One city, many pujos, countless memories
The Bengaluru Durga Puja Carnival brings the city's largest Durga Puja pandals onto a single map and a single calendar — so a family in Hebbal knows where to go on Ashtami, and a brand can reach the Bengali community in Bangalore at fifteen venues through one conversation.
Bengalis living in Bangalore now number in the lakhs, spread from Yelahanka to Electronic City, and every cluster has built its own puja. What began as a handful of association pujas in the 1970s is now a city-wide circuit: idols from Kumartuli, dhaak flown in from Bengal, bhog queues in convention halls, and a Bengali association for practically every pin code.
The carnival does not run these pujas. Each is organised by its own association, in its own way, with its own theme. What the carnival adds is the map, the calendar, the media reach and the brand partnerships that let all fifteen do more than they could alone.
Durga Puja 2026 dates
Mahalaya falls on Saturday 10 October 2026. Pandals open from Panchami on Friday 16 October, and 2026 is generous — Shashthi lands on a Saturday, so the opening stretch is a full three-day weekend of pandal hopping.
Panchami
Fri, 16 Oct
Pandals open their gates. The quietest evening of the six.
Shashthi
Sat, 17 Oct
Bodhon and unveiling. The calmest evening for photographs.
Saptami
Sun, 18 Oct
Nabapatrika snan in the morning, cultural programmes at night.
Ashtami
Mon, 19 Oct
Pushpanjali and Sandhi Puja. The busiest night, everywhere.
Navami
Tue, 20 Oct
Homa, bhog, and the biggest stage acts at most venues.
Dashami
Wed, 21 Oct
Sindoor khela, dhunuchi naach, visarjan and kolakuli.
Each association publishes its own anjali, bhog and programme timings closer to Shashthi.
The 15 iconic pujo destinations
Grouped into four hopping circuits, so you can cover a cluster in one evening instead of crossing the city twice.
South: Begur, Electronic City and Kanakapura Road
The south belt. Large grounds, generous parking, easiest traffic if you start before six.
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Begur Bengali Socio-Cultural Trust (BBSCT)
Milana Greens, 275/36/2, Mylasandra Road, Suraksha Nagar, Yelenahalli, Begur Largest by footfall -
Electronic City Cultural Association (ECCA)
White Feather Convention Centre, Hosur Road, Electronic City Indoor venue -
Kanakapura Road Bengali Association (KARBA)
Shankaraa Foundation, Doddakalsandra, Kanakapura Road Nearest to JP Nagar
South-east: Koramangala, HSR Layout and Sarjapur Road
The densest cluster on the map — four pandals within a short drive of each other.
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Sarathi Cultural Association
BBMP Ground, 6th Block, Koramangala Koramangala Durga Puja -
Sarathi Socio Cultural Trust
Kalyana Mantap Ground, Ganapathi Temple Road, 5th Block, Koramangala Ten minutes from 6th Block -
BARSHA — Bengali Association for HSR & Sarjapur
Southern Avenue Grounds, HSR Layout HSR Layout Durga Puja -
Sukriti Cultural Association
VMS Grandeur Convention Hall, Varthur–Sarjapur Road, opposite TISB School, Dommasandra Sarjapur Road
East: Whitefield, KR Puram and Indiranagar
The fastest-growing Bengali community in the city, and four pujas to show for it.
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Poorva Bangalore Cultural Association (PBCA)
KTPO, Plot No. 121, EPIP 2nd Phase, Whitefield Largest in Whitefield -
East Bengaluru Cultural Association (EBCA)
Sri Manjunatha Swamy Kalyana Mantapa, Sannatammanahalli, Katamnallur, Whitefield Traditional -
Jagriti Bangiyo Cultural Association (JBCA)
ITI Ground, beside Hanging Bridge, KR Puram Closest to the Metro -
Socio-Cultural Association, Indiranagar
Sishu Griha Senior School Ground, HAL 3rd Stage, New Thippasandra Indiranagar Durga Puja
North and central: Palace Grounds, Jayamahal, RT Nagar and Hebbal
The city's oldest Durga Puja belt, and the most walkable — two of these sit inside Palace Grounds.
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Bengaluru Durga Puja Committee (BDPC)
Grand Castle, Gate No. 6, Palace Grounds, Bellary Road, near Mekhri Circle Palace Grounds -
R. T. Nagar Sarbajanin Durga Puja Samiti
Princess Green, Gate No. 9, Palace Grounds, Bellary Road Classic sarbajanin -
Jayamahal Sarbajanin Durga Puja
Jayamahal Ladies Club Ground, adjacent to Jayamahal Park Nearest to Ulsoor -
Oikotan Hebbal Cultural Society
Beside Green Country Public School, Hebbal North Bengaluru
Plan your pandal hopping
Our full guide maps all fifteen Durga Puja pandals into four circuits, with every address, which nights to visit, and an area-wise table showing the nearest pandal to your neighbourhood — from Koramangala and Indiranagar to Whitefield, JP Nagar and Ulsoor.
Save the poster too. It works offline when the network dies outside a pandal gate.
Reach the Bengali community in Bangalore at fifteen venues
Six days, lakhs of visitors, and an audience that arrives in family groups with their evening free. One conversation covers every zone of the city.
Title sponsorship
Own a venue end to end — gate arch, main stage, backdrop, announcements and creative credit across all carnival collateral.
Stalls and sampling
Retail counters, product sampling and lead capture at one pandal or across all fifteen, with footfall that peaks on Ashtami and Navami.
Branding and media
Gate arches, hoardings, banners, LED and entry tokens, backed by print, outdoor and digital partners already on board.
Cultural night association
Present an artist evening on the main stage, with on-ground announcements and social amplification through the carnival channels.
Rate cards, venue-wise footfall and past activation decks available on request. Curated by StageSpark — igniting unforgettable moments.
For puja associations
Listing on the carnival map is free for participating associations. You keep full control of your puja — the carnival adds reach.
Listed associations appear on the official pandal list creative, the carnival website and the shared media plan, and are included in the pool for brand partnerships, with sponsorship revenue going to the association. Listings for 2026 close in September, ahead of the print and outdoor schedule.
Questions people ask
What is the Bengaluru Durga Puja Carnival?
A curated circuit of fifteen of the city's largest Durga Puja pandals, brought onto one map and one calendar. Each puja is run by its own association; the carnival provides the city-wide map, media reach and brand partnerships.
When is Durga Puja 2026 in Bangalore?
Pandals are open from Panchami on Friday 16 October 2026 to visarjan on Vijaya Dashami, Wednesday 21 October. Maha Shashthi is Saturday 17 October, and Mahalaya falls on 10 October.
Is entry free?
Yes, at all fifteen. Bhog coupons, food stalls and a few ticketed cultural nights are paid, and each association handles its own bookings.
Which pandal should I visit first?
Start with the circuit closest to home on Shashthi or Saptami, then travel across the city over the weekend. The hopping guide has an area-wise table showing the nearest pandal to every major neighbourhood.
Can non-Bengalis visit?
Every puja on this list is sarbajanin, which means public. Anyone can walk in, eat the bhog, watch the aarti and join the dhunuchi naach. Bengaluru pujos, Bengaluru people.
Carnival partners
- Bangalore Mirror — print media partner
- 4Care Truly Blessed Foundation — community impact & seva partner
- Jagadish Outdoor Media — outdoor media partner
- Reev Travels — travel partner