6 Durga Puja In Japan 2026: Bengali Festivals Tokyo & Beyond

Durga Puja in Japan brings the vibrant Bengali festival to Tokyo, Osaka, and other major cities. The Japanese Bengali community celebrates this grand festival with traditional pandals, cultural programs, and authentic prasad.

Experience the goddess Durga’s worship through elaborate rituals, dhak performances, and Bengali cuisine. From Saptami to Vijaya Dashami, discover how Japan’s expatriate community keeps this cherished tradition alive, welcoming both Bengalis and Japanese locals to join the festivities.

The celebration is praised in over 150 spots across 36 nations, including India and Bangladesh. Mumbai, Pune, London, the UK, Kolkata Durga Puja, New York, New Jersey, Durga Puja in Australia, and Durga Puja in Switzerland are famous Durga Puja places.

Durga Puja 2026 Date and Time in Bengali

List of 6 Best Japan Durga Puja Pandals

1. India (Bengal) Cultural Association Durga Puja, Japan

This IBCA Japan association was formed on the auspicious day of Saraswati Puja in 2011. Mr Swapan Biswas and Mr Naba Ghosh are the president and the chief advisor, respectively. This establishment has been open to cultural exchange between the Japanese and Bengali communities for over ten years.

It has actively participated in the socio-economic well-being of both communities and encouraged collaboration. It is embracing different Indian communities under one wing.

Indian Bengal Cultural Association IBCA Japan — Indian (Bengal) Cultural Association (IBCA Japan)

Since 2011, they have performed puja and participated in Durga Puja cultural festivals. People from different Indian and Japanese communities are welcome here.

Entry Fee: Registration is required for all attendees. 3500¥ for above 12years old(with lunch), 1500¥ for 6-12years old(with lunch), 2000¥ for above 12 years old(without lunch), 1000¥ for 6-12years old(without lunch). Below 6 years if free without lunch.
Location: Kita-Kasai Community Hall, Edogawa-Ku, Tokyo

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2. Bengali Association of Tokyo Durga Puja, Japan (BATJ)

BATJ is one of the oldest Bengali communities in Japan. A small group of Bengalis founded this association in the early 1980s, when financial and social exchanges between Indian and Japanese communities were still minimal.

The association started as a small group and, with time, became a strong one in the 1990s. They started celebrating Durga Puja in 1990, along with other Bengali festivals. In 1997, they published their first annual cultural magazine, Anjali, during Durga Puja. The current president of this organisation is Mr Syamal Kar.

Bengali Association of Tokyo Japan (BATJ) — Bengali Association of Tokyo, Japan (BATJ)

Location: PIO Hall (2nd floor), Ota-ku, Tokyo

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3. Bengali Indian Community of Japan (BICJ) Durga Puja

As one of the oldest Bengali communities in Japan, they have performed Durga Puja for two decades. In addition to Bengali and Hindu cultural events, they organise community events such as New Year’s and birthday parties, as well as kids’ competitions. The community is based in Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan. Mr Debotosh Biswas is the president of this association. However, the puja is closed this year.

Location: 332-0031, Saitama Ken, Kawaguchi-Shi, Aoki 2-5-32, Royal Corp. Room-503, Japan

Bengali Indian Community of Japan (BICJ)

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4. Universal Puja Committee Japan Durga Puja

It’s another Bengali community in Japan that has been performing the Durga puja since 1996. Starting as a small group, this community has emerged as one of Tokyo’s oldest and most popular.

Every year, many people from both the Indian and Japanese communities visit this association during Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja.

Location: Saitama Civic Hall, 3-1-1, Ota, Iwatsuki Ward, Saitama, Japan

5. Kolkata Cultural Society Japan (KCSJ) Durga Puja

This unique community is the youngest Bengali community in Japan. Based in Kawaguchi and Tokyo, this community was formed mainly by Bengali students in 2006.

After the grand success of the 2007 Saraswati Puja, they began celebrating various Bengali occasions. Finally, in 2012, they celebrated their first Durga Puja.

Location: Kawaguchi Nishi Kominkan

6. Japan India Cultural Association Durga Puja(JICA)

The group is composed of like-minded people who want to bring a piece of Indian Culture to Japan. Thus, it bridges the gap between Japan and India. This organisation celebrates Japanese and Indian festivals simultaneously. During Durga Puja, cultural programmes are held.

Location: Wakakusa Park, 1 Chome-4-18 Seishincho, Edogawa City, Tokyo 134-0087

About Japan Durga Puja

In Japan, leave of absence for religious activities is strictly prohibited, so they cannot perform this five-day occasion. The total program is condensed into a one-day celebration held on the weekend before, during, or after these five days. It makes it easier, as most of them have holidays on the weekend.

During this celebration, all Bengalis become a single family, bound by their shared interest in traditional Bengali culture, clothing, and cooking. This festival can unite people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds across all neighbourhoods.

Everyone gathers during this festival to pray for their well-being to the supreme mother goddess and to appreciate the society’s craftsmanship and culture.

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What is Durga Puja?

Durga Puja, or Navratri, is the worship of the supreme mother goddess Durga in every form. It symbolises the embodiment of femininity in the Sanatan Indian culture. Everyone celebrates Devi Durga’s victory over the mythological evil demon Mahishasura.

Devi Durga has been idolised as a warrior lady riding a Himalayan lion, carrying different weapons in her ten arms, and fighting the Buffalo Demon.

The puja commemorates the supreme goddess’s yearly visit to her paternal home, the earth, accompanied by her children. On the tenth day, she leaves Earth to return to her eternal abode to reunify with her mate, Lord Shiva.

During this celebration, devotees offer prayers to her consort, Lord Shiva, and her four children, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikeya, who are beside her. In addition, this is when Lord Ram’s victory over the evil Lankan King Ravana is celebrated as Dassehra in Hindu culture.

Durga Puja and Bengalis

Bengalis have celebrated Durga Puja since the 16th century. This festival was popularised by the Bengali Jaminders, who liked elaborate celebrations in their lavish mansions during the 18th century.

The celebration has evolved into a collective form over time. The first joint celebration of Durga Puja was performed in Guptipara in 1790 and in Kolkata in 1832.

After 1910, this collective celebration gradually became a community celebration and was termed “Sarbojonin Durgo-Utsav.” The first puja was performed in Bagbazar, Kolkata.

The tradition has been followed since then. This autumn festival has become a vast celebration uniting diverse communities and religions across India and other countries. The message to reunite with everyone and celebrate is touching the hearts.

About Mahalaya

Mahalaya marks the start of the 10-day Navratri celebration. This year in India, the Mahalaya date is the 2nd October, 2024. Each day, devotees perform puja and offer prayers to various forms of the supreme mother goddess until Vijaya Dashami.

Bengalis perform Tarpan by offering water to their ancestors on this day. Mahaley marks the start of the time of the supreme mother goddess, and this period is called Devi-paksha.

About Mahasasthi

Durga Puja starts on the 6th day of Devi-Paksha, which is called Mahasasthi. The process is commemorated by uncovering the face of the Durga idol, which is then decorated with jewellery and ornaments. The weapons of the warrior goddess are placed in her hands as per order, which is called Bodhon.

About Mahasaptami

On the 7th day, the banana tree is cleaned with Ganga Jal and decorated to symbolise Lord Ganesha’s wife. This process is called “Nabapatrika”. The priest then performs the “Prana Pratistha” ritual. Only after these devotees can they offer the goddess prayer and food as a Bhog.

About Mahaastami

Mahaastami is a pivotal event in Durga Puja. The goddess offers 108 lotus flowers and her other favourites, such as Shiuli (Shefali) and hibiscus flowers.

During “Kumari Puja,” a little girl dressed as the little goddess is prayed to by the priest. Swami Vivekananda first performed this puja in Ramakrishna Mission Belur Math. 108 earthen lamps are lit during evening prayers, or Sandhi Puja.

The Sandhi Puja is itself a spectacular event to watch. One of the priests chants Vedic hymns throughout the Mahaastami puja session. A Pushpanjali, or flower offering with prayers to the mother goddess, is another Ashtami puja event.

Dhak is a typical Bengali musical instrument played during pujas in Bengali communities. The puja is incomplete without the sound of the dhaak and other prayer instruments.

About Maha Navami

The second-to-last day of this five-day festival is quite emotional for everyone. The ritual of Mahanavami takes 4-6 hours to perform. In earlier days, Bengali aristocrats and priests used to perform animal sacrifices. As time has passed, this ritual has changed.

Vijaya Dashami, Devi Baron, and Sindoor Khela

The last day of this festival is the most colourful day of all. On this day, the warrior goddess returns to her abode with her husband and children, leaving her devotees for another year-long wait.

Bengali women dress in traditional attire and offer water and sweets to the goddess to pray for her return next year; it’s called Devi Boron. After that, all the women play with vermilion or sindoor.

This Sindoor Khela is accompanied by Dhunuchi Nach, a traditional dance form performed during pujas. People offer sweets to one another and enjoy the festival with smiles.

Bengalis like to bid farewell to the supreme goddess as if she were their beloved daughter. This emotional attachment to their goddess brings everyone together. After that, the idol of the goddess, along with her sons and daughters, is submerged in rivers.

However, in Japan, such activity is prohibited. So, the idols are made of MDF and soil and reused multiple times. The organisers cleaned the idol and removed its ornaments, placing them in caskets for the next celebration.

Conclusion

The beauty of the Durga Puja celebration is the Bengali community’s convergence. They must merge the 5-day celebration into a 1-day occasion in Japan. It turns out to be a colourful and vibrant event for all. Even the native Japanese people are coming forward to enjoy it. The timing of this event is set for early October, and people are eagerly waiting for it.

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6 Durga Puja in Japan 2026: Bengali Festivals Tokyo & Beyond