Kolkata Durga Puja 2025 Travel Guide | Dates, Pandal Hopping & Tips

In Kolkata, there are five days in the year when the city doesn’t sleep and feels incomplete without Durga Puja. It’s not just another festival. For five nights the streets glow with light, music spills from every corner, and millions of people step out together dressed in their best, hunting for food and pandals. This Durga Puja Kolkata guide will help you experience the celebrations like a local.

When is Durga Puja in 2025?

Mark the calendar. The main celebrations start on 28 September and end on 2 October.

• The curtain rises on Maha Sashthi (28th). Idols are revealed, and drums beat for the first time.

• Saptami (29th) is when the city really comes alive.

• Ashtami (30th) brings the biggest rush — it’s the day of Sandhi Puja and the powerful “pushpanjali” prayers.

• Navami (1st October) is your last full night to enjoy the pandals.

• Dashami (2nd October) is bittersweet. Women smear vermillion on each other during Sindoor Khela, then the idols are carried away for immersion.

Five days that feel like five minutes.

Where should you go for pandal-hopping?

Every lane tries to outshine the other, but some spots are classics.

• Head first to Kumartuli, the potters’ neighbourhood. This is where the idols are born, and Kumartuli Park Pandal always pulls crowds. From there, drift towards Baghbazar and College Square, both steeped in tradition.

• For bold themes, try Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha, Sikdar Bagan, or Suruchi Sangha in South Kolkata. They’ve been known to recreate world monuments, forests, and even space stations inside their pandals.

If it’s your first trip, don’t be too ambitious. One area per evening is enough; otherwise, you’ll be stuck in traffic instead of soaking up the magic. These are tried-and-tested pandal hopping tips every traveller swears by.

Moving around during the Puja rush

Traffic during Puja evenings is… let’s just say, unkind. What works:

• Metro: Your best friend. Trains usually run late into the night during Puja.

• Walking: Sometimes quicker than any ride. Most pandals are clustered, so wear shoes you can trust.

• Local trains: Handy if you’re staying in the suburbs; special services are added.

• Taxis and autos: Use sparingly. Long waits and surge fares are common.

Tip: Download the official pandal map. It shows which roads are one-way or closed and can save you a lot of time. For first-timers, these travel hacks go hand-in-hand with basic pandal hopping tips.

What to wear (and how to behave)

Durga Puja is festive but also spiritual. Blend style with comfort.

• Days are hot; nights can be humid. Cotton and linen are your friends.

• Traditional outfits look great in photos, like sarees and kurta-pyjamas — but trainers or sandals are smarter than heels.

• Some pandals ask you to remove shoes before stepping in. Slip-ons help.

• During aarti, avoid pushing ahead for photos. Respect the moment.

Carry light. A sling bag with ID, cash, and a power bank is enough.

Eating your way through the festival

You can’t talk about Kolkata without talking about food. Puja is the perfect excuse to eat without guilt.

Start small with a plate of phuchka – tangy, spicy, and impossible to stop at one. Then move to kathi rolls, egg devil chops, or mughlai parathas from the pop-up stalls that line every crossing.

Don’t miss the bhog. Most community pandals serve it at lunch. Think khichuri with mixed veg curry, chutney, and payesh. Simple, soulful, and free if you manage to stand in line.

Round it off with sweets. Mishti doi, rosogolla, and sandesh taste better here than anywhere else.

Planning your budget and bookings

Durga Puja is peak tourist season in Kolkata. Flights, trains, hotels – everything fills up weeks in advance.

• Book now if you plan to travel. Prices rise fast in September.

• A hotel near a metro stop saves both money and time.

• If flights are too expensive, trains and buses are decent alternatives, but book confirmed berths early.

• Carry some cash. Digital payments work, but small food stalls often prefer coins and notes.

Think of three wallets: one for food, one for rides, and one for souvenirs. Keeps you from overspending.

Capturing the scenes

The city is a photographer’s dream during Puja. But timing is key.

• Early evenings give you the best light on the pandals.

• Post-midnight is when crowds thin out, perfect for wide shots of empty streets lit up like day.

• Always ask before taking close-up photos of rituals or elders.

Official pandal maps sometimes come with walking trails marked. Grab one; it doubles up as a keepsake. This Durga Puja Kolkata guide wouldn’t be complete without reminding you to balance photos with real-time moments.

Quick checklist

• Book flights and hotel rooms early.

• Keep a power bank and cash handy.

• Choose one neighbourhood each night.

• Try bhog at least once.

• Don’t forget to look up; half the magic is in the lights strung across the skies.

Durga Puja is Kolkata at its loudest, brightest, and warmest. If you want to experience India’s festival spirit in full force, there’s no better stage. Book your trip early with EaseMyTrip, and step straight into a celebration the whole world envies.