08 NOV 2026
Kali Puja, Kolkata
Kolkata's Diwali night is Kali Puja, on 8 November 2026, with the main worship at midnight and crowds at Kalighat and Dakshineswar.
In Kolkata and across Bengal, Diwali night is Kali Puja, when the goddess Kali is worshipped on the new moon of the month of Kartik. Neighbourhood clubs set up pandals with large Kali idols, homes are lit with lamps and fairy lights, and the night sky fills with fireworks.
In 2026, Kali Puja falls on Sunday 8 November. The main puja takes place late at night, in the Nishita period close to midnight. The busiest temples are Kalighat in south Kolkata and Dakshineswar on the Hooghly, where queues build from the afternoon, while the Tarapith shrine in Birbhum draws devotees from across the state.
Pandal hopping continues for two or three days after the puja, with themed pandals in areas such as Barasat, Madhyamgram and Naihati. Expect heavy traffic and noise from crackers in the evening, use the metro where you can, and visit Kalighat early in the day to avoid the longest queues.
In Kolkata and across Bengal, Diwali night is Kali Puja, when the goddess Kali is worshipped on the new moon of the month of Kartik. Neighbourhood clubs set up pandals with large Kali idols, homes are lit with lamps and fairy lights, and the night sky fills with fireworks.
In 2026, Kali Puja falls on Sunday 8 November. The main puja takes place late at night, in the Nishita period close to midnight. The busiest temples are Kalighat in south Kolkata and Dakshineswar on the Hooghly, where queues build from the afternoon, while the Tarapith shrine in Birbhum draws devotees from across the state.
Pandal hopping continues for two or three days after the puja, with themed pandals in areas such as Barasat, Madhyamgram and Naihati. Expect heavy traffic and noise from crackers in the evening, use the metro where you can, and visit Kalighat early in the day to avoid the longest queues.
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