✍️ By Rahul Goyal · Chandigarh Life
Quick answer: Durga Puja 2026 in Chandigarh runs through the Sharad Navratri window — Durga Ashtami on Monday, 19 October and Maha Navami on Tuesday, 20 October, which is also Vijayadashami (Dussehra). Venues that follow the Bengali calendar may hold Bijoya Dashami a day later, so check with the venue. The tricity’s major venues are Kalibari (Sector 47) and Banga Bhawan at Sector 35-C (run by the Bangiya Sanskritik Sammilani), both drawing on Chandigarh and Panchkula’s Bengali community.
Every 2026 festival date, with its weekday and whether it is a holiday in Chandigarh, is in our Chandigarh festival calendar.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Maha Ashtami | Monday, 19 October 2026 |
| Sandhi Puja (calculated for Chandigarh) | 10:27 AM to 11:15 AM on Monday, 19 October 2026 |
| Maha Navami | Tuesday, 20 October 2026 on the Bengal rule and in the DoPT list; North Indian calendars show Monday, 19 October |
| Bijoya Dashami, Sindoor Khela | Wednesday, 21 October 2026 on the Bengal rule; North India marks Vijayadashami on Tuesday, 20 October |
Durga Puja here is on a smaller scale than Kolkata’s, and each venue sets its own programme, so ask the venue for its timings.
Durga Puja 2026 Dates
| Day | 2026 Date | Significance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maha Saptami | Saturday, 17 and Sunday, 18 October | Formal start of the main puja daysMaha Ashtami | Monday, 19 October | Considered the most sacred day; Sandhi Puja bridges Ashtami and Navami |
| Maha Navami | Tuesday, 20 October | Final day of worship; the same date as Vijayadashami in 2026 | ||
| Vijayadashami (Dussehra) / Bijoya Dashami | Tuesday, 20 October (Bengali-calendar venues may observe Bijoya Dashami on Wednesday, 21 October) | Sindoor Khela and idol immersion; confirm the timing with Kalibari or Banga Bhawan |
Where to See Durga Puja in Chandigarh Tricity
- Kalibari, Sector 47: the temple describes itself as the only temple dedicated to Goddess Kali in Chandigarh. See our full Kalibari Mandir guide.
- Banga Bhawan, Sector 35-C — puja organised by the Bangiya Sanskritik Sammilani.
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.
🎥 Watch: On Chandigarh Life
Bijoya Dashami: Sindoor Khela and immersion
Drik Panchang lists Sindoor Utsav and Bengal Durga Visarjan for Wednesday, 21 October 2026, with the Dashami tithi ending at 2:11 PM. In Sindoor Khela women smear sindoor on the idols and on each other, a ritual that has historically been restricted to married women. The day ends with a procession that takes the clay idols to a river or coast for immersion. Neither Kalibari nor the Sammilani has published its 2026 timings, so ask them for the hour and the immersion site.
More festival guides
- Kalibari Mandir, Chandigarh: history and Durga Puja.
- Navratri in Chandigarh: temples, pandals and garba from Sunday, 11 October.
- Dandiya and garba nights: where to play this Navratri.
- Dussehra in Chandigarh: Tuesday, 20 October, with the Ramleela grounds by sector.
- Ram Leela in Chandigarh: the committees and venues.
- Chandigarh festival calendar 2026: every date, verified.
FAQ’s
When is Durga Ashtami 2026 in Chandigarh?
Monday, 19 October 2026. Maha Navami follows on Tuesday, 20 October on the Bengal rule and in the central government list; North Indian calendars put it on Monday, 19 October, and Vijayadashami on Tuesday, 20 October.
Where is Durga Puja celebrated in Chandigarh?
The main venues are Kalibari (Sector 47) and Banga Bhawan, Sector 35-C (Bangiya Sanskritik Sammilani).
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.
What time is Sandhi Puja in Chandigarh in 2026?
Calculated for Chandigarh, the Sandhi Puja muhurat on Monday, 19 October 2026 is 10:27 AM to 11:15 AM. Each venue sets its own timing, so confirm with Kalibari or Banga Bhawan.
Is Bijoya Dashami on 20 or 21 October 2026?
North Indian calendars mark Vijayadashami on Tuesday, 20 October, while the Bengal rule puts Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela on Wednesday, 21 October. Ask Kalibari or Banga Bhawan which day it follows.
When is Durga Puja in Chandigarh in 2027?
The central government list for 2027 has Maha Ashtami on Thursday, 7 October 2027, Maha Navami on Friday, 8 October 2027 and Dussehra on Saturday, 9 October 2027. The Chandigarh list comes later in the year.
Sources
- drikpanchang.com
- drikpanchang.com
- drikpanchang.com
- drikpanchang.com
- drikpanchang.com
- DoPT holidays 2026 (Government of India)
- DoPT holidays 2027 (Government of India)
- Wikipedia: Durga Puja
The facts added to this page on 20 September 2026 were checked against the sources above.
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