This Durga Puja quiz has 29 questions with answers about Goddess Durga, Mahishasura, the pandal and the five days from Shashthi to Dashami, sorted into easy, medium and hard rounds. In Bengal, Durga Puja 2026 runs from Shashthi on 17 October to Bijoya Dashami on Wednesday 21 October, so the questions suit school assemblies, pandal visits and family quiz nights.
Coming up next: Diwali, Bhai Dooj, Children's Day, Chhath Puja and Guru Nanak Jayanti
Diwali (Sunday 8 November)
Bhai Dooj (Wednesday 11 November)
- Bhai Dooj quiz and games
- Bhai Dooj drawing and coloring pages
- Bhai Dooj wishes
- Bhai Dooj rangoli designs
Children's Day (Saturday 14 November)
- Children's Day quiz
- Children's Day drawing and coloring pages
- Children's Day worksheets
- Children's Day speech
Chhath Puja (Sunday 15 November)
- Chhath Puja quiz
- Chhath Puja drawing and coloring pages
- Chhath Puja wishes
- Why Chhath Puja is celebrated
Guru Nanak Jayanti (Tuesday 24 November)
The answers follow the way Durga Puja is usually celebrated in West Bengal, and the heritage facts come from UNESCO. Some customs differ between families, neighbourhoods and states, and we point this out where it matters.
The questions are new, so they do not repeat our Dussehra quiz for kids or the Navratri quiz. Play all three for a full festival-season series.
Durga Puja quiz at a glance
Pick the rounds of this Durga Puja quiz for kids that fit your group. Little ones can stop after the easy round. Older classes can play all 29 questions in about 30 minutes.
| Round | Questions | Best for | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 1 to 9 | Ages 5 to 7 (KG to Class 2) | Durga, her family, the pandal, the dhak |
| Medium | 10 to 19 | Ages 8 to 10 (Classes 3 to 5) | Mahalaya, the puja days, Kumartuli |
| Hard | 20 to 29 | Ages 11 and up (Classes 6 to 8) | UNESCO, rituals, the story behind the festival |
The story of Durga and Mahishasura in brief
Read this summary aloud before the quiz so every child starts with the same story.
According to the Devi Mahatmya, the demon Mahishasura is believed to have won a boon that made him very hard to defeat. He could change his shape, but he is best known in the form of a buffalo. He drove the gods out of heaven. The gods, including Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, joined their powers, and from that light Goddess Durga appeared. Each god gave her a weapon, and the mountain king Himavat gave her a lion to ride. Durga fought Mahishasura and won.
In Bengal there is a second, gentler story. Durga, also called Uma, is believed to visit her parents’ home on earth each autumn with her four children: Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya. After five days she returns to her husband Shiva on Mount Kailash. That is why Bijoya Dashami feels like a happy but tearful goodbye.
Durga Puja day by day
| Day | What happens | 2026 (Bengal) |
|---|---|---|
| Mahalaya | Durga’s journey to earth is believed to begin; the Mahishasuramardini radio programme at dawn | Saturday 10 October |
| Shashthi | The goddess is welcomed (Bodhon) and her face is unveiled in many pandals | Saturday 17 October |
| Saptami | The Kola Bou is bathed and placed beside Ganesha; main pujas begin | Sunday 18 October |
| Ashtami | Anjali (flower offering), Kumari Puja in many places, Sandhi Puja | Monday 19 October |
| Navami | The last full day of worship, with a big feast (bhog) | Tuesday 20 October |
| Bijoya Dashami | Sindoor Khela, immersion of the idols, Bijoya greetings | Wednesday 21 October |
Calendars can differ by a day. Some list Shashthi on 16 October 2026, and the all-India Dussehra holiday is on Tuesday 20 October.
Easy Durga Puja quiz for kids (ages 5 to 7)
These nine questions cover what children see on a pandal visit. Accept close spellings, such as Ganesh or Ganesha.
- In which Indian state is Durga Puja the biggest festival of the year?
Answer: West Bengal - How many arms does Durga usually have in a Durga Puja idol?
Answer: Ten - What is the big decorated tent or structure that holds the idol called?
Answer: A pandal - Which large drum is played at every Durga Puja pandal?
Answer: The dhak, played by a dhaki - Mahishasura is shown coming out of which animal?
Answer: A buffalo (mahisha means buffalo) - Which goddess of wealth stands beside Durga in the pandal?
Answer: Lakshmi - Which goddess of learning, holding a veena, is part of Durga’s family?
Answer: Saraswati - Which of Durga’s children has the head of an elephant?
Answer: Ganesha - What red powder do married women put on the goddess and on each other on the last day?
Answer: Sindoor (vermilion), in a custom called Sindoor Khela
Medium round: Mahalaya to Dashami (ages 8 to 10)
The middle round follows the festival in order, from the dawn radio programme on Mahalaya to the goodbye on Dashami.
- What is the day called, about a week before the main puja, when Durga is believed to start her journey to earth?
Answer: Mahalaya - Whose famous voice recites the Mahishasuramardini on the radio at dawn on Mahalaya?
Answer: Birendra Krishna Bhadra, on All India Radio - Which of Durga’s sons rides a peacock?
Answer: Kartikeya (Kartik) - Which bird sits beside Lakshmi in the pandal?
Answer: An owl - Which bird is Saraswati’s vahana?
Answer: A swan (hansa) - On which day do the main five days of Durga Puja begin?
Answer: Shashthi, the sixth day of the bright half of the moon - What is the last day, when idols are taken for immersion, called in Bengal?
Answer: Bijoya Dashami (Vijaya Dashami) - What is the dance performed with clay pots of burning coconut husk and incense called?
Answer: Dhunuchi naach (the dhunuchi dance) - Which neighbourhood in North Kolkata is famous for its idol makers?
Answer: Kumartuli (Kumortuli), by the Hooghly river - According to UNESCO, clay from which river is used to make the idols?
Answer: The Ganga (in Kolkata, its Hooghly branch)
Hard Durga Puja quiz questions and answers (ages 11 and up)
The hard round of these Durga Puja quiz questions and answers covers rituals, art and history. It suits Classes 6 to 8 and adult teams.
- In which year did UNESCO add Durga Puja in Kolkata to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list?
Answer: 2021 - A banana plant dressed in a red-bordered sari is placed beside Ganesha on Saptami. What is it called?
Answer: Kola Bou, also called Navapatrika (Nabapatrika) - Autumn Durga Puja is called Akal Bodhon. What does this mean?
Answer: “Untimely awakening”: in the Bengali Krittivasi Ramayana, Ram is believed to have worshipped Durga out of season before fighting Ravana - Sandhi Puja takes place at the meeting point of which two days?
Answer: Ashtami and Navami - How many lotuses and lamps are traditionally offered at Sandhi Puja?
Answer: 108 lotuses and 108 lamps - What is the old style of idol called, where Durga and her four children share one single frame and backdrop?
Answer: Ek chala (“one roof” or one frame) - What name is given to pandals built around one big idea, such as a famous building, a craft or a social message?
Answer: Theme pandals - Which god is Durga’s husband, to whom she returns after Dashami?
Answer: Shiva, on Mount Kailash - Who gave Durga her lion, according to many tellings of the story?
Answer: Himavat (Himalaya), the mountain king - What do people say when they meet elders and friends after the immersion on Dashami?
Answer: “Shubho Bijoya”, often with sweets and touching elders’ feet
Pandal art and the idol makers of Kumartuli
Older children enjoy the art side of Durga Puja, and it links well to craft lessons.
Kumartuli
Kumartuli is an old neighbourhood of potters and idol makers in North Kolkata, on the banks of the Hooghly. Work starts months before the festival. Artists tie a frame of bamboo and straw, cover it with layers of river clay, let it dry, and then paint and dress the idol. Painting the goddess’s eyes is often left to a senior artist. Many families of idol makers have done this work for generations.
Durga’s family on the pandal
| Figure | Who they are | Vahana (mount) |
|---|---|---|
| Durga | The goddess, in the centre, killing Mahishasura | Lion |
| Lakshmi | Goddess of wealth, usually on Durga’s right | Owl |
| Saraswati | Goddess of learning and music, usually on Durga’s left | Swan |
| Ganesha | Remover of obstacles, beside Lakshmi, with the Kola Bou | Mouse |
| Kartikeya | God of war, beside Saraswati | Peacock |
The side positions are the common Bengal layout, but they can vary from one pandal to another.
UNESCO and Durga Puja in Kolkata
In 2021, UNESCO added Durga Puja in Kolkata to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. UNESCO describes it as a ten-day festival in which clay images of the goddess are worshipped and then immersed in the river, and it notes how the festival brings together artists, designers and people of all backgrounds.
How to run the Durga Puja quiz in class or at the pandal
This plan fits a 35 minute lesson or a quiet hour at the pandal.
- Tell the story (5 minutes). Read the summary above and show the family table.
- Make teams of four. Name them after the vahanas: Team Lion, Team Owl, Team Swan, Team Peacock.
- Play the easy round aloud (8 minutes). Teams write answers and hold them up together.
- Play the medium and hard rounds (15 minutes). Read each question twice and give 30 seconds. Offer three choices for younger players.
- Mark as you go. One point per answer; accept spellings such as Bijoya or Vijaya, Kartik or Kartikeya.
- End with drawing (5 minutes). Ask each child to draw one figure from the pandal with its vahana.
Tips: in mixed classes, present Durga Puja as a festival some classmates celebrate. Remind children to stay with an adult in crowded pandals and to keep away from the burning dhunuchi.
Printable durga puja quiz (free PDF)
Print this durga puja quiz as a quiz sheet: every question from the rounds above with a line to write the answer, and a separate answer key for the quizmaster. The durga puja quiz PDF has 4 pages and prints on US Letter or A4.
Print at 100% (actual size). Every page is black and white line art, so it copies cleanly on a school printer.
Related guides and printables
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- 10 lines on Dussehra
- Paper crafts for kids
- Online India GK quiz
- Hindu festival dates for 2027
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Sources
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Durga Puja in Kolkata (inscribed 2021)
- Drik Panchang: Durga Puja calendar 2026 and 2027 (Bengal dates)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Durga Puja; Durga
- Wikipedia: Mahisasuramardini (radio programme) and Birendra Krishna Bhadra; Kumartuli
- Outlook Traveller: reporting on the idol makers of Kumartuli
Further reading: Durga Puja in Kolkata (UNESCO) and Durga Puja (Wikipedia).
The next big festivals in eastern India are Bhai Dooj and Chhath. Find Chhath Puja wishes and Chhath Puja coloring pages to print.
Frequently asked questions
8 quick answers
When is Durga Puja in 2026?
In Bengal, Mahalaya was on Saturday 10 October 2026. The main days run from Shashthi on 17 October (some calendars say 16 October) to Bijoya Dashami on Wednesday 21 October.
When is Durga Puja in 2027?
Drik Panchang lists Shashthi on Tuesday 5 October 2027, Saptami on 6 October, Ashtami on 7 October, Navami on 8 to 9 October and Bijoya Dashami on Sunday 10 October. Mahalaya falls on 29 September (some calendars say 30 September). Check a local panjika, as dates can shift by a day.
What are some easy Durga Puja quiz questions for kids?
Try: How many arms does Durga have? (Ten). What is the decorated structure called? (A pandal). Which drum is played? (The dhak). Which animal is Mahishasura? (A buffalo).
Who are the four children of Durga on the pandal?
Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya. In Bengal they are believed to travel with their mother when she visits her parents’ home on earth.
What is Sindoor Khela?
On Bijoya Dashami, married women offer sindoor (vermilion) to the goddess and then put it on each other’s faces, before the idol is taken for immersion.
Is Durga Puja the same as Navratri?
They fall at the same time and both honour Durga. Navratri lasts nine nights; in Bengal the biggest days are the last five, from Shashthi to Dashami, celebrated as Durga Puja.
Can I use this Durga Puja quiz at a pandal or community event?
Yes. Read the Durga Puja quiz questions aloud to teams, starting with the easy round. The Durga Puja quiz for kids also works in class during the Puja holidays, and each answer sits under its question.
Can Durga Puja questions accept different spellings?
Yes. Accept close spellings such as Ganesh or Ganesha, Bijoya or Vijaya, and Kartik or Kartikeya. Give one point per answer, and read each question twice in the harder rounds.
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