Spiritual & Religious
Sri Sri Durga Puja
The largest observance of the centre's year. Six days of worship in a mandap pitched beside the temple, ending in Mahaprasad distributed to thousands.
Durga Puja is kept at Dhaleswar in the manner the Ramakrishna Order has kept it since Swami Vivekananda first held it at Belur Math in 1901 — with the Mother worshipped not only in the image but in the people who come, and fed.
A mandap is pitched on the ground beside the temple and the pratima installed in it. Worship runs from the Bodhan through to the immersion, with the ritual conducted by a priest and attended by the monks of the centre. The observance culminates in the distribution of Mahaprasad to thousands of devotees.
Lakshmi Puja follows within the week, and Kali Puja later in the month. Both are kept at the centre, as are Saraswati Puja, Shivaratri, Janmashtami, Dol Purnima, Snan Yatra and Falaharini Kali Puja through the year.
Kumari Puja
On Ashtami the worship is offered to a young girl, seated beside the image of the Goddess. The Secretary of this centre has written on what the rite means and what it asks of those who keep it.
Read “Kumari Puja — The Timeless Tale of Worshipping Woman-Power” →
When
16 October 2026 – 21 October 2026
Dates for the coming year are set by the Math almanac and confirmed by the centre.
The Nirghanta
Bodhan Friday, 16 October
- Bodhan of the Goddess After the evening arati
Shashthi Saturday, 17 October
- Amantran and Adhivas After the evening arati
Maha Saptami Sunday, 18 October
- Puja 5:30 am
- Pushpanjali 10:30 am, and again after the Devi’s annabhog
- Mahaprasad distribution 12:00 noon
Maha Ashtami Monday, 19 October
- Puja 5:30 am
- Kumari Puja 8:30 am
- Pushpanjali 9:45 am, and again after the Devi’s annabhog
- Sandhi Puja 10:28 – 11:16 am
- Mahaprasad distribution 12:00 noon
Maha Navami Tuesday, 20 October
- Puja 5:30 am
- Homa
- Pushpanjali 10:30 am, and again after the Devi’s annabhog
- Mahaprasad distribution 12:00 noon
Vijaya Dashami Wednesday, 21 October
- Puja 5:30 am
- Pushpanjali 8:10 am
- Darpan Visarjan After the Pushpanjali
- Immersion of the pratima 10:30 am
- Shanti Jal After the evening arati
- Please bring your own flowers and bel leaves for the Pushpanjali.
- Any offering towards the Mother’s worship, in kind or in money, is gratefully received.
Also kept
Sri Sri Lakshmi Puja Sunday, 25 October
- Puja After the evening arati
Shyama Puja (Kali Puja) Sunday, 8 November
- Puja After the evening arati
- Homa After the Devi’s bhog
- Pushpanjali 10:00 pm
The puja in pictures
