✍️ By Rahul Goyal · Chandigarh Life
Quick answer: Durga Puja 2026 in Chandigarh runs through the Sharad Navratri window — Durga Ashtami on Sunday, 18 October, Maha Navami on Monday, 19 October, and Bijoya Dashami (Vijayadashami) on Tuesday, 20 October. The tricity’s major venues are Kalibari (Sector 47), and Banga Bhawan at Sector 35-C (run by the Bangiya Sanskritik Sammilani) and Sector 37 — all drawing on Chandigarh and Panchkula’s Bengali community.
Durga Puja here is smaller than Kolkata’s pandal-hopping scale, but it’s a genuine, well-established community celebration — real idols from Kolkata artisans, proper Ashtami-Navami-Dashami rituals, and cultural programmes that run for days, concentrated in the sectors where Chandigarh’s Bengali community has lived for decades.
Durga Puja 2026 Dates
| Day | 2026 Date | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Maha Saptami | Saturday, 17 October | Formal start of the main puja days |
| Maha Ashtami | Sunday, 18 October | Considered the most sacred day; Sandhi Puja bridges Ashtami and Navami |
| Maha Navami | Monday, 19 October | Final day of worship before immersion |
| Bijoya Dashami / Vijayadashami | Tuesday, 20 October | Sindoor Khela and idol immersion |
Where to See Durga Puja in Chandigarh Tricity
- Kalibari, Sector 47 — Chandigarh’s only Kali temple and its longest-running Durga Puja venue, with idols from Kolkata artisans. See our full Kalibari Mandir guide.
- Banga Bhawan, Sector 35-C — puja organised by the Bangiya Sanskritik Sammilani.
- Banga Bhawan, Sector 37 — the other major Banga Bhawan puja venue in the city.
Chandigarh’s Bengali community is concentrated mainly in Sectors 31 and 47, and these three venues are where the community-wide celebration actually happens, rather than scattered across the city.
What Happens Each Day
- Ashtami — widely considered the most sacred day of the puja; Sandhi Puja, a brief and precisely-timed ritual bridging Ashtami and Navami, is performed.
- Navami — the final full day of worship, with Maha Aarti and cultural programmes — group songs, dance, and staged Bengali plays are typical through the puja’s later days.
- Dashami — Sindoor Khela, where married women apply vermilion to the goddess and each other, followed by the idol’s immersion procession.
For the wider Navratri picture across Chandigarh’s other temples and pandals, see our main Navratri Celebration in Chandigarh guide.
FAQ’s
When is Durga Ashtami 2026 in Chandigarh?
Sunday, 18 October 2026. Maha Navami follows on Monday, 19 October, and Bijoya Dashami (Vijayadashami) on Tuesday, 20 October.
Where is Durga Puja celebrated in Chandigarh?
The three main venues are Kalibari (Sector 47), Banga Bhawan Sector 35-C (Bangiya Sanskritik Sammilani), and Banga Bhawan Sector 37.
What is Sandhi Puja?
A brief, precisely-timed ritual performed at the junction of Ashtami and Navami, considered one of the most important moments of Durga Puja.
What happens on Dashami?
Sindoor Khela — married women apply vermilion to the goddess and to each other — followed by the ceremonial immersion of the Durga idol.
