5 Must-Visit Durga Puja Celebrations in Switzerland 2025

Durga Puja is the most fantastic event for the Bengalis, celebrated for five days. Few Durga pujas in Switzerland are now more than 18 years old, and many Bengali associations in Switzerland traditionally organise Durga pujas. Durga Puja in Kolkata is the most popular, but Switzerland’s Durga Puja has also gained popularity. 

Recently, the Durga puja of Kolkata was placed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The worship starts on the day of “Mahalaya.” This year, the Mahalaya date is the 2nd of October 2024 in India, and the day has significance in the Hindu religion.

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. Few Belgalis 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. 

• Location: Schwerzisaal, In der Schwerzi 4, 8135 Langnau am Albis (ZH)

Read Naktala Udayan Sangha Durga Puja

2. PrangaN Durga puja at Lausanne Switzerland

The next important Durga puja of switzwerland is held at Lausanne Organized 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. 

• Location: Foyer des Pâquis, Chem. des Pâquis 13, 1025 Saint-Sulpice, Switzerland 

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. 

Durga Puja is held here 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

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: Goldbrunnenstrasse,8055 Zurich, Switzerland.

5. Durga Puja at Basel, Switzerland

Another popular Durga puja in Switzerland is held in Basel. The 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, such as sitting and drawing for the kids and fancy dress. The committee also included a cultural evening.

• Location: Le 99, Espace des Quartier, 1st floor, Rue de Lyon 99, 1203 Geneva

Durga Puja in Switzerland

Durga Puja is a ten-day festival, and the last five days involve all the 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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