DURGA PUJA 2026 · A SEASON OF HOMECOMING
মা আসছে — Maa Asche. Mother is coming. Two little words, and suddenly October feels closer. A journey home begins to take shape. A favourite sari comes out of the cupboard. Friends start planning which pandal they will visit first.
For Bengalis in Kolkata and across the world, the anticipation of Durga Puja has a joy all its own. Before the lights are switched on and the crowds gather, there is this beautiful season of waiting: imagining the first beat of the dhak, the first evening out, and the familiar faces we will see again.
OUR 30-DAY WELCOME COUNTDOWN
Maa Asche. Let the joy draw closer.
Counting down to midnight at the end of 15 October — the beginning of Maha Panchami on 16 October, Indian time.
A welcome to the season · Maha Shashthi is 17 October 2026
The countdown: Kolkata begins making room for Maa
Long before Puja week, the festival takes shape in the hands of people whose work often happens behind the scenes. In Kumartuli, Kolkata’s celebrated idol-making quarter, clay, straw, brushes and patient craftsmanship come together. Figures move through different stages of preparation: a form taking shape, a surface being smoothed, ornaments being readied, and colour bringing new expression to a face.
These weeks before Puja belong to the artisans as much as to the calendar. The anticipation is in the unfinished details and the care with which they are completed. UNESCO’s account of Durga Puja in Kolkata describes this months-long work in the city’s small workshops, and the many people who carry the tradition forward.
Across neighbourhoods, the making of a pandal is another part of the annual transformation. Bamboo frameworks, fabric, lighting and decorative work gradually turn a familiar corner into a place for the community to gather. What will this year’s entrance look like? What will be revealed when the coverings come down? That curiosity is part of the pleasure.
Our banner is an illustration of this shared anticipation, rather than a photograph of a particular 2026 pandal. It celebrates the hands, imagination and teamwork that make the season possible.
The sounds: a rhythm that feels like Puja
Some sounds announce a season before a word is spoken. For many Bengalis, it is the dhak: the deep, lively rhythm of the traditional drum, carried by the dhaki’s skill and energy.
Think of that first rolling beat reaching you from the next lane. A conversation pauses. Someone smiles. Even if you are far from Kolkata, a familiar recording can bring back an evening spent walking with cousins, waiting for friends, or standing beside a beautifully lit pandal.
Dhakis are part of the living craft of Puja. Their music gives the gathering movement and atmosphere; it is something to listen to, enjoy and appreciate. The United Nations’ account of Kolkata’s celebrations places these drummers alongside artisans, neighbourhood organisers and families at the heart of the festival.
The emotion: coming home, wherever home may be
“Maa Asche” carries the tenderness of a welcome. For devotees, it expresses the anticipation of the Mother’s arrival. For families, it can also mean a son returning after months away, a daughter booking her tickets, or old friends finding a few evenings when everyone can finally be together.
Not everyone can make the journey. A Puja celebrated in another Indian city or overseas can still hold that feeling: helping with a community event, dressing up with the children, sharing food, calling home, or explaining a favourite tradition to someone experiencing it for the first time.
There is room in the season for both the grand celebration and the quiet moment. A full house is lovely. So is a message that says, “We missed you. Come when you can.”
May Maa Durga’s arrival bring courage to our hearts, warmth to our homes, and more time with the people we love.
মা আসছে। আনন্দ আসছে।
Mother is coming. Joy is coming.
Durga Puja 2026: dates for your diary
Our 30-day welcome countdown runs from the calendar date of 16 September to the beginning of 16 October. It ends at midnight at the end of 15 October 2026, Indian Standard Time, as we welcome Maha Panchami. Maha Shashthi follows on 17 October; the timer is our festive welcome milestone, not a ritual timing or muhurat.
| Occasion | Date in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Mahalaya | 10 October |
| Maha Chaturthi | 15 October |
| Maha Panchami | 16 October |
| Maha Shashthi | 17 October |
| Maha Saptami | 18 October |
| Maha Ashtami | 19 October |
| Maha Navami | 20 October |
| Vijaya Dashami | 21 October |
Dates: Government of West Bengal’s SAHAJ Puja calendar. Check your local Puja committee’s programme for its ceremonies and visiting arrangements.
A little preparation, a heartfelt welcome
While we count down, make a little space for the season. Clear the corner where your family gathers. Plan a visit to someone you have not seen for a while. Choose fresh flowers, bring out a much-loved piece of decor, or set aside an evening simply to be together.
At Kraftskala, our love of Indian craft makes this season especially meaningful. If you are preparing a festive corner or choosing a gift for someone you will visit, explore our diyas and tealight holders or our spiritual decor collection. Choose what suits your space; the welcome is yours to create.
Maa Asche. From our home in Jodhpur to your home, wherever it may be, we wish you a season filled with hope, reunion and joy.
With warm wishes,
Team Kraftskala
