Durga Puja in Switzerland 2025: Top 7 Cities to Celebrate

Durga Puja in Switzerland unites the Bengali diaspora across Zurich, Geneva, and Basel in spectacular autumn celebrations. Swiss Bengali associations organise traditional pandals, featuring intricate decorations and authentic rituals from Shashthi to Dashami.

Experience the fusion of Alpine hospitality and Bengali culture through dhak performances, pushpanjali offerings, and sumptuous bhog. Switzerland’s Durga Puja festivities welcome devotees and curious locals alike, creating a vibrant cultural bridge between Bengal and the Swiss Confederation.

Recently, the Durga Puja was placed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The worship starts on the day of “Mahalaya.”

Durga Puja is famous worldwide, especially in West Bengal, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Orissa, Delhi, Pune, etc. Even abroad, like New York, Japan, London, Durga Puja in Australia, New Jersey, and Switzerland, Durga Puja in the UK, and Bangladesh have grand Durga Puja celebrations. 

1. Swisspuja Sarbojanin Durga Puja at Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich has the most Durga pujas among all the other places in Switzerland. “Swisspuja” celebrates Durga Puja in Zurich with all the Bengali traditions, organised by Swisspuja Sarbojanin. A few Belgians established this non-profit socio-cultural organisation in 2003, and this puja has grown into a big event. Anyone can attend these four days of festivities. They also arrange many cultural activities.

A unique feature of this puja is serving the “Bhog” ( festival meal) twice daily to more than 400 people. Along with the Bengalis, many Swiss people also attend this festival. 

Swisspuja in Zurich, Switzerland, also organises various social and cultural events, such as Rabindra Jayanti, Annual Picnic, Bijaya Sammelani, and Philanthropy. 

• Date: September 28 to October 2, 2025.
• Time: September 28 from 9.30 a.m. onwards.
• Location: Schwerzisaal, In der Schwerzi 4, 8135 Langnau am Albis, Switzerland
• Parking: Free parking is available near the venue. Paid parking is available at Wildpark Langenberg, a short distance from the venue. 

Read Naktala Udayan Sangha Durga Puja

2. PrangaN Durga puja at Lausanne, Switzerland

The next important Durga puja of Switzerland is held at Lausanne, organised by PrangaN. It’s a non-profit Bengali community that organises this event every year. 

The cultural event is one of the highlights of this puja. People love to take part in these events. Every year, the idol of Maa Durga comes from Kumartuli, Kolkata. Visitors were only allowed according to their booked slots.

PrangaN also organises various social and cultural events, such as Vasanta Utsav, Rabindra Jayanti, and drawing competitions. 

This year, they have curated a delicious and different Bengali menu for each day of Durga Puja. You can get your desired meal by registering for that specific date. 

• Date: September 27 to October 2, 2025.
• Time: September 27 from 7.30 p.m. onwards.
• Location: Petit-Mont, Grande Salle, Place du Petit-Mont 2, 1052 Le Mont-sur-Lausanne

3. Ramakrishna Mission Durga Puja at Geneva

This particular Durga Puja festival in Geneva is different from the others. The reason behind this is Centre Vedantique (Vedanta Centre), an extended branch of Belur Math run by the principles of Sri Ramakrishna, Maa Sarada, and Swami Vivekananda. 

This Indian festival is held in Switzerland every year. Visitors must follow the centre’s strict rules, which include particular puja timings. 

After the puja, the “Prashad” is distributed among the visitors. During these five days, Maa Sarada is worshipped here as a form of Maa Durga, and Chandipath is recited here. Overall, visitors can experience a very spiritual atmosphere here.

In Geneva, Switzerland, the Ramakrishna Mission also organises various other types of social and cultural events, such as the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda, Christmas Eve, yoga classes, Daily prayer, and scriptural classes. 

• Location: Centre Védantique- Avenue d’Aïre 63, 1203 Genève

Read Durga Puja Calendar for Canada, USA, UK, India

4. Sarbojonin Ananda Loke Milan Mandi Swiss Bangla Durga Puja

This puja was organised by Sarbojanin Ananda Loke Milon Mandir and started by the Bangladeshi Hindu Cultural Society in Switzerland in 2008. It’s a Bangladeshi community trying to expand the rich Bangladeshi culture. Now, it’s known as the Swiss Durga Puja community. 

Many people from the Bangladeshi Hindu community gather here every year. They enjoy the elaborate rituals and the festive mood, which showcase Bangladesh’s rich cultural heritage.

• Location: 7GQJ+2Q Langnau am Albis, Switzerland, Zurich 

5. Durga Puja at Basel, Switzerland

Another popular Durga puja in Switzerland is held in Basel. This hindu bengali festival organisers have organised a pre-registration facility and slot-booking policy. 

The puja organisers have taken care of their visitors. For these four days of festivities, they organised several events, including sitting and drawing for the kids and a fancy dress competition. The committee also included a cultural evening.

• Location: Le 99, Espace des Quartier, 1st floor, Rue de Lyon 99, 1203 Geneva
• Date: October 3 to October 5, 2025

6. UTSAV – Swiss Bengali Association

Utsav was established in the year 2020. It is a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the well-being of society. They aim to bring the festivities of eastern India to the Swiss ground and celebrate inclusively. They organise Durga Puja and Saraswati Pujo. The committee also hosts picnics, hikes, and summer BBQs. The Durga Puja event is held through donations. Each donation, no matter how small or big, is always appreciated. 

• Date: September 26 to September 28, 2025.
• Location: SALLE DE BATTOIR, Chemin du Battoir 17, 1845 Noville
• Email: [email protected]

7. Agomoni – Geneva

Agomoni was formed in 2022 by two Bengalis who were reminiscing about the memories of vibrant Durga Pujo in Kolkata. They decided to take the risk and create a special community of Bengalis in Geneva to participate in and celebrate the festival. Registration is required before attending the festival.

• Date: September 27 to September 30, 2025.
• Location: Paroisse de Montbrillant (Rue Elisabeth-Baulacre 16, 1202 Genève)

Durga Puja in Switzerland

Durga Puja is a ten-day festival, with the last five days dedicated to all its practices and rituals. It is the most popular occasion in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam, Tripura, and Bihar.

Switzerland is a beautiful country, as shown in the picture. Its total population is approximately 8 million.

The five days of Durga Puja

1. Maha Sashthi
2. Maha Saptami
3. Maha Ashtami
4. Maha Navami
5. Bijaya Dashami

1. Maha Sashthi

It’s the 6th day of this festival when Maa Durga came to the earth with her four children: Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Laxmi, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikeya. On this auspicious day, the face of Maa Durga is unveiled. All the rituals started from this day. All the pandals begin beating the drums known as “Dhaak”. The rituals served on this day are: 

• Bilva Nimantran
• Kalparambha 
• Akal Bodhon
• Amantran and Adhivas

2. Maha Saptami

It’s the second day of the festival. On Maha Saptami, a Maha puja is being performed. A unique ritual named “Kola-Bou puja” is performed on the seventh day. The ritual includes a banana tree. Before the sun rises, this banana tree is deluged in holy water. After that, it gets covered by a new saree, precisely like a new bride. It is called “Kola Bou”. The rituals executed on this day are:  

• Navapatrika puja
• Kola Bou puja

3. Maha Ashtami

This day holds a special significance. According to mythology, it is believed that Maa Durga killed Mahishasur on the eighth day. The prayer on this day is called “Anjali”. An extraordinary “Kumari Puja” ritual is a significant part of this day. Under this ritual, girls under nine years are worshipped as Goddess Durga. Later, one more important ritual is performed. Which is the “Sandhi Puja”? Highlights of this day are: 

• Kumari puja.
• Anjali.
• Sandhi puja.

4. Maha Navami

As per Hindu tradition and calendar, the Maha Navami starts after the Sandhi puja. On this sacred eve of Maha Navami, a “Maha Arti” is performed. It’s a sad day for the devotees. 

The next day, Maa Durga returns to his husband. Some special rituals are performed on this day, which are: 

• Maha Navami puja.
• Durga Balidan.
• Navami Homa.

5. Bijaya Dashami

This is the last day of the festival. On this day, the idol of Maa Durga gets immersed in the water.  It’s a celebration of the victory of good over evil.

 Women perform “Sindoor Khela” (vermilion game) after the “Ghaat Bisarjan” ( this is a symbolic immersion of Durga, which declares the end of the puja). A grand procession is arranged before the idol immersion, and people participate in it by beating drums on trucks. Special rituals of this day are:

• Vijay Dashami
• Sindoor Khela

Conclusion

Durga Puja marks the victory of Goddess Durga against the mighty Asura Mahishasura. It’s a battle between good and evil. Durga Puja is an old tradition of Hinduism, performed every year with a lot of joy and happiness. So, which Durga Puja in Switzerland do you like the most? Tell me in command.

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