✍️ By Rahul Goyal · Chandigarh Life
Quick answer: Durga Puja 2026 in Chandigarh ran through the Sharad Navratri window and ended with Bijoya Dashami on Wednesday, 21 October, when women played Sindoor Khela at Banga Bhawan, Sector 35. The main days were Durga Ashtami on Monday, 19 October and Maha Navami on Monday, 19 October by the North Indian rule or Tuesday, 20 October by the Bengal rule and the government list; 20 October is also Vijayadashami (Dussehra). Venues that follow the Bengali calendar held Bijoya Dashami a day later, on the 21st. In 2027, Maha Ashtami is on Thursday, 7 October. 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 days |
| Maha Ashtami | Monday, 19 October | Considered the most sacred day; Sandhi Puja bridges Ashtami and Navami |
| Maha Navami | Monday, 19 October (North Indian calendars) or Tuesday, 20 October (Bengal rule and the government list) | Final day of worship; on the Bengal rule it falls on 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; held at Banga Bhawan on 21 October in 2026 |
Durga Puja 2026 in Chandigarh: how it went
Kalibari in Sector 47 and Banga Bhawan in Sector 35 both held their pujas, and our team filmed both pandals (videos below). On the Bengal calendar the puja ran from Shashthi on Friday, 16 October to Bijoya Dashami on Wednesday, 21 October. On the 21st, the day after Dussehra, women at Banga Bhawan played Sindoor Khela to bid the goddess farewell, as ETV Bharat reported that afternoon. Next year, the central government list has Maha Ashtami on Thursday, 7 October 2027 and Maha Navami on Friday, 8 October 2027.
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. In 2026, Sindoor Khela at Banga Bhawan was on Wednesday, 21 October, as ETV Bharat reported. Neither venue published its immersion site online.
More festival guides
- Kalibari Mandir, Chandigarh: history and Durga Puja.
- Navratri in Chandigarh: temples, pandals and garba; Navratri 2027 begins on Thursday, 30 September.
- Dandiya and garba nights: the 2026 nights, as a guide to next year.
- Dussehra in Chandigarh: how 2026 went, 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?
It was Monday, 19 October 2026. Maha Navami followed 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 was 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. In 2026 Banga Bhawan held Sindoor Khela on the 21st.
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
Sindoor Khela at Banga Bhawan on 21 October 2026: ETV Bharat (Punjabi), 21 October 2026. Navratri 2027 dates: Drik Panchang, Shardiya Navratri 2027 for Chandigarh.
- 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.
