For most Kolkatans, Mahalaya has always started in the dark. The radio comes on before dawn, Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s voice fills the room, and by the time the sun is up, people are already heading to the ghats for tarpan. This year, the day will also end very differently. The West Bengal government has decided to formally launch Durga Puja 2026 on Mahalaya itself, with a large state-run event at Eden Gardens on the evening of Saturday, October 10.
The final blueprint was drawn up at a high-level meeting at Nabanna on Wednesday, September 23, chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. It is the first Durga Puja since the change of government in the state, and officials have made it clear they want the festival to open on a scale Bengal has not tried before.
What Is Planned for Mahalaya Evening
Based on what the state has announced and what has been reported from the Nabanna meeting, the Mahalaya programme is expected to include:
- A ceremonial Chokkhu Daan at Eden Gardens. Reports say Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to perform the ritual painting of the goddess’s eyes to formally inaugurate the festivities. His presence has been widely reported but should be treated as expected rather than final until an official schedule is released.
- A roadshow through central Kolkata. A procession is planned for the afternoon of Mahalaya, moving along Red Road and ending at Eden Gardens, where the main programme will be held.
- Drone shows and fireworks. The Chief Minister has said the launch will feature a special drone display and fireworks, with three major aerial drone shows planned in all.
- A mass cultural performance. Earlier planning notes point to dhak ensembles, dhunuchi naach, Chhau and other folk forms from across the districts, with thousands of artists and dhakis being considered for a single performance.
The event is being jointly organised by the state Tourism Department and the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs. The state had asked the Cricket Association of Bengal for the stadium from September 25 to October 15, a window that covers setting up the stage and structures before Mahalaya and dismantling them afterwards.
Beyond Kolkata: Digha, Districts and a Maha-Bhog
The celebrations are not being limited to the city. According to reports from the Nabanna meeting, a beach festival will open on the sands of Digha on the evening of Panchami, which falls on Friday, October 16 this year. It is being described as the first such festival in the state’s history. A Maha-bhog is planned there, with beneficiaries of the state’s Annapurna Yojana invited from across Bengal, and women are expected to form a human chain on the beach in the shape of West Bengal’s map as a tribute to Nari Shakti.
Special programmes are also being planned in Bankura, Bishnupur, Nandigram, Siliguri, Durgapur and Berhampore, and the Maha-bhog is to be distributed to different parts of the state.
The Rules That Come With It
Alongside the celebrations, the Chief Minister has already set out a few firm guidelines for this Puja season:
- No DJs at pandals or during immersion processions.
- Maha Ashtami is a full dry day across the state, with liquor shops and bars closed for the day. Ashtami falls on Monday, October 19.
- State awards for Best Idol, Best Pandal, Best Eco-Friendly Puja, Best Crowd Management, Best Pandal Art and Best Sculptor, judged by an independent panel.
These sit on top of city-level rules already in force. KMC has capped hoarding heights and barred Puja banners before October 3 (see our explainer on KMC’s Puja hoarding rules for 2026), and Kolkata Police has opened a round-the-clock line to report forced Puja chanda.
A Small Clash With Cricket
Eden Gardens is still a working cricket ground, and the timing is tight. Bengal’s Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match against Delhi is scheduled to start at Eden on October 11, the day after Mahalaya, while the state’s booking window runs until October 15. How the ground staff and organisers manage the turnaround is one of the details to watch over the next two weeks.
What It Means for Your Commute on October 10
A roadshow along Red Road and a packed stadium in the Maidan area on a Saturday evening will almost certainly mean traffic changes in central Kolkata. No official traffic advisory had been issued at the time of writing, but based on how the city handles big Maidan events, here is how to plan:
- Expect diversions around Red Road, the Maidan, Esplanade, BBD Bagh and Strand Road from the afternoon of October 10. Watch Kolkata Traffic Police’s official website and its X handle for the final notification.
- Take the Metro if you are heading to Eden. Esplanade (Blue and Green Lines) is the nearest major interchange, and the Eden Gardens station on the Circular Railway is right beside the stadium.
- Do not drive in expecting to park nearby. Parking around the Maidan is usually restricted during large events.
- Carry water and keep a meeting point. Large crowds, a late finish and October humidity are a tiring mix, especially for older family members and children.
- Plan the morning separately. If you are going for tarpan at the ghats at dawn, remember that the evening event is a separate crowd, and give yourself a rest in between.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Mahalaya in 2026?
Mahalaya falls on Saturday, October 10, 2026. It marks the end of Pitri Paksha and the start of Devi Paksha. Maha Shashthi is on October 17 and Bijoya Dashami on October 21. Our Durga Puja 2026 day-by-day guide has the full schedule.
Is the Eden Gardens Mahalaya event open to the public?
Entry details, passes and gate timings have not been announced yet. We will update this article once the state publishes them.
Will PM Modi attend?
Multiple reports say the Prime Minister is expected to perform the Chokkhu Daan at Eden Gardens. An official confirmation of his schedule is still awaited.
Is Maha Ashtami a dry day in West Bengal this year?
Yes. The Chief Minister has announced a complete dry day across the state on Maha Ashtami, October 19, with liquor outlets and bars closed.
When does the Digha beach festival start?
It is scheduled to open on the evening of Panchami, October 16.
The Bottom Line
Mahalaya in Kolkata has always been about the radio, the river and the quiet start of Devi Paksha. This year it also becomes the state’s official Puja launch, with Eden Gardens, drones over the Maidan and a roadshow through the heart of the city. If you plan to be part of it, watch for the official pass and traffic details in the coming days, lean on the Metro, and keep the dawn at the ghats and the evening at Eden as two separate outings.
Sources: Announcements by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at the state’s Durga Puja preparatory meeting, as reported by ANI; the Nabanna blueprint meeting of September 23, 2026, as reported by ETV Bharat; earlier planning details reported by The Statesman. Dates cross-checked against the 2026 Durga Puja calendar.
Featured image: Inside a Durga Puja pandal during the festival, photo by Subhra Jyoti Paul on Unsplash.
