How Many Days Are Left For Durga Puja 2023? Correct Dates

So you are searching about how many days are left for Durga Puja 2023 (in Hindi – Durga puja kab hai, or in Bengali – Durga Puja koto din baki)?

7 days are left for Durga Puja 2023. The Countdown begins with Mahalaya on the 14th of October 2023. The Durga puja 2023 puja starts on the 20th of October (Sasthi) and continues till the 24th of October (Vijaya Dashami).

Durga Puja 2023 Countdown

Days Left For Durga Puja 2023
How Many Days Are Left For Durga Puja
How Many Days Are Left For Durga Puja
16 Best South Kolkata Durga Puja 2023

Durga Puja Dates 2023

DaysDates
Mahalaya14th of October 2023
Maha Shashti20th October 2023
Maha Saptami21st October 2023
Maha Ashtami22nd October 2023
Maha Navami21st October 2023
Maha Dashmi24th October 2023
Durga Puja Dates 2023

Durga Puja procession Date for UNESCO Heritage 2023

After recognising the UNESCO heritage, a huge Durga puja procession and arrangement in Kolkata.

Kolkata Durga puja Visarjan Date 2023

Kolkata Durga puja Visarjan starts on 24th October 2023.

Durga Puja Carnival Date 2023

The Durga Puja Carnival is scheduled in Kolkata on October 27th, 2023.

Why We Celebrate Durga Puja?

Durga Puja is a symbol of the victory of good over evil. It commemorates the triumph of Maa Durga against Mahishasura (bull demon). As per the mythology, Mahishasura had an ambition of conquering the entire world, and he started creating chaos and wreaking havoc on people on Earth. God Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva summoned Goddess Durga to defeat him. Every major God gave her a weapon to fight and win the battle. 

Maa Durga went to the battlefield, sitting on a lion. After fierce fighting, she killed Mahishasura on the tenth day. Navratri is celebrated nine nights and days to mark the combat between evil and good, and Durga Puja is celebrated for the last five days (from Shashti to Dashmi). According to legends, it’s on these five days every year that Maa Durga leaves her home in heaven and visits Earth. 

Every part of India has a grand celebration, especially West Bengal. People from India and abroad come together to participate in the festivities. 

Significance of Durga Puja

Durga Puja marks Maa Durga’s victory against the demon Mahishasura. This festival spreads a message that good eventually triumphs over evil. As per Hindu scriptures, Maa Durga leaves her heavenly home every year and visits Earth during puja (five) days. Goddess Durga is a symbol of creating life. Thus, this puja is celebrated as a harvest festival too. 

Durga Puja, the most important Hindu festival, is less than 100 days from now. As per the Hindu calendar, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura celebrate the Durga Puja festival in Ashwin month.

Durga Puja is a Hindu festival that happens all over the globe, especially in West Bengal, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Orissa, Delhi, Pune, etc. Even abroad, like New York, JapanLondon, Australia, New Jersey, Switzerland, Durga Puja In the UK, and Bangladesh have grand Durga Puja celebrations. 

Five Important Days of Durga Puja

Durga Puja is a ten-day festival. Out of ten, the last five days hold the most importance. The prominent five days of the festival are Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami, and Maha Dashami.  

Maha Shashti – 20 October 2023

Maha Sashti is the beginning of celebrations. On this day, the face of Goddess Durga’s idol is revealed. Rituals like Kalprarambha (beginning of puja), Bodhon (revealing of the face), Amontron (inviting Goddess Durga), and Odhibash (purifying the mandap) are performed on Maha Shashti. 

Maha Saptami – 21 October 2023

Maha Saptami begins by submerging a banana tree in holy water at dawn. And clad in a saree & offered sandalwood, incense, and flowers. This banana tree is called “Kola Bou” (banana plant bride). Then, Kola Bou is positioned beside God Ganesha as his newly married wife. A sacred bath of Nabapatrika (nine leaves) is another ritual to worship Kola Bou. It’s symbolic of Maa Durga’s triumph against Mahishasura. 

Maha Ashtami – 22 October 2023

Maha Ashtami is the most auspicious day of Puja celebrations. Legends say that Maa Kali emerged from Maa Durga’s forehead to kill Raktabija, Munda, and Chanda. Kanya Puja (Kumari puja) is an inseparable part of Maha Ashtami. Young girls are worshipped as an avatar of Maa Durga. At the Navami & Ashtami tithi junction, “Sandhi Puja” and “Yajna” are held. 

Maha Navami – 23 October 2023

The day of Maha Navami symbolizes new beginnings. On Navami, Maa Durga killed Mahishasura and got the name “Mahisasuramardini” (a subduer of Mahishashura). Kanjak puja is performed in many houses. Young girls are served chana, puri, and halwa in prasad. 

Maha Dashmi – Dussehra – 24 October 2023

Vijaya Dashmi, or Dussehra, is the last day of the Durga Puja celebrations. Women celebrate it with Sindoorkhela wearing a ‘Laal paad saree’ and applying sindoor on Maa Durga’s forehead and feet. And then apply sindoor on each other’s noa, shaka, pola, and forehead (symbolizing marital status). Married women say goodbye to the goddess by performing Devi Baran & offering sweets. 

Durga Puja festival
Durga Puja festival

When is Dussehra in 2023?

Durga Puja is a five-day-long activity, with Maha Dashmi or Dussehra being the last day. In 2023, Dussehra or Maha Dashmi is on the 24th of October. On Dussehra, we bid Maa Durga goodbye, hoping to welcome her again next year.  

Conclusion

With a heavy heart on the last day (Dashmi) of Durga puja, we bid goodbye to Maa Durga. I hope that next year, we will welcome her more grandly. The idols are loaded on trucks, paraded around streets, and then immersed in Ganga. All pandals are dismantled with the hope of being born again in a new shape the following year. So I believe you get the answer: How many days are left for Durga puja?

Durga Puja Articles:-

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *