Durga Puja 2026 pandal themes
The themes Kolkata’s big pujas have announced for 2026, from Sreebhumi’s Hawa Mahal to a centenary tribute to Uttam Kumar. Each one links to the pandal’s page, with the nearest metro, buses and food close by.
North Kolkata themes
“Sabeki”
Bagbazar Sarbojanin Durgotsav
Bagbazar
No theme, as ever: a traditional ekchala idol dressed in silver-white daker saj.
“Antarjami”
Dum Dum Park Bharat Chakra Club
Dum Dum Park · 26th year
The chariots of Bengal’s rath traditions, from Guptipara to Mahesh.
“Banijye Basate Lakshmi”
Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha
Dum Dum Park · 41st year
Bengal’s long history of trade and enterprise, after the old saying that Lakshmi - prosperity - lives in commerce.
“Pandulipi”
Jagat Mukherjee Park Sadharan Durgotsab
Bag Bazar · 90th year
A celebration of the handwritten manuscript, and of the culture of the written page before print and screens took over.
Artist: Abhijit Ghatak (concept), Amal Pal (idol)
“O Ganga Tumi Boichho Keno”
Kumartuli Park Sarbojanin Durgotsab
Kumartuli
The Ganga, and the place the river holds in the life of the city on its bank.
“Mon Diye Dekhun”
Kumartuli Sarbojanin Durgotsab
Kumartuli
“Look with your mind” - a pandal that asks visitors to slow down and pay attention.
“Nishan: The Mark”
Maniktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty
Maniktala · 84th year
On the Ramnami Samaj of Chhattisgarh, who tattoo Ram’s name across their bodies as an act of protest. Music by Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.
“Hawa Mahal”
Sreebhumi Sporting Club
Sreebhumi, Lake Town · 54th year
Jaipur’s Palace of Winds rebuilt in Lake Town - all 953 windows of it, in red and pink latticework - around a traditional idol.
“Barowarir Durgabari”
Tala Barowari Durgotsab
Tala · 106th year
The story of the community puja itself, told by one of the oldest barowari pujas in north Kolkata.
“Biyojon”
Tala Prattoy
Tala Park · 101st year
On letting go, and what changes when you do. The puja has moved to a smaller site this year.
Artist: Sushanta Shibani Pal
Central Kolkata themes
“Beyond Sound”
Chorbagan Sarbojanin
Machua Bazar North · 91st year
A pandal about sound and the senses past hearing.
Artist: Sushanta Shibani Pal
“Sanatani Chetanay Vande Mataram”
Santosh Mitra Square
Chandni Chowk East
Marks 150 years of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s “Vande Mataram” and the part the song played in the freedom movement.
Artist: Shibshankar Das
“Vande Mataram”
Taltala Sarbojanin Durgotsab
Taltala
Marks the 150th year of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s song.
Artist: Amit and Arindam
South Kolkata themes
“Anya Jekhane Ananya”
Abasar Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee
Bhowanipore
A tribute to the painter Shanu Lahiri, and to the idols she made for Bakulbagan in 1982 and 1996.
“Ramayana: An Epic Woven in Time”
Alipore Sarbojanin
Alipore · 81st year
The Ramayana told in sequence, from Ram’s exile to the Akal Bodhan - his out-of-season call to Durga, which is the reason Pujo falls in autumn.
Artist: Anirban Das
“Jojon”
Ballygunge Cultural Association
Ballygunge · 76th year
How people and the environment are bound up together, built from chip packets, plastic bottles and other things thrown away.
Artist: Sushanta Shibani Pal
“Chup”
Bosepukur Sitala Mandir
Kasba · 77th year
“Silence.” From the committee that built its 2001 pandal out of clay cups.
“Somnath Temple”
Ekdalia Evergreen Club
Ekdalia, Ballygunge · 84th year
A replica of the Somnath temple in Gujarat, the first of the twelve jyotirlingas of Shiva, with a traditional idol.
“Durgadalan”
Hindusthan Club Sarbojanin Durgotsab
Gariahat · 64th year
The thakurdalan - the worship hall of the old Bengali family home - recreated.
“Oitijhyer Lokkotha”
Mudiali Club
Mudiali
Folk tales of heritage, from a club known for some of the most ambitious pandal architecture in the south.
“Mahapujoy Mahanayak”
Samaj Sebi Sangha
Lake Terrace, Ballygunge · 81st year
A centenary tribute to Uttam Kumar, with posters from all 208 of his films and an original score.
“Tandav”
Santoshpur Lake Pally
Santoshpur · 69th year
Shiva’s cosmic dance of creation, preservation and destruction.
Artist: Rintu Das
“Parab”
Shib Mandir Sarbojanin Durgotsab
Lake Temple Road · 90th year
Rajasthan’s Gangaur festival, brought to Kolkata.
“Utsho”
Suruchi Sangha
New Alipore
“The source.” The committee has said little more, and is promising a surprise.
Not announced yet
These big pujas have not revealed their 2026 theme yet.