An unmistakable saffron imprint, an extra day of festivities with two Saptamis, and a dry Ashtami mark Durga Puja 2026, the first under a BJP-ruled Bengal.
Nationalism, Bharat Mata, Vande Mataram and Syama Prasad Mookerjee are pandal themes, while the city is decked out in saffron lights.
The festive crowds have already taken over the city. But the festival proper begins with Sashthi on Friday. Before plunging into six days of fun, feasting, prayers, films and adda, here’s a low-down on what to expect.
Eye on sky
Panchami was rainy, but the showers were not heavy. Similar spells are likely till Sunday. The Met forecast:
- Sashthi (Friday): Cloudy with light rain or thundershowers very likely
- Saptami (Saturday): Cloudy. Light rain likely in some areas
- Saptami to Navami (Sunday to Tuesday): Partly cloudy skies. No rain warning
- Dashami (Wednesday): Mainly clear skies. Partly cloudy towards the afternoon.
Tipple tale
Ashtami (Monday) will be a dry day, with bars shut even at star hotels and clubs. Many bars will serve liquor for an hour or two after midnight on Tuesday, having obtained permission to extend operations. Ashtami will be the only dry day during the festival. Roads
Several traffic restrictions will be in place during Puja. Kolkata Police have advised commuters to consult the route maps available on the force’s website and at police kiosks on the roads. The movement of goods vehicles, except those carrying emergency supplies and perishable goods, will be restricted from 8am on Friday to 3am on Saturday; 8am on Saturday to 4am on Sunday; 8am on Sunday to 4am on Monday; 7am on Monday to 4am on Tuesday; and 7am on Tuesday to 4am on Wednesday.
Police deployment
Kolkata Police will deploy 32,000 personnel during Puja, including 21,000 home guards, NCC cadets and civil defence personnel, senior officers said. Ambulances will be stationed at 14 key locations across the city. Around 1 lakh identification badges for children will be available to help reunite them with their families if they get separated.
The Kolkata Police guide lists 247 major crowd-pulling pujas, including Mohammad Ali Park, Allen Park, Deshapriya Park, Suruchi Sangha, Chetla Agrani and Ballygunge Cultural Association. Security personnel will be deployed at 27 major pandals, while each police division will make arrangements for 10-15 smaller pandals in its jurisdiction. Thirty mobile control vans, 20 Heavy Radio Flying Squads and 10 Special Radio Flying Squads will patrol the city. Three police launches will patrol the ghats, while 42 watchtowers and seven mobile assistance police vans will bolster security.
Helplines
- Emergency: 100, 112
- Lalbazar: 22143230
- Traffic control room: 22143644
- Children’s helpline: 1098
- Missing person’s: 22505153, 22141430
- Fire: 101 Fire brigade: 22521165, 22526164
- Ambulance: 102 CESC: 9831079666, 9831083700, 1912
- WBSEDCL: 8900793100, 19121
Transport
Government buses will run more frequently during Puja. Private bus operators said their buses would also remain on the roads until late at night to cater to pandal-hoppers. Autos will operate until 2pm on Sashthi, after which they will be off the roads. Metered taxis and app cabs, including those operating under the government’s Yatri Sathi initiative, will be available round the clock. But brace for steep fare surges.
Metro Railway Blue Line (Shahid Khudiram-Dakshineswar)
Sashthi: 284 services from 6am to 11pm, with a peak-hour frequency of six minutes
Saptami, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami: 248 services from 1pm to 4am the following day, with a peak-hour frequency of six minutes
Dashami: 140 services from 1pm to 10.30pm, with a peakhour frequency of eight minutes Green Line (Sector V-Howrah Maidan)
Sashthi: 240 services from 6am to 11pm, with a peak-hour frequency of six minutes
Saptami to Navami: 192 services daily from 1.30pm to 3.59am the following day, at eight-minute intervals
Dashami: 74 services from 1.30pm to 10.30pm, at 15-minute intervals Yellow Line (Noaparaairport)
Sashthi: 120 services from 7.18am to 9.20pm, with a peakhour frequency of 12 minutes
Saptami to Navami: 72 services daily from 3pm to 10.53pm, at 12-minute intervals
Dashami: 62 services from 3pm to 9.38pm, at 12-minute intervals Purple Line (Joka-Majerhat)
Sashthi: 84 services from 6.40am to 9.26pm
Saptami to Dashami: 38 services from 3pm to 10.55pm, at 25-minute intervals
Orange Line (New Garia-Beleghata)
Sashthi: 62 services from 7.40am to 8.45pm, at 25-minute intervals
Saptami to Dashami: No commercial services.
Fashion
As the sun and rain play hide-and-seek, women can pair their traditional sari with a quirky twist this Durga Puja.
Fashion designer Abhishek Dutta suggested teaming a sari with a bolero jacket and sneakers. “Gen Z want to party, go pubbing and do garba, simultaneously. So they want something comfortable and user-friendly,” Dutta said.
A bolero jacket works well with a taant or georgette sari, with a leather belt. With many trading heels for sneakers, even a priestess-style sari can get a makeover. The pleats can be worn slightly higher to help navigate rain and mud, he said.
His brand, Abhishek Dutta India, has launched an athleisure crossover featuring saris with detachable pallas. Once detached, the palla becomes a crop top or corset, which can be paired with a wraparound skirt or body-hugging trousers.
“People are looking for something comfortable that still has a festive feel, but isn’t over the top,” he said.
While red remains a Puja favourite, tangerine orange, fuchsia pink and tannery yellow are also in the mix.
Accessorise: Accessories can elevate a look. A mangtika can double as a hair accessory, while a neckpiece can be worn as a tiara.
Men, it’s your turn: Dhotis can be paired with a waistcoat or bandi. Fitted bodices teamed with draped bottoms are in. “People want to wear something different. The waistcoat-and-shirt combination is popular this season,” Dutta said. For western wear, oversized is in.
Films
The big Bollywood festive releases are missing this Durga Puja, but Yami Gautam Dhar’s dark comedy Nayyi Naveli may be just the respite your feet (and funny bone) need after a day of pandal-hopping. For a more serious watch, Prahaar, a biopic of Ujjwal Nikam starring Rajkummar Rao as the prolific legal eagle, could be a rewarding pick. If you still haven’t caught Drishyam 3, Ajay Devgn’s latest instalment in the thriller franchise, already a box-office hit, should be on your watchlist. In the mood for some good ol’ Rajinikanth action? Look out for Jailer 2.
This year, four Bengali releases — Bohurupi: The Golden Daku, Emperor Vs Sarat Chandra, DeSu7 and The Eken: Kerala-e Kurukshetra — offer narratives across genres.
In Bohurupi, Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee expand the world of their 2024 hit, with Shiboprosad returning as master robber Bikram Pramanik and Jisshu Sengupta playing a police officer on his trail. Srijit Mukherji’s Emperor Vs Sarat Chandra, featuring Tota Roy Choudhury and Abir Chatterjee, revisits the clash between colonial authority and Bengali literary expression. DeSu7 marks Dev’s directorial debut and reunites him with Subhashree Ganguly in an action-driven story. In The Eken, Anirban Chakrabarti’s eccentric sleuth takes his investigative instincts beyond familiar territory.
Events
Some campaigns that let Calcuttans pick the best pujas.
The CESC The Telegraph True Spirit Puja 2026, powered by Bhawanipur Global Campus
The campaign enters its 24th edition this year, reaffirming its commitment to making Durga Puja safe, inclusive and socially meaningful. More than 200 pujas across Calcutta and Howrah are participating this year, including 39 newcomers. The evaluation covers safety, infrastructure, visitor amenities, environmental responsibility and social commitment. Pujas are grouped into Platinum, Diamond and Gold categories to ensure fair competition across different scales. The initiative also recognises heritage conservation and efficient management through special awards.
The Telegraph Hand in Hand in Your Housing Complex
A fun contest involving more than 100 housing societies, this resident-led competition aims to foster bonhomie and community spirit. With dhunuchi naach, sit-and-draw and recipe contests, and many other activities, the campaign promises something for everyone.
TTIS Choto Chokhe Boro Pujo, powered by JIS Group and co-powered by admissiontree.in
A jury of schoolchildren will select the top five from 50 pujas. Awards will be presented in the categories of Best Theme, Best Idol, Best Pandal, We Care and Pujo Cleanliness. A new category this year is the Scroll Stopper: People’s Choice Digital Award. l Parle Top presents Anandabazar Patrika Sharad Arghya 2026 The campaign celebrates artistic excellence through awards in categories like Best Puja, Best Idol, Best Idol Decor and Best Pandal. It receives around 300 entries every year and is divided into five zones covering Calcutta and Howrah