A 700-verse story of Durga. How did it become a ₹32,377-crore festival?
Every Navratri, the Durga Saptashati is read aloud: 700 verses in 13 chapters. In West Bengal alone, the Durga Puja built around that story was valued at ₹32,377 crore in a 2019 study.
- The Durga Saptashati tells the story of Durga in 700 verses across 13 chapters. It is read during Navratri 1.
- Navratri 2026 runs 11 to 19 October. Each of the nine nights honours one form of the Goddess, and Dussehra follows on 20 October 2,3.
- A 2019 study valued the creative industries around Durga Puja in West Bengal at ₹32,377 crore, or 2.58% of the state's GDP 4.
- UNESCO lists two Navratri traditions as world heritage: Durga Puja in Kolkata (2021) and Garba of Gujarat (2023) 5.
Seven hundred verses, one book
The text is also called the Devi Mahatmya. Its other name, Saptashati, means "seven hundred" 1. It forms chapters 81 to 93 of the Markandeya Purana, an old Sanskrit text 1.
At its heart is a battle. Durga fights Mahishasura, the buffalo demon, and wins 1. The tenth day, Vijayadashami or Dussehra, marks that victory 3.
It is old. A temple inscription dated 608 CE already quotes it 1. That is more than 1,400 years ago (our maths).
Nine nights, nine forms
- Sun 11 OctDay 1 · Shailaputri · Ghatasthapana
- Mon 12 OctDay 2 · Brahmacharini
- Tue 13 OctDay 3 · Chandraghanta
- Wed 14 OctDay 4 · Kushmanda
- Thu 15 OctDay 5 · Skandamata
- Fri 16 OctDay 6 · Katyayani
- Sat 17 OctDay 7 · Kalaratri
- Sun 18 OctDay 8 · Mahagauri · Durga Ashtami
- Mon 19 OctDay 9 · Siddhidatri · Maha Navami
- Tue 20 OctVijayadashami · Dussehra
The twist: the story became an economy
In 2019, the West Bengal government asked the British Council to map the creative economy around Durga Puja 4. The study covered ten creative industries, from pandal art to lighting 4. It put their value at ₹32,377 crore, equal to 2.58% of the state's GDP, from a festival of about a week 4.
| Area | ₹ crore |
|---|---|
| Installation, art and decoration | ₹860 cr |
| Literature and publications | ₹270 cr |
| Lighting and illumination | ₹205 cr |
Source: British Council study, as reported by Travel Trends Today 6
Two traditions on the world's list
| Tradition | Place | Year listed |
|---|---|---|
| Durga Puja | Kolkata, West Bengal | 2021 |
| Garba | Gujarat | 2023 |
Source: PIB, Intangible Cultural Heritage of India 5
The list is UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list 5. Garba is danced across Gujarat for the nine nights of Navratri 7.
Why it matters
- For families: the dates above tell you when Ashtami, Navami and Dussehra fall this year.
- For artisans: pandal art, lighting and printing are real livelihoods, not only decoration 4,6.
- For you: a festival you grew up with is also a big creative economy, worth more than many people guess.
Send them this. Or send the nine dates to the family group before Ashtami.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Devi Mahatmya, accessed 14 Oct 2026
- Business Today, Navratri 2026: full calendar, Durga Ashtami, Maha Navami, Dussehra dates, 11 Oct 2026
- Rampuri, Happy Navratri: the nine nights of Navratri 2026, Oct 2026
- British Council, Mapping the creative economy around Durga Puja, 2019 study
- PIB, Intangible Cultural Heritage of India, Jul 2024
- Travel Trends Today, Durga Puja as a driver of tourism in West Bengal, 2024
- Saathee, Garba of Gujarat inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List, Dec 2023
How we did this. Every number links to its source. Where sources disagree, we leave the number out and say so. When we work out a number ourselves, we say "our maths". Festival dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar and can differ slightly by city. Check your local panchang for puja timings.