural depth.

To experience the grandeur of Durga Puja and Navratri celebrations in India, plan your festive holiday with Club Mahindra Membership and enjoy 140+ resorts where tradition, comfort, and togetherness create lifelong memories.