Best Places to Celebrate Durga Puja in Delhi 2026
The biggest Durga Puja celebrations are in Kolkata, but Durga Puja is also massively celebrated in Delhi by the Bengali community.
Durga Puja is one of the biggest Hindu festivals in India. It’s a joyful 5 days of pandal hopping, food, shopping and spending time with family and friends.
I lived in Delhi and always enjoyed the festivities of Durga Puja. If you are lucky enough to be in Delhi at this time do not miss Durga Puja!
This year Durga Puja is Saturday, October 17 to Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
Quick list of best ways to enjoy Durga Puja in Delhi:
- Pandal hop in Chittaranjan Park
- Visit Kali Bari temple
- Eat biryani and fish fry at Oh! Calcutta
- Visit Annapurna Sweets for sondesh
The 5 Best Places to Celebrate Durga Puja in Delhi
These are the best places to visit during Durga Puja in Delhi NCR.
Pandals get busier at night and as each day of Durga Puja passes. If you want to avoid the worst of the crowds, visit the pandals during the early afternoon and as early in Durga Puja as possible.
1. Chittaranjan Park (CR Park)
Also known as mini Bengal, CR Park should be your first stop for an authentic Durga Puja experience.
This is basically ground zero for Durga Puja in Delhi, and you don’t need to go anywhere else to properly celebrate the festival. CR Park is a large neighbourhood and there are many spots to celebrate Durga Puja.
The easiest way to pandal hop within CR Park is to either walk or take an auto rickshaw. Because this is such a popular area during Durga Puja, traffic will be incredibly slow.
- Greater Kailash II Puja Ground: Not officially part of CR Park, but it is the first pandal you will see if you arrive by metro (which I highly recommend), while making your way to CR Park.
- K Block Puja Grounds: This pandal is opposite the Greater Kailash pandal grounds and is one of the best in Delhi. There are plenty of food stands and you can see a cultural show here.
- Kali Mandir: Kali Mandir is the main temple in CR Park. Every year it hosts an elaborate pandal. You can eat and shop for jewelry or knick knacks at one of the many stands behind the temple.
- Pocket 52 Puja Grounds: Small but impressive pandal. It’s one of the most artistic ones in CR Park.
- Co-operative Puja Grounds: This pandal has a different theme each year. It’s one of the most famous in CR Park. There’s also lots of food stalls and vendors selling everything from clothing to household items. Co-operative Grounds is located in J Block.
- D Block and E Block Puja Grounds: These two authentic pandals are opposite each other.
- Mela Grounds: This is the busiest pandal in CR Park. The grounds are huge and have a number of vendors and crafts people from Bengal. The pandal is one of the most famous and largest in Delhi.
- Pocket 40 Puja Grounds: You’ll find lovely pandals and cultural shows here, including the famous dance of Durga Puja, the Dhunuchi Nach.
- Block B Puja Grounds: Your last stop should be here at this very popular pandal.
2. Matri Mandir in Safdarjung Enclave
Matri Mandir hosts one of the best loved Durga Puja pandals in New Delhi. It’s located in Block B2. Try traditional Bengali food from one of the stands behind the temple.
3. Minto Road near Rajiv Chowk
The Minto Road pandal has been here since 1940. It’s a very traditional pandal where you can see the famous Durga Puja dance, Dhunuchi Nach.
4. Delhi Durga Puja Samiti at Kashmiri Gate
This is the oldest Durga Puja in Delhi. Located in North Delhi (close to Old Delhi), the pandal at Kashmiri Gate started in 1910. It’s a gorgeous pandal and the goddess is decorated with gold and silver.
You’ll find this pandal at the Bengali Senior Secondary School on Alipur Road.
5. Kali Bari on Mandir Marg
Kali Bari hosts a wonderful Durga Puja each year. This temple is dedicated to the goddess Kali who is an avatar of Durga, so this temple gets extremely busy during Durga Puja.
What is Durga Puja?
Durga Puja is a Hindu religious festival which celebrates good over evil as the goddess Durga kills the evil demon king Mahishasura.
Hindus believe this is when the goddess comes to her earthly abode to bless her devotees.
Durga is considered one of the most important goddesses. She is an aspect of Mahadevi (also called Devi), the primordial goddess and creator of the universe.
Durga is associated with motherhood, strength and protection. Often seen as a beautiful woman with 10 arms each holding a weapon while riding a lion or tiger, she is one of the most protective and powerful deities in the Hindu faith.
When is Durga Puja?
Durga Puja is celebrated in Delhi during the Hindu calendar month of Ashwin, which falls in September or October each year. The Hindu calendar is basically a lunar calendar, so dates change year to year.
Although Durga Puja is officially a 10 day festival, the last 5 days are the most important.
This year the dates of Durga Puja are Saturday, October 17 to Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
How is Durga Puja Celebrated in Delhi?
There are three main ways Durga Puja is celebrated in Delhi: visiting pandals to view Durga idols, eating and shopping. Sounds like fun, right?
Pandal Hopping in Delhi
Pandal hopping is one of the most fun things to do during Durga Puja. Pandals can be very elaborate, full of festive colours and lights. The atmosphere is almost carnival-like, with throngs of people, food stands and stalls selling all sorts of things.
Pandals are temporary displays of religious deities. For Durga Puja, special pandals are built and displayed each year throughout Delhi.
It is often the same crew which returns year after year to build the pandal which can take weeks. The pandals are beautiful, but temporary works of art, built and designed by artisans from around India.
Eat Bengali Food
There are numerous food stands set up outside the pandals serving all kinds of Bengali specialties.
Don’t be afraid to try the food from the stands – just avoid fish or meat and choose a stand that is busy with locals. You can read how to eat local and stay healthy here.
Try the traditional free community meal known as bhog if you are visiting the temples during the last few days of Durga Puja. Bhog is always vegetarian, and considered an offering to the goddess. It is served at lunchtime.
If you prefer a restaurant, some of the best in Delhi for Bengali food during Durga Puja are:
- Oh! Calcutta
- Amar Shonar Bangla
- 6 Ballygunge Place
- Dadu Cutlet Shop (Bengali snacks)
- Kamala Sweets (traditional sweet shop – not a restaurant)
Traditional Foods to Eat in Durga Puja
Food is a major part of Durga Puja. Unlike many Hindu religious festivals where fasting is an important aspect, Durga Puja has no gastronomic limits, even non-veg is not off limits.
These are some of the dishes you should try during Durga Puja in Delhi:
- Sondesh: a Bengali sweet made from milk, sugar and jaggery
- Kichuri: a spiced blend of yellow dal and rice with vegetables
- Fish: an important part of Bengali cuisine
- Kathi rolls: rolls of chicken, egg and/or veg made with flaky paranthas
- Gughni: a curry made of white chick peas and spices, served with raw onion
- Aloo kaabli: a snack made with boiled potato, tamarind, cucumber, chick peas and spices
- Lucchi: small puffed breads made with white flour
- Biryani: a layered rice dish made with vegetables, spices and often meat or eggs
Shopping for Durga Puja & What to Wear
Shopping is an integral part of the celebrations of Durga Puja. You’ll see lots of vendors outside the pandals during Durga Puja selling religious deities, jewelry, clothing and household items.
It is traditional for women to wear different sarees for each day of Durga Puja. A lot of planning can go into the daily outfits, with each day requiring different types or colours of sarees.
If you are visiting India and don’t have Indian clothing it’s fine to wear Western clothes. But, if you want to have a more cultural experience, purchase a few kurtis (long tunic style tops) to wear over jeans or leggings.
Best Time to Visit the Pandals
Durga Puja is a major festival and brings out thousands of people. If you want to avoid the crowds, visit the pandals in the early afternoon and as soon as Durga Puja starts. It gets busier with each day.
To enjoy bhog (the free community meal and offering to the goddess), be at a mandir (temple) between 1:00 and 2:00 pm.
If you want to have the full experience and see the festival at its height, go in the evening. All pandals have an evening aarti (prayer service) which will be sometime after 6:00 pm.
Participating in an aarti is something you will never forget, and I whole heartedly recommend it if you are comfortable with shoulder to shoulder crowds.
Cultural shows generally begin after the evening aarti. These are usually traditional dance and folk music.
What are the 5 days of Durga Puja?
Durga Puja takes place during the last days of the Hindu festival of Navratri. The days of Durga Puja are:
- Maha Sasthi: The goddess lands on earth with her 4 children (also deities – Saraswati, Lakshmi, Ganesha, and Kartikeya).
- Maha Saptami: The official start of the festivities. The battle between Durga and the demon king begins.
- Maha Ashtami: The most auspicious day. Women wear traditional sarees in vibrant colours like yellow or red.
- Maha Nabami: Durga defeats the demon king. The triumph of good over evil is celebrated.
- Maham Dashami: Effigies of the goddess are immersed in water as devotees say goodbye before she returns to her celestial home.
Is Durga Puja the same as Navratri?
The two religious festivals are closely related, but not the same. Because Durga Puja coincides with the last 5 days of Navratri they are easy to confuse, especially since they both celebrate the defeat of good over evil.
Navratri is mostly celebrated in northern and western parts of India, while Durga Puja is predominately celebrated in Bengal and other eastern states.
Chittaranjan Park: A Brief History
Chittaranjan Park is known as Delhi’s mini Bengal, and it is ground zero of the Durga Puja festivities in Delhi.
When India was partitioned in 1947, the state of Bengal was divided into two: East Bengal (now Bangladesh) and West Bengal. East Bengal became part of Pakistan (West Bengal remained in India) which caused an influx of refugees into Delhi, the elite of East Bengal.
This group, called the Bhadralok, demanded land for their community and were given what was then a forested area, far from the city centre. The area became a hub of Bengali culture and soon other Bengalis also migrated to this area, which is now known as CR Park.
The Bhadralok refugees instilled Bengali culture into CR Park by establishing their own newspaper and bringing their local cuisine and street snacks to the city.
Durga Puja is the one time of year Bengalis can really celebrate and display their authentic culture throughout all of Delhi. It’s a great source of pride and unity for the community.
Where to Stay in Delhi For Durga Puja
These are the best guest houses and hotels close to CR Park and the main Durga Puja festivities in Delhi:
Eros Hotel New Delhi (luxury): 5 star hotel with outdoor pool, fitness centre and restaurant. It’s the closest luxury hotel to CR Park, very near busy Nehru Place. Breakfast is included.
Home@F37 (mid-range): Small hotel with generous rooms on a busy street, but very close to Kailash Colony Market with lots of shopping, restaurants and the metro.
The Neem Bed & Breakfast (mid-range): One of South Delhi’s best guesthouses. Excellent location beside one of Delhi’s best markets and close to the main Durga Puja festivities. A home cooked breakfast is included.
Tatvamasi Homestay (budget): Excellent value at this highly rated homestay. It’s located right in CR Park – you’ll be able to walk to the festivities. Rooms are large and comfortable, and there’s a common kitchen for cooking if guests want make their own meals.
Last Words on Best Places to Celebrate Durga Puja in Delhi
You definitely don’t need to be in Bengal to celebrate Durga Puja in a big way. Thanks to Delhi’s large Bengali community, there are plenty of authentic ways to enjoy Durga Puja in Delhi.
