A place with a rich cultural heritage, West Bengal is known to have colorful festivals that are a blend of religion, art, and social unity. There is a plethora of such celebrations that lie ahead in the year 2025 and each has a different view into the traditions and the artistic expressions of this state. This is a list of all cultural festivals in West Bengal in 2025.
Key Festivals of 2025
1. Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year) – April 15
Each year, the first day of the Bengali calendar- Poila Boishakh is celebrated in the entire state with a lot of passion and enthusiasm. People purchase new clothes, prepare national dishes and visit the temples to receive blessings of a successful year. Cultural programs and fairs also characterize the day; particularly in Kolkata.
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2. Basanti Durga Puja – April 3–6
Basanti Durga Puja is a festival conducted during the spring; in particular, Kolkata in the spring. Unlike Durga Puja, Basanti Durga Puja is conducted mostly in the fall. It hosts a small-scale variant of the big Durga Puja festivals with beautifully decorated idols, traditional dhunuchi dances and cultural shows.
3. Durga Puja – September 21 to October 2
Durga Puja, the biggest festival in West Bengal, is celebrated with a lot of fervor and grandeur. The events include social feasts, festivals, beautifully crafted idols, and large pandals (pop-up temples). When the festival ends it is the time of immersion of the idols, and it is the manifestation of the goddess returning to her celestial residence.
4. Lakshmi Puja – October 6
Held almost twenty days after Durga Puja, Lakshmi Puja is a celebration of Goddess Lakshmi, the wealth and prosperity goddess. The houses are illuminated using diyas (oil lamps) and offerings are given to welcome good auras and peace.
5. Kali Puja – October 6
On the same day as Lakshmi Puja, Kali Puja that celebrates Goddess Kali is held. Night rituals, chanting of mantras, and hibiscus flower, sweet, rice and lentil offering are part of the festival. Animal sacrifices are also carried out in other regions but the number of animal sacrifices has highly decreased in recent years.
6. Jagadhhatri Puja – October 31
Jagadhhatri Puja is also another very important festival that is celebrated in Chandannagar town particularly. It has splendid parades, painted idols, plays, which are characteristic of the high culture of the town.
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7. Saraswati Puja – January 29
Saraswati Puja is in honor of Goddess Saraswati the goddess of knowledge and arts. Students put their books and musical instruments before the goddess and ask to be blessed with wisdom and success. There are also cultural programs in various learning institutions on the day.
8. Id-ul-Fitr – March 31
The Muslim people of West Bengal celebrate Id-ul-Fitr which is the end of Ramadan. The day opens with special prayers in the mosques and then feasts and charity to the needy.
9. Buddha Purnima – May 12
Buddha Purnima is celebrated on the anniversary of the birth, enlightenment and death of Lord Buddha. The festival is commemorated by prayer, meditation and a talk about the Buddhist teaching.
10. Guru Purnima – July 10
Guru purnima is a day and time to celebrate spiritual and academic teachers. The common people pray before their gurus and beg them to bless them because they are the ones who bring the wisdom and knowledge.
Cultural Festivals and Events
Fest5 International Film Festival – September 5–8
FEST5 International Film Festival (F5IFF25) will start on 5 September 2025 in the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) Auditorium, Salt Lake, Kolkata. The four day festival will include films concerning critical world challenges such as the environment, climate change and human dignity. It is a cinema event that aims to create awareness and attention to some of the most dangerous and grave adversities afflicting the planet, through provocation and artistic performance.
Read also: Navratri Nights and Garba Dance Celebrations in Mumbai
Experiencing the Festivals
These celebrations are a nice way to get carried away by the colorful cultural mosaic of West Bengal. With two artistic events - Durga Puja and religious events of Saraswati and Lakshmi Puja we can extract a hint of the traditions and values of the state. The festivals are open to the tourists as well as the locals and are an expression of the welcoming nature, open-mindedness and social groupness inherent in the cultural ethos of West Bengal.
Summary of Major Festivals in 2025
| Festival | Date(s) | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Poila Boishakh | April 15 | Bengali New Year |
| Basanti Durga Puja | April 3–6 | Spring Durga Puja |
| Durga Puja | September 21–October 2 | Major religious and cultural festival |
| Lakshmi Puja | October 6 | Worship of Goddess Lakshmi |
| Kali Puja | October 6 | Worship of Goddess Kali |
| Jagadhhatri Puja | October 31 | Worship of Goddess Jagadhhatri |
| Saraswati Puja | January 29 | Worship of Goddess Saraswati |
| Id-ul-Fitr | March 31 | Islamic festival marking end of Ramadan |
| Buddha Purnima | May 12 | Commemoration of Lord Buddha |
| Guru Purnima | July 10 | Honoring of teachers |
Conclusion
We can have a glimpse of the cultures, arts and harmony of the state in the cultural festivals in West Bengal in 2025. There is no single festival as the Poila Boishakh is a festival of all the various cultural pieces which constitute West Bengal. Attending these festivals, somebody can better understand the culture of the state, its beautiful soul.
