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Durga Puja Saptami 2026: Dates, Timings and Significance Explained
- •Durga Puja Saptami 2026 will be celebrated on either October 17 or October 18 depending on regional panjika calculations.
- •Drik Panchang schedules Nabapatrika Puja on Saturday, October 17, while Belur Math observes it on Sunday, October 18.
- •Maha Saptami marks the beginning of the principal days of Durga Puja and features the sacred Nabapatrika Puja.
- •Nabapatrika, popularly known as Kola Bou, consists of nine sacred plants ritually bathed and worshipped as divine feminine energy.
- •Key rituals on this day include Kolabou Snan, Mahasnan, Prana Pratishtha, Shodashopachar Puja, and Aarti.
Key Questions Answered
Durga Puja Saptami 2026 falls on either October 17 or October 18, depending on regional panjika calculations. According to Drik Panchang, Nabapatrika Puja takes place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, with Saptami Tithi starting at 5:54 AM and ending at 8:27 AM on October 18. Meanwhile, several Bengali panjikas, including the Belur Math tradition, observe Maha Saptami on Sunday, October 18.
Nabapatrika Puja is a defining ritual of Maha Saptami where a collection of nine different plants is ritually bound together, bathed at dawn, dressed in a red- or orange-bordered sari, and installed beside the Goddess Durga idol. Popularly known as Kola Bou or the banana bride, this sacred bundle represents nature, fertility, and divine feminine energy.
The day begins with Kolabou Snan, the ceremonial bathing of the Nabapatrika bundle at dawn. This is followed by Mahasnan, where a mirror reflection of Goddess Durga is ceremonially bathed, Prana Pratishtha to invoke the divine presence into the idol, Shodashopachar Puja with sixteen offerings, and daily bhog and aarti.
