Durga Puja and Dussehra 2026 in Tripura: Dates, Agartala Pujas, Tripura Sundari and Vijay Muhurat

Quick answer: Tripura celebrates Durga Puja by the Bengal calendar: Maha Shashthi on Saturday 17 October to Bijoya Dashami on Wednesday 21 October 2026, with Mahalaya on Saturday 10 October (Drik Panchang Durga Puja calendar for Kolkata). The all-India Dussehra is Tuesday 20 October, Maha Navami in the Bengal calendar. Vijay Muhurat in Agartala on 20 October: 1:04 to 1:50 PM (local time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method).

For Tripura, the autumn festival is above all Durga Puja. Agartala and the state's towns fill with pandals, the sound of the dhak and crowds of families in new clothes, much as in neighbouring Bengal, with whose traditions Tripura's Bengali community shares its calendar and rituals. The state also has its own deep heritage of Goddess worship: the royal Durga Puja of the former Manikya kings and the ancient Tripura Sundari temple at Udaipur, one of the Shakti Peethas, from which, by a widely held tradition, the state itself takes its name.

Durga Puja 2026 calendar (Bengal tradition)

This is Drik Panchang's Durga Puja calendar for Kolkata, which Tripura's Bengal-tradition pujas generally follow. Exact ritual times, such as the moment of Sandhi Puja, are given in the Bengali panjika and announced by puja committees and priests. Immersion schedules are set by committees and the local administration.

Dussehra 2026 dates (all-India) and Vijay Muhurat

The all-India Vijayadashami is Tuesday 20 October 2026, because the Dashami tithi begins at 12:50 PM IST that day and covers the afternoon. The Bengal calendar places Maha Navami on 20 October and Bijoya Dashami on Wednesday 21 October, when Dashami is current in the morning until 2:11 PM IST. For those who observe the all-India Vijayadashami rituals, such as Aparajita puja or beginning new work, the Vijay Muhurat for Tuesday 20 October 2026, in local time (IST), calculated by the Drik Panchang method, is:

Being far to the east, Agartala has one of the earliest Vijay Muhurat windows in India. For Udaipur, Dharmanagar, Kailashahar or other towns, check a panchang set for that town.

Durga Puja in Agartala

Agartala's Durga Puja combines a royal heritage with the community (sarbojanin) pujas of its neighbourhoods. The Durgabari temple, associated with the former Manikya royal family of Tripura, keeps one of the state's most traditional pujas, which continues to be observed each year. Around the city, clubs and committees build pandals of every size, some with elaborate themes and lighting, and families spend the evenings of Saptami, Ashtami and Navami visiting them, eating at food stalls and meeting friends.

Pandal locations, themes, cultural programmes and timings are decided by each committee and change every year, so check local announcements for 2026. On the busiest evenings, roads are crowded and traffic is often regulated; follow official advisories.

Tripura Sundari temple, Udaipur

South of Agartala, the town of Udaipur in Gomati district is home to the Tripura Sundari temple, also known locally as Matabari. It is revered as one of the Shakti Peethas, the sacred sites associated with the body of Goddess Sati. The temple stands on a small hillock, and its traditional Bengali-style architecture with a curved roof makes it easily recognisable. Next to it lies the Kalyan Sagar lake, known for its turtles and fish, which devotees feed.

The temple is dedicated to Goddess Tripura Sundari, a form of the Divine Mother, and is among the most important pilgrimage sites in Northeast India. Devotees visit throughout the year, and the festival seasons draw particularly large numbers. For darshan timings and festival arrangements, check official sources before visiting.

The rituals of the puja days

Mahalaya and the Goddess's arrival

Mahalaya marks the beginning of Devi Paksha. Many households wake before dawn for the Mahishasuramardini radio programme with its Chandi recitation, and many offer tarpan to their ancestors at rivers and ponds.

Saptami to Navami

On Saptami, the Kolabou (Nabapatrika), a banana plant bound with other sacred plants, is bathed and installed beside the Goddess. Ashtami is the day of pushpanjali, often after a morning fast, of Kumari Puja at some pujas and of Sandhi Puja at the junction of Ashtami and Navami, with 108 lamps and 108 lotuses. Navami brings the homa, the bhog shared by devotees and dhunuchi naach to the beat of the dhak.

Bijoya Dashami

On Bijoya Dashami, married women perform the farewell rituals and Sindoor Khela, and the idol is carried in procession for immersion. Afterwards families exchange Bijoya greetings, touching the feet of elders and sharing sweets.

Beyond Agartala

Durga Puja is celebrated across Tripura, in towns such as Udaipur, Dharmanagar, Kailashahar and Belonia and in villages throughout the state. Tripura's indigenous communities have their own rich festival traditions, and the state's culture reflects both its Bengali and its tribal heritage.

For families from Tripura abroad

• Bengali and Northeast Indian associations abroad usually hold Durga Puja over the nearest weekend. Check their 2026 schedules.
• Use a panjika or panchang for your own city. Do not convert Agartala's timings into your local time zone.
• Offer pushpanjali at your local puja or at home on Ashtami, and call elders in Tripura on Bijoya Dashami for their blessings.
• Share the story of Tripura Sundari and the Shakti Peethas with children during the puja days.

For Kolkata's traditions and the full Bengal calendar, see our Durga Puja 2026 in West Bengal guide; for another great Shakti Peetha of the Northeast, see our Kamakhya temple guide.

Frequently asked questions

When is Durga Puja 2026 in Tripura?

Tripura follows the Bengal calendar for Durga Puja. According to the Drik Panchang Durga Puja calendar for Kolkata, Maha Shashthi is Saturday 17 October, Maha Saptami Sunday 18 October, Maha Ashtami Monday 19 October, Maha Navami Tuesday 20 October and Bijoya Dashami Wednesday 21 October 2026. Check your local puja committee for exact ritual timings.

When is Dussehra 2026 in Tripura?

The all-India Vijayadashami (Dussehra) is Tuesday 20 October 2026, according to Drik Panchang for India. In the Bengal calendar followed for Durga Puja in Tripura, that day is Maha Navami, and Bijoya Dashami falls on Wednesday 21 October.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Agartala on 20 October 2026?

1:04 to 1:50 PM local time (IST), calculated by the Drik Panchang method.

Why is the Tripura Sundari temple important?

The Tripura Sundari temple at Udaipur in Gomati district is revered as one of the Shakti Peethas and is among the most important temples in Northeast India. It is dedicated to Goddess Tripura Sundari, a form of the Divine Mother, and is a popular place of pilgrimage, especially during festival seasons. Check official sources for current darshan arrangements.

What is the Durgabari in Agartala?

The Durgabari is a Durga temple in Agartala associated with the former Manikya royal family of Tripura, whose Durga Puja is one of the most traditional in the state. Its rituals continue to be observed each year; check official announcements for 2026 arrangements.

Can I use Agartala's Vijay Muhurat abroad?

No. Muhurat windows depend on local sunrise and sunset, so they cannot be converted into another time zone. Use a panchang or panjika for your own city.

Editor's note

Editor's note (5 October 2026): This page has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. The Durga Puja calendar is Drik Panchang's calendar for Kolkata, the all-India dates are from Drik Panchang for India, and the Agartala Vijay Muhurat is calculated by the Drik Panchang method. We have not named individual pandals or listed timings, programmes or immersion schedules because these are announced by puja committees and the authorities each year. Temple timings change, so check official sources before visiting the Tripura Sundari temple or the Durgabari.

Related guides

• Durga Puja 2026 in West Bengal
• Dussehra 2026 in Assam
• Dussehra 2026 in Mizoram
• Dussehra 2026 in Meghalaya
• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: complete guide
• Kamakhya temple guide
• Goddess Kali: complete guide