Durga Puja 2025: Importance, Rituals to Acknowledge, and When to Celebrate

Do you enjoy festivities? If yes, mark your calendar as the annual Durga Puja festival is just around the corner, and I know you wouldn’t want to miss out on it. The celebration is honored by Hindus, but the people in general tend to get together irrespective of religion and send warm wishes as they celebrate with their Hindu friends. If this has drawn your attention and you want to learn more about the Durga Puja 2025 festival, the rituals, customs to observe, and the duration it will last, then let’s get started!

So What Is Durga Puja Festival?

Durga Puja, also known as the festival of the divine mother, is a Hindu festival celebrated annually to honor the divine femininity of Durga. Durga Puja is a commemoration of how the good conquers the evil , with aspects of righteousness(dharma) and women’s emancipation.

We celebrate Durga Puja annually during Ashvin to honor and worship the Goddess Durga, (Durgotsava). We embrace the feminine energy from Durga and pray for all humanity. 

If you are a keen observer of the festival, you know we observe it in 10 days, but the five days: Shashti, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami, and Vijaya Dashami are highly considered.

The History Behind Durga Puja Celebrations

The analogy of Durga Puja is of the war between the goddess Durga and a buffalo demon (Mahishasura). 

The story was told that Mahishasura took over heaven and earth and mistreated his subjects since he had a blessing from Lord Brahma that he would not be killed by anyone (including gods).

He caused havoc and won over the heavens and earth, making him superior in all worlds. This made him prideful and oppressive, and since all the gods couldn’t stop him, they chose to combine their powers to form one superior female god, Durga Puja. 

Durga Puja had cosmic energy (Shakti) and weapons with which she fought him (Mahishasura) for nine days and nights, then defeated him on the tenth day (Dussehra)

Apart from the victory celebrations, we also celebrate Durga Puja to make her homecoming to her natal home, where she was accompanied by her children, Saraswati (goddess of knowledge), Lakshmi (goddess of wealth), Kartikeya (god of war), and Ganesha (god of beginnings). 

5 Reasons Why You Should Celebrate Durga Puja

1. It Helps Foster Spiritual Empowerment &Inner Strength

When we gather in temples and homes to commemorate Durga Puja, we humble ourselves and destroy ego and negativity, which makes us brave. Once you are spiritually empowered, you feel recharged.

2. To Serve as a Remembrance of the Win of Good Over Evil

Devotees of Durga Puja gather in different parts of the world to celebrate and remember the victory of good over evil. It gives us a sense of living with moral ethics and the reward for blessings. It is a reminder that even if there is injustice, truth wins. It gives us hope to spread positivity even in difficult times, hoping all will turn out successfully.

3. It’s a Great Way to Release Mental and Emotional Tension

In performing the Durga Puja Rituals, we cleanse our bodies and minds, achieving inner peace. You should let go of your worldly worries during the festival to achieve balance.

4. It’s Part of Honoring and Celebrating Art, Culture, and Tradition

Durga Puja is an Indian tradition that honors culture and art. We participate in idol making, pandal design, music, dandiya, garba, etc. The celebrations help us preserve our heritage. It is also a chance to try out traditional Indian cuisine.

5. It’s a Way of Thanksgiving and Welcoming Positive Karma

During the Durga Puja celebrations, we attract positive Karma as we take part in charity, helping needy people. Such acts attract good karma and boost our healthy living.

Tips on Celebrating Durga Puja in a Modern Setting

Most people nowadays are dismayed at how they will perform all the Durga Puja rituals with limited space. Still, the good news is that most cities in India honor the festivities and close down government services and banks during the festivities. However, people from towns like West Bengal benefit more from these celebrations since they are handed an extension of their holiday from Maha Saptami to Vijaya Dashami

Luckily, if you come from states such as Bihar, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Odisha, you will enjoy your Durga Puja holidays since they also observe the festivities.

Suppose you live in West Bengal and want to participate in the celebrations. We advise you to start early preparations for the Durga Puja celebrations, maybe a few weeks before Mahalaya, since most government offices, schools, and banks close to honor the celebrations. Each activity remains pending until the Durga Puja celebrations end. The brighter side is that you can get gifts and clothes at an affordable rate since most sellers offer discounted prices to attract customers. 

It is also an everyday activity for modern people to try different foodstuffs from one stall to another across the city. Furthermore, restaurants get more sales since they serve unique traditional dishes that people eat as a form of Durga Puja traditional practice.

In modern settings, it is easy to notice the vibrant nature in the air, with most people spending their time in parks and with their families. These practices are undoubtedly the biggest festival for Hindus in West Bengal, as they unite people. 

What Are the Rituals Not to Miss During Durga Puja 2025?

Maa Durga Devotees have different ways of performing the rituals, but here are the main rituals that are performed during the period:

1. Kalash Sthapana

Since this is the first day of the celebrations, devotees must fill a kalash (pot) with coconut, mango leaves, and water, place it on barley seeds, and then worship Shailputri. Devotees should let the barley seeds sprout to signify prosperity.

Daily Worship of Durga Puja(Practiced for Nine Days)

The devotees of Maa Durga worship her in different forms to symbolize her power. They chant maa Durga mantras, perform Aarti, and offer gifts such as sweets, flowers, and incense. They should worship:

1. Skandamata- Motherhood
2. Katyayani- Protector
3. Brahmacharini- Devotion 
4. Chandraghanta- Brave
5. Kushmanda- Innovative
6. Shailaputri- Strength & purity
7. Siddhidatri- Wisdom & perfection. 
8. Kalaratri- Destroyer of darkness
9. Mahagauri- Peace

2. Fast and Pray

It is a requirement for all Durga Puja devotees to fast and pray throughout the 9 day festivity. You are supposed to take sattvic and avoid any food with garlic and onion.

3. Kanya Pujan (Navami or Ashtami)

This is an essential ritual performed by Durga Puja devotees, nine young girls representing nine life aspects of Maa Durga are worshipped and honored. This practice embodies the girls with respect for divine feminine energy in its pure form. 

During the ceremony, devotees wash the feet of the nine girls and offer them gifts like sweets, flowers, clothes, or special meals. In doing so they attract  blessings and prosperity from Durga Puja.

4. Durga Ashtami

This is the eighth day of the Durga Puja rituals, called Chaitra Navratri. Devotees gather worldwide to celebrate the divine feminine power of Durga Puja. This is a day that devotees use to reflect and honor Goddess Durga to gain protection and courage.

During Durga Ashtami’s festival, we focus on worshiping the Goddess Mahagauri, among the nine forms of Maa Durga. Most people experiencing difficulties and obstacles honor this day as they believe they will receive blessings of divine grace.

5. Sandhi Puja

This ritual is usually performed between Ashtami and Navami since it is at this time that the goddess Durga Puja transforms and destroys the two demons(Chanda and Munda). Priests light 108 lamps to signify some states in India, and they then sacrifice an animal and chant different Durga Puja mantras.

6. Ayudha Puja

When the celebrations are ongoing, devotees clean their weapons, tools, books, and vehicles, and worship them. It is a sign of upholding righteousness.

7. Maha Aart

Priests must blow conch shells and ring bells on the 8th or 9th night of Durga Puja 2025 celebrations. Since many people attend this occasion for the blessings of Durga, they lit camphor on their lamps and waved the incense to Maa Durga.

8. Share Bhog

Devotees are supposed to take special healthy meals such as Kheer, fruits, and sweets, but first, the food is to be offered to the goddess Durga before the priests distribute it to the people.

9. Durga Visarjan

This is the last ritual that is performed during Durga Puja celebrations. Devotees organize a procession of Durga Puja to a nearby waterbody, and they immerse Durga in the water as a sign of her rebirth to divinity.

What is 9 Durga Days 2025?

The Durga Puja 2025 celebrations will begin from 28th September to 2nd October 2025, but earlier celebrations will start from Sunday, September 21st. The first day of the celebrations will be on (21st September Mahalaya), Saturday 27th September (Maha Panchami). The main celebrations will begin on Sunday 28th September (Maha Sashti), Monday 29th September (Maha Saptami), Tuesday 30th September Maha Ashtami, Wednesday 1st October (Maha Navami), and Thursday 2nd October (Vijaya Dashami) will be the last day.

How To Perform Durga Puja at Home?

Most devotees perform Durga Puja at home as a form of protection, to strengthen peace, and invite the divine feminine energy into their lives. Here are some of the practices that you can perform to honor Durga Puja at home, if you are unable to participate in the temple celebrations:

1. Participate in Aarti for all nine days
2. Choose a quiet place, ensure it faces North or East
3. Put Murti at the center of the room while chanting Durga stuti mantras
4. Chant before the Deity, burn an incense stick or vow to perform the puja relentlessly.
5. Clean the house and the puja room spotlessly.
6. Cover your table with either a red or yellow cloth.
7. Prepare a Kalash with water, coconut, and mango leaves. 
8. Gather puja gifts such as fruits, flowers, camphor, red cloth, turmeric, and kumkum.

Conclusion

The Durga Puja 2025 celebrations are going to be big, mark the date! These celebrations enforce unity, culture and our allegiance to Maa Durga. The festival is approaching in a few months and we are anticipating that everyone will make early preparations. Before then, we wish for Maa Durga blessings to be upon everyone as we remain positive in all life’s shortcomings. May every Maa Durga devotee have a happy Durga Puja filled with love and blessings as they enjoy the festivity to the fullest.

Frequently Asked Questions on Durga Puja 2025 Festival

Q1: When did Durga Puja start in 2025?

Durga Puja festivities will commence on the 28th of September and continue all the way to the 2nd of October. However, earlier celebrations will start on the 21st of September 2025.

Q2: How will Durga Puja be carried in 2025?

Durga Puja will arrive and depart on an elephant. Durga Puja will bring prosperity, divine blessings, and peace upon her devotees.

Q3: Which coin will be used as the Durga Coin in 2025?

The 2025 Cameroon Durga 1 Gram Gold Coin has been chosen to be a symbol of honor for the divine strength and power of Durga Puja. You can use this gold coin as a gift and celebrate Durga for her triumph of good over evil.

Q4: Is Navratri and Durga Puja the same?

Durga Puja and Navratri are not the same, since Durga Puja is a celebration of Maa Durga’s return to her natal home, where she is accompanied by her four children, Saraswati (goddess of knowledge), Lakshmi (goddess of wealth), Kartikeya (god of war), and Ganesha (god of beginnings).

In contrast, Navratri is a festival within Durga Puja that is more about fasting and praying for 9 days. Its primary focus is on the goddess Parashakti, happening twice a year, in Chaitra (March-April) and in Ashvin (September-October).

Q5: Which Navratri is going on in 2025?

Chaitra Navratri 2025 Puja begins with Ghatasthapana on March 30 from 06:13 AM to 10:22 AM (Abhijit 12:00 PM–12:50 PM). Ashadha Gupt Navratri will commence on June 26 with Ghatasthapana from 05:24AM to 06:57AM (Abhijit 11:55AM–12:51PM).