Date And Time For Durga Puja Celebration 2016

Durga Puja is among the most important festivals of West Bengal. The time and date of Durga Puja is determined on the basis of the lunar calendar. Therefore, in the Bengali calendar, there is no particular date for Durga Puja.

Albeit, the day just after the Mahalaya, marks the inception of the Devi Paksha. As per the rituals, Durga Puja starts on the 6th day of the Devi Paksha.

The Significant Days Of Durga Puja

The following are the most vital days of Durga Puja, which have been listed below, take a look.

1st Day: Shashthi is the first day of Durga Puja which starts with Akal Bodhan and Kalparambha.

The Akal Bodhan means an inappropriate time to summon Durga Ma. Conventionally, Durga Ma is supposed to be venerated during the Chaitra month as per the Hindu calendar.

Even this time also Durga Ma is revered for 9 days of the Chaitra month and this time period is also called the "Chaitra Navratri".

With the passage of time, the Chaitra Navratri has now become less important as compared to the Sharad Navratri. Kalamprabha is the commencement of Durga Puja, which is followed a day prior to the Kolabou Puja (or Navpatrika Puja). Kalamprabha is also performed on the Shashthi day.

2nd Day: Navapatrika Puja or the Kolabou Puja is done on the 2nd day of Durga Puja, which is also known as the Saptami.

3rd Day: It is also called Ashtami or Mahashtami. Ashtami starts with Mahasnan. On this auspicious day, all the 9 forms of Durga Ma are revered. Sandhi Puja is also performed on the Mahashtami. As per the tradition, it is necessary to perform the sacrifice of an animal during the Sandhi Puja.

For those who want to avoid the animal sacrifice can perform the symbolic sacrifice which is done with a banana. Traditionally, during the Sandhi Puja, it is necessary to light up 108 earthen lamps.

4th Day: The 4th day of Durga Puja is also known as the Navami or Maha Navami. On this day, Durga Ma is revered as "Mahishasurmardini" because people believe that on the day of Maha Navami, Goddess Durga slew the devil "Mahishasura". The next important ritual on Navami is the Navami Homa which is performed at the conclusion of the Navami Puja

5th Day: The last day of Durga Puja is the day to bid goodbye to Durga Ma. This day is also known as "Vijayadashami". Durga Visarjan is done on this day. Just before the idol of Durga Ma is immersed in water, women apply sindoor or vermilion to each other and wish each other long and happy married life.

This ritual is known as the Sindoor Khela. After the visarjan, people hug each other and exchange sweets and good wishes.

Below is the Durga Puja calendar for the year 2016, by following which you can know the exact timing details of each and every day of Durga Puja:

6th October Panchami (From that day morning 7.50 AM to the next day till 5.45 AM)
Thursday
(20th Ashin, 1423)
....................................................................................................................................
7th October Shashthi (From that day morning 5.46 AM to the same day till 3.30 PM)
Friday [Amantran Adhibas at 7.00 PM]
(21st Ashin, 1423)
....................................................................................................................................
8th October Saptami (The whole day till 4.46 PM)
Saturday [Sandhya Arati from 7.00 PM to 8.30 PM]
(22nd Ashin, 1423)
....................................................................................................................................
9th October Ashtami (The entire day up to 5.30 PM)
Sunday [Sandhi Puja from 5.10 PM to 5.58 PM]
(23rd Ashin, 1423) [Sandhya Arati from 7.00 PM to 8.30 PM]
....................................................................................................................................
10th October Navami (Whole day till 5.50 PM)
Monday [Sandhya Arati from 7.00 PM to 8.30 PM]
(24th Ashin, 1423)
....................................................................................................................................
11th October Dashami (Whole day till 5.37 PM)
Tuesday [Darpan Visarjan and Aparajita Puja from 10.00 AM onwards]
(25th Ashin, 1423) [Sindur Khela 10.30 AM onwards]
[Immersion after 1.30 PM]
[Shantijal 7.00 PM]