Looking for the Bengali Calendar October 2026 (বাংলা ক্যালেন্ডার অক্টোবর ২০২৬)? You have come to the right page at the right time, because October 2026 is not an ordinary month on the Bengali calendar. It is the month that Bengali families across the world wait for all year — the month of Durga Puja.
From the sacred dawn of Mahalaya on October 10 to the emotional farewell of Vijaya Dashami on October 21, and finally the gentle celebration of Kojagari Lakshmi Puja on October 25, this Bengali Calendar October 2026 guide walks you through every important date, festival, and holiday of the month so you can plan and celebrate without missing a single moment.
Bengali Calendar October 2026: Complete Holidays and Festivals Table
Below is the full, day-by-day list of holidays, festivals, and important observances for October 2026 according to the Bengali calendar.
| Date | Day | Holiday / Festival |
|---|---|---|
| October 2, 2026 | Friday | Gandhi Jayanti |
| October 10, 2026 | Saturday | Mahalaya |
| October 10, 2026 | Saturday | Second Saturday (Bank Holiday) |
| October 15, 2026 | Thursday | Durga Puja — Maha Chaturthi |
| October 16, 2026 | Friday | Durga Puja — Maha Panchami |
| October 17, 2026 | Saturday | Durga Puja — Maha Sasthi |
| October 18, 2026 | Sunday | Durga Puja — Maha Saptami |
| October 19, 2026 | Monday | Durga Puja — Maha Ashtami |
| October 20, 2026 | Tuesday | Durga Puja — Maha Navami |
| October 21, 2026 | Wednesday | Durga Puja — Vijaya Dashami |
| October 22, 2026 | Thursday | Additional Durga Puja Holiday |
| October 23, 2026 | Friday | Additional Durga Puja Holiday |
| October 24, 2026 | Saturday | Fourth Saturday (Bank Holiday) |
| October 25, 2026 | Sunday | Kojagari Lakshmi Puja |
| October 26, 2026 | Monday | Additional Lakshmi Puja Holiday |
Key Festivals of October 2026 Explained
Gandhi Jayanti – October 2, 2026
Gandhi Jayanti falls on Friday, October 2, 2026, marking the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader who guided India’s freedom movement through non-violence. It is one of India’s three national holidays and is marked with prayer meetings, cultural events, and cleanliness drives across the country.
Mahalaya – October 10, 2026
Mahalaya, on Saturday, October 10, 2026, is the day Bengalis have waited for since the previous year’s Vijaya Dashami. It marks the start of Devi Paksha, the fortnight during which Goddess Durga is invoked to descend from Kailash. Traditionally, families wake before dawn to listen to the Mahishasura Mardini recital on the radio and perform Tarpan, an offering to ancestors, at rivers and water bodies. This day also coincides with the Second Saturday bank holiday.
Durga Puja 2026 – October 15 to 23
Durga Puja, the largest festival on the Bengali calendar, spans nine days from Maha Chaturthi on October 15 to the additional holiday on October 23. Alongside Goddess Durga, the festival also honours Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikeya.
Maha Chaturthi – October 15 (Thursday): Final preparations take shape as pandal committees finish decorations, artisans complete the Durga idols, and markets fill with shoppers buying new clothes and Puja essentials.
Maha Panchami – October 16 (Friday): The formal invocation of the Goddess, known as Bodhan, is performed in many households and pandals. Pandals open to the public and the first rounds of pandal-hopping begin.
Maha Sasthi – October 17 (Saturday): This day includes Kalparambha, the formal start of the Puja rituals, and the Chokkhudaan ritual, where an artisan paints the eyes of the idol at sunrise. This moment is considered the point at which the Goddess’s presence enters the idol.
Maha Saptami – October 18 (Sunday): The first full day of worship begins with Nabapatrika Puja at dawn, the ritual bathing of nine plants representing nine forms of the Goddess, followed by Sandhya Aarti in the evening as pandals fill with visitors.
Maha Ashtami – October 19 (Monday): Considered the most sacred day of the festival. Kumari Puja, the worship of a young girl as a living form of the Goddess, is performed at major temples, most notably at Belur Math. Sandhi Puja, marking the exact junction of Ashtami and Navami tithis, involves lighting 108 lamps and offering 108 lotus flowers.
Maha Navami – October 20 (Tuesday): Homa and Yajna, sacred fire rituals, are performed, and the Dhunuchi Naach — a dance performed with burning incense pots — fills pandals in the evening. It is the last full day of worship before the Goddess’s departure.
Vijaya Dashami – October 21 (Wednesday): The most emotional day of the festival, marked by Durga Visarjan, the immersion of the idol in water, symbolising the Goddess’s return to Kailash. The day also includes Sindoor Khela, where married women apply vermillion to each other and to the idol before the farewell.
Kojagari Lakshmi Puja – October 25, 2026
Kojagari Lakshmi Puja falls on Sunday, October 25, 2026, just four days after Vijaya Dashami, and honours Goddess Lakshmi on the full moon night of Ashwin. The name comes from the Sanskrit phrase “Ko Jagarti,” meaning “who is awake,” referring to the belief that the Goddess visits homes on this night and blesses those still awake. Families clean their homes, draw Alpana floor patterns, and offer fruits, flowers, sweets, and Luchi-Payesh during the evening puja.
Why Durga Puja Is More Than Just a Festival
For those outside West Bengal, it can be hard to grasp why Durga Puja holds such an important place in Bengali life. It functions as a religious observance, a homecoming, an art event, and a community gathering all at once. Durga Puja is recognised as a public holiday in West Bengal, Odisha, Tripura, Bihar, and Assam, as well as in Bangladesh and Nepal, and its scale — including pandal visits, shopping, feasting, and cultural programmes — makes it one of the largest public gatherings anywhere in the world.
Bengali Month Details – October 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Bengali Month (first half) | Ashwin — Bangabda 1433 |
| Bengali Month (second half) | Kartik — begins late October |
| Bengali Year | 1433 Bangabda |
| Calendar System | Solar — Surya Siddhanta |
| Season | Sharad (Autumn) — Sharodutsav |
| Cultural Mood | Peak festivity, community celebration, devotion |
Bank Holidays in October 2026 – Bengali Calendar
The table below lists the official bank and public holidays for October 2026 as per the West Bengal government’s holiday calendar.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2, 2026 | Friday | Gandhi Jayanti | National Holiday |
| October 10, 2026 | Saturday | Mahalaya + Second Saturday | Public + Bank Holiday |
| October 15, 2026 | Thursday | Maha Chaturthi | Public Holiday — West Bengal |
| October 16, 2026 | Friday | Maha Panchami | Public Holiday — West Bengal |
| October 17, 2026 | Saturday | Maha Sasthi | Public Holiday — West Bengal |
| October 18, 2026 | Sunday | Maha Saptami | Public Holiday — West Bengal |
| October 19, 2026 | Monday | Maha Ashtami | Public Holiday — West Bengal |
| October 20, 2026 | Tuesday | Maha Navami | Public Holiday — West Bengal |
| October 21, 2026 | Wednesday | Vijaya Dashami | Public Holiday — West Bengal |
| October 22, 2026 | Thursday | Additional Durga Puja Holiday | Public Holiday — West Bengal |
| October 23, 2026 | Friday | Additional Durga Puja Holiday | Public Holiday — West Bengal |
| October 24, 2026 | Saturday | Fourth Saturday | Bank Holiday |
| October 25, 2026 | Sunday | Kojagari Lakshmi Puja | Public Holiday — West Bengal |
| October 26, 2026 | Monday | Additional Lakshmi Puja Holiday | Public Holiday — West Bengal |
Conclusion
The Bengali Calendar October 2026 covers a month unlike any other in the calendar year. Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 opens the month, Mahalaya on October 10 marks the spiritual beginning of the Puja season, Durga Puja from October 15 to 23 brings the biggest celebrations of the year, and Kojagari Lakshmi Puja on October 25 closes the festive stretch on a quiet, prosperous note. Whether you are planning travel, preparing for Puja at home, or simply keeping track of public holidays, this guide and its downloadable PDF are built to help you plan October with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When is Durga Puja in 2026 according to the Bengali Calendar? Durga Puja 2026 begins with Maha Chaturthi on October 15 (Thursday), with the main celebrations running from Maha Sasthi on October 17 through Vijaya Dashami on October 21. The West Bengal government has also declared additional holidays on October 22 and 23.
2. When is Mahalaya in October 2026? Mahalaya falls on Saturday, October 10, 2026, marking the start of Devi Paksha. It also coincides with the Second Saturday bank holiday.
3. When is Vijaya Dashami in 2026? Vijaya Dashami falls on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, the day of Durga Visarjan and Sindoor Khela.
4. When is Kojagari Lakshmi Puja in October 2026? Kojagari Lakshmi Puja falls on Sunday, October 25, 2026, the full moon night of Ashwin. October 26 has been declared an additional holiday for Lakshmi Puja.
5. How can I download the Bengali Calendar October 2026 PDF for free? The Bengali Calendar October 2026 PDF can be downloaded for free using the download link on this page. It includes the full Durga Puja schedule, Mahalaya date, bank holidays, and Tithi and Nakshatra details, ready to save, print, or share.