Durga Puja in Dhaka and Old Dhaka

Durga Puja, or Sharadiya Durgotsab, is the largest Hindu festival in Bangladesh. For five days the goddess Durga is welcomed into tens of thousands of mandaps, the temporary pavilions built for her, and Dhaka fills with the sound of dhak drums, incense and evening arati. Visitors of every faith are welcome, and it is one of the best times to see Old Dhaka at its liveliest. Our guide to the festivals in Bangladesh explains each one and which visitors can join.

This guide was updated on 21 October 2026, the day of Bijoya Dashami, with the 2026 recap and the expected dates for 2027.

Durga Puja dates for 2027

The dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar. The government confirms the public holidays when it publishes the 2027 holiday list, and we update this page then.

How Durga Puja 2026 went

In 2026 the festival ran from Shashthi on 16 October to Bijoya Dashami on 21 October. There were 258 mandaps in Dhaka and more than 33,000 across the country. On Ashtami, 19 October, Kumari Puja at Ramakrishna Math and Mission drew the usual crowds, and the festival in Dhaka passed peacefully.

Where to see Durga Puja in Dhaka

• Dhakeshwari National Temple, the country’s national temple, with the main city celebration. See our Dhakeshwari Temple guide.
• Shankhari Bazar and Tanti Bazar in Old Dhaka: narrow lanes of old Hindu houses with a mandap every few metres. Best in the late afternoon and evening.
• Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Tikatuli, famous for its Kumari Puja on Ashtami morning.
• Ramna Kali Mandir and Jagannath Hall at Dhaka University.
• Banani, where the Gulshan-Banani Puja committee builds one of the most elaborate mandaps, easy to reach from the city’s hotels.

What happens over the five days

• Dhak drummers play outside every mandap, and evening arati with lamps and incense draws the biggest crowds.
• On Ashtami morning devotees offer flowers in pushpanjali, and a young girl is worshipped as the goddess in Kumari Puja.
• On Bijoya Dashami married women smear each other with vermilion in Sindoor Khela, then processions carry the idols to the river for immersion.

Tips for visiting

• Dress modestly and take your shoes off where others do inside mandaps and temples.
• Ask before photographing people at prayer; most families are happy to welcome guests.
• Old Dhaka lanes are packed in the evening. Go with a guide, keep valuables to a minimum and expect security checks at the bigger mandaps.
• Traffic is slow during the festival. Use the metro where you can, then a rickshaw.

Visiting with us

Our guides take guests through Old Dhaka’s mandaps in the evening and to Kumari Puja on Ashtami morning, explaining the rituals as you go. Durga Puja fits easily into our Dhaka City Day Tour or a longer trip. Plan your trip around the festival.

Durga Puja FAQs