Diwali in Bangladesh 2026: Kali Puja Date & Traditions

Last updated: 25 October 2026.

Quick answer: In Bangladesh, Diwali is celebrated mainly as Kali Puja (Shyama Puja) on the night of Sunday 8 November 2026. Drik Panchang gives the Nishita (midnight) time for Dhaka as 11:16 PM to 12:08 AM. Lakshmi Puja and Diwali fall on the same day, and Bhai Dooj is on Wednesday 11 November.

For Bangladesh's Hindu community, the darkest night of the year belongs to Goddess Kali. Homes are lit with diyas and candles, neighbourhood puja pandals worship the goddess through the night, and families gather for prasad and food. This guide covers the 2026 dates for Dhaka, the five days, the traditions of Shyama Puja and Deepavali, temples to contact, the holiday position and safety tips.

Kali Puja 2026 date and Nishita time in Bangladesh

Source: Drik Panchang Bengal Kali Puja 2026 for Dhaka. Times in Chattogram, Sylhet, Khulna or Rajshahi differ by a few minutes; follow your pandal or family priest. Do not use Indian (IST) times, which are 30 minutes behind Bangladesh time.

Diwali 2026 five days in Bangladesh

Source: Drik Panchang's 2026 Diwali calendar for Dhaka. Drik lists Diwali Snan and Diwali Devpuja on Monday 9 November, the day Amavasya ends. Bengali families keep Bhai Phonta by their own panjika; see our Bhai Dooj 2026 guide.

Significance of Kali Puja and Diwali in Bangladesh

Kali is worshipped as the fierce form of the Divine Mother who destroys evil and protects her devotees. As traditionally told, she appeared to defeat demons that the gods could not overcome, and her dark form stands for the power that ends ignorance and fear. On the new moon of Kartik, Bengali Hindus invite her blessing for courage and protection; these are traditional beliefs about the goddess, not promises.

Lamps lit on the same night carry the wider Diwali meaning of light over darkness. Read more in our Kali Puja 2026 guide, which has Nishita times for Indian and overseas cities.

How Hindus in Bangladesh celebrate

1. Puja pandals: community committees set up Kali images in pandals and temples, with puja continuing late into the night.
2. Diyas and candles: homes, balconies and courtyards are lit with clay lamps and candles.
3. Offerings: flowers, sweets, fruit and lamps are offered to the goddess; customs differ by family and community.
4. Prasad and food: families share prasad and festive meals with relatives and neighbours.
5. Visiting pandals: many people go from pandal to pandal with family and friends to see the images and decorations.
6. Bhai Phonta: a few days later, sisters put a phonta (mark) on their brothers' foreheads and pray for their wellbeing.

Temples and places to check

These are well-known places of worship in Dhaka. We have not found published 2026 Kali Puja schedules, so contact each temple committee for timings and visitor guidance.

• Dhakeshwari National Temple, Dhaka: the national temple of Bangladesh.
• Ramna Kali Mandir, Dhaka: a Kali temple in the Ramna area.
• Siddheshwari Kali Temple, Dhaka: a Kali temple in the Siddheshwari area.

Outside Dhaka, families celebrate at local temples and neighbourhood pandals in Chattogram, Sylhet, Khulna, Barishal, Rajshahi and other districts.

Kali Puja holiday status in 2026

According to Prothom Alo, the Ministry of Public Administration issued the 2026 holiday notification on 9 November 2025. The report lists nine optional holidays for Hindu festivals among the year's optional days, and says employees may take up to three days of optional leave a year according to their own religion. It does not name Shyama Puja, and we could not open the official notice, so check with your office or the ministry's notice before you plan leave.

Safety tips for Kali Puja night

• Keep diyas and candles away from curtains, clothing, pandal cloth and children, and never leave them unattended.
• Keep a bucket of water nearby, and let only adults handle any fireworks.
• Follow instructions from pandal organisers and local police on crowds, traffic and sound.
• Agree a meeting point with children when visiting crowded pandals at night.
• If you stay up for the Nishita puja, eat and drink enough, especially elders and anyone unwell.

For detailed advice, read our Diwali cracker safety guide.

Frequently asked questions

When is Kali Puja 2026 in Bangladesh?

Kali Puja (Shyama Puja) is on the night of Sunday 8 November 2026 in Bangladesh, per Drik Panchang for Dhaka. The Nishita time is 11:16 PM to 12:08 AM (early on 9 November), Bangladesh time.

Is Diwali on the same day as Kali Puja in Bangladesh?

Yes, in 2026. Drik Panchang lists Lakshmi Puja (Diwali) and Kali Puja together on Sunday 8 November for Dhaka. Kali Puja is fixed on the night when Amavasya covers midnight, and Diwali on the evening when it covers Pradosh; this year both fall on 8 November.

What time does Amavasya start in Dhaka?

Amavasya begins at 11:57 AM on Sunday 8 November 2026 and ends at 1:01 PM on Monday 9 November, Bangladesh time (UTC+6), per Drik Panchang.

Is Kali Puja a public holiday in Bangladesh in 2026?

We could not confirm it. Prothom Alo reports that the Ministry of Public Administration notification of 9 November 2025 sets the 2026 holidays and includes nine optional days for Hindu festivals, but the report does not name Shyama Puja. Check the official notice or ask your employer.

Why do Bengali Hindus worship Kali instead of Lakshmi on Diwali night?

In Bengal, Assam and Odisha, the new moon of Diwali is traditionally the night of Goddess Kali, while Lakshmi is worshipped earlier on the full moon of Ashwin (Kojagari Lakshmi Puja). Many families also light lamps for Lakshmi on Diwali.

When is Bhai Phonta 2026?

Drik Panchang's Dhaka calendar lists Bhai Dooj (Yama Dwitiya) on Wednesday 11 November 2026. Bengali families keep Bhai Phonta by their own panjika, so follow your family calendar.

Which temples in Dhaka celebrate Kali Puja?

Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ramna Kali Mandir and Siddheshwari Kali Temple are among the places Dhaka families visit. We have not found published 2026 schedules, so contact the temple committee for timings.

More questions

• What is Shyama Puja? Another name for Kali Puja, after Shyama, the dark-complexioned form of the goddess.
• Is Dhanteras on 6 November in Bangladesh? Yes, Drik Panchang lists Dhanteras on Friday 6 November 2026 for Dhaka.
• Is Govardhan Puja on 10 November in Bangladesh? Yes, Drik lists Govardhan Puja and Annakut on Tuesday 10 November 2026 for Dhaka.
• Can visitors attend a Kali Puja pandal? Many pandals welcome visitors who are respectful: dress modestly, remove shoes where asked and ask before taking photos.
• Where can I read about other Hindu festivals in Bangladesh? See our guides to Holi (Dol Purnima) 2026 in Bangladesh and Dussehra 2026 in Bangladesh.

Editor's note

Editor's note (25 October 2026): Dates and times are from Drik Panchang for Dhaka, fetched on 25 October 2026. Holiday information is from a Prothom Alo report of the government notification; we could not open the official notice. Temple names are given as places to contact, not as confirmed 2026 events. Stories and beliefs are described as traditionally told.

Sources: Drik Panchang: Bengal Kali Puja 2026, Dhaka; Drik Panchang: 2026 Diwali calendar, Dhaka; Prothom Alo: 2026 government holidays.

Also read: Diwali celebrations around the world 2026: how 30 countries celebrate

Related guides

• Also read: Kali Puja 2026: Nishita times by city
• Also read: Diwali 2026: complete five-day guide
• Also read: Diwali celebrations in Pakistan 2026
• Also read: Bhai Dooj 2026: date, tilak muhurat and rituals