With autumn’s white kash flowers, the rhythmic beats of dhak drums, the fragrant smoke of dhunuchi incense, and the familiar refrain “Asche bochor abar hobe” (“We’ll celebrate again next year”), Bengalis across New York and the tri-state area are preparing to embrace the spirit of Durga Puja, even thousands of miles from home. Temples and community organizations across Long Island, upstate New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are making extensive preparations for the annual Hindu festival.
In 2026, Mahalaya will fall on October 10. Although some differences may arise in festival dates depending on the traditional Bengali calendar, the main Durga Puja celebrations are scheduled for October 16–21. Maha Ashtami will be observed on October 19, Maha Navami on October 20, and Vijaya Dashami on October 21. However, considering the busy schedules of expatriate families and the availability of weekends, many organizations have scheduled their celebrations for October 10–11, October 16–18, or October 17–18.
One of this year’s major attractions in New York is Durga Puja at Times Square, where two major celebrations are planned on consecutive weekends.
The Times Square Durga Festival Association will organize a two-day celebration on October 10 and 11 along Broadway between West 46th and West 47th Streets. The program will begin at 11 a.m. on October 10 with rituals marking the start of the festivities. Events will include pushpanjali (flower offerings), Saptami and Ashtami puja rituals, prasad distribution, and cultural performances featuring local artists, including dance and music.
On October 11, the program will feature Navami and Dashami rituals, pushpanjali, prasad distribution, sindoor khela, dance performances, and cultural activities. Organizers say the event will be open to everyone.
A week later, on October 17 and 18, Bengali Club USA will host the “Third Global Times Square Durga Puja 2026” in the same area, along Broadway between West 45th and West 46th Streets. The two-day celebration will bring together members of the Bengali diaspora for religious rituals, cultural performances, and community festivities. According to promotional materials from the organizers, Odissi dancer Lisa Santanam will present “The Power of Maa Durga.”
Queens is also preparing for extensive Durga Puja celebrations. The Bangladesh Hindu Mandir in Elmhurst, one of the major religious institutions serving the Bangladeshi Hindu community, will organize its annual Durga Puja as part of its regular religious and cultural activities. Located at 94-39 44th Avenue, the temple has long served Bengali Hindu communities from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut through religious ceremonies and cultural events.
New York Hindu Temple will hold Durga Puja celebrations from October 16 through 20. Alongside the traditional rituals from Maha Shashthi through the celebrations leading up to Vijaya Dashami, the program will include sindoor khela.
The New York Puja Association is planning a three-day celebration featuring religious ceremonies, a magic show for children, musical performances, and food. Sarbojonin Puja Parishad USA and Sri Bhakta Sangha USA are also organizing separate Durga Puja events.
On Long Island, the New York Kali Temple in Baldwin will host Durga Puja from October 15 through 20. Located at 614 Seaman Avenue, the temple will observe the festival according to traditional Hindu religious customs.
The festive atmosphere is also spreading across upstate New York. In Poughkeepsie, the Bengali Cultural Association of Western New York is planning Durga Puja celebrations from October 16 through 18. At the Albany Sanatani Mandir, festivities are expected to run from October 16 through October 20 or 21, featuring rituals from Maha Shashthi through Vijaya Dashami and a sindoor khela program. Another Durga Puja celebration organized by Utsava is scheduled for October 23–25 in the Albany area.
New Jersey is also preparing for large-scale celebrations. The North Jersey Durga Puja Association will host a five-day festival in Berkeley Heights from October 16 through 20. The program will include Bodhan, the ceremonial invocation of the goddess, followed by Saptami, Ashtami, Sandhi Puja, Navami, and Vijaya Dashami rituals. Devotees will also be able to enjoy bhog, aarti, sindoor khela, and cultural performances.
Kallol of New Jersey will organize a three-day celebration in Hillsborough from October 16 through 18, featuring cultural performances by established artists.
In New Brunswick, Utsav will hold its puja and cultural festivities on October 17 and 18. The program will include anjali, traditional dance performances, an art competition for children, a fair, Bengali food, and musical events. Performers are expected to include singer Iman Chakraborty and the musical duo Soumendra-Soumyajit.
The Bengali Cultural Society of South Jersey will celebrate Durga Puja in Marlton from October 16 through 18. Alongside the religious festivities, the organization will support a charitable initiative by collecting essential supplies for children and families.
Several organizations have also scheduled celebrations for October 10 and 11. The Indian Community Center of Garden State, Princeton Bengalis Association, and Sonar Tori are among those planning events during that weekend. Their programs are expected to feature puja rituals, bhog, cultural performances, aarti, traditional dance, sindoor khela, and performances by artists from Kolkata.
Across New York, New Jersey, and the surrounding region, Durga Puja remains much more than a religious celebration. It is a cherished opportunity for Bengali families to preserve their cultural heritage, reconnect with their roots, introduce younger generations to Bengali traditions, and strengthen community bonds.
For thousands of expatriate Bengalis, the festivities offer a taste of home, bringing together devotion, music, food, art, and the shared joy of celebrating Maa Durga far from Bengal.
