Durga Puja 2024 is just around the corner, and the excitement for Navratri is building! As everyone prepare for this vibrant festival, it’s easy to get a bit confused about the dates due to the differences between the Gregorian and Hindu calendars. So, before the celebrations kick off, let’s clarify whether Shardiya Navratri will last for eight or nine days this year. Mahalaya Amavasya, also known simply as Mahalaya, falls on October 2 in 2024. On this special day, people invite Goddess Durga to come to Earth. Following Mahalaya, Navratri begins on October 3 and will continue until October 12. 

Durga Puja 2024: Dates and celebrations 

The celebration of Shardiya Navratri will start from October 3 to October 12, 2024, spanning nine days. During this period, devotees will worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga. Durga Puja will commence later, starting on October 9 and continuing until October 12, focusing on the celebration of the goddess’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. It’s a vibrant time filled with rituals, festivities, and cultural events! 

Durga Puja 2024 

Durga Puja is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion throughout India, especially in West Bengal and the eastern regions. This vibrant four-day festival is filled with lively festivities and rituals. The culmination of the celebrations is on the tenth day, known as Dussehra, which is also significant in the Ramayana. On this day, Lord Rama triumphs over Ravana, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. It’s also referred to as Vijayadashami, a day when we bid farewell to Goddess Durga through the ritual of Durga Visarjan, or idol immersion.