Dhanteras 2026 in Comilla: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

TL;DR

• 📅 Dhanteras 2026 falls on November 6 in Comilla, opening the Diwali festival season.
• 🛕 Comilla has a substantial temple presence: Comilla Jagannath Temple, Comilla Jagannath Temple (Sateroratna Mandir), Lalmai Chandi Temple (Chandimura Mandir), and Shyamamayee Kali Mandir are the primary sites.
• The full Diwali cluster runs November 6–11: Dhanteras 2026 on Nov 6, Diwali 2026 on Nov 8, and Bhai Dooj 2026 on Nov 11.
• Chhath Puja 2026 follows on November 15.
• The November–December calendar is the densest festival stretch of the year, with monthly fasts and major observances running back to back.

Dhanteras and the Diwali Season in Comilla

Dhanteras 2026 falls on November 6, marking the start of the Diwali cluster. In the Dhanteras tradition, the day is associated with Dhanvantari, the deity of Ayurveda, and with the purchase of gold, silver, or new utensils as an auspicious act of welcoming prosperity. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is also specifically invoked on this evening. For households in Comilla, the puja on Dhanteras evening sets the tone for the four days that follow: diyas are lit, Lakshmi puja materials are prepared, and the household transitions into the festival mode that continues through Diwali 2026 on November 8 and Bhai Dooj 2026 on November 11.

Comilla district, located in southeastern Bangladesh, is one of the country's significant centers of Hindu religious practice. The district has a long history of temple construction and religious institution-building. Major temples from different periods and traditions are present across the Sador Upazila, Barura Upazila, and the Lalmai hill area, providing organized puja programs for both local residents and pilgrims who travel into the district for major observances.

The week from Dhanteras 2026 through Chhath Puja 2026 (November 15) is the busiest nine-day period of the festival year for Hindu communities in Comilla, compressing Dhanteras, Pradosh Vrat, Diwali, Amavasya, Bhai Dooj, and Chhath into a single continuous stretch.

The Temples of Comilla: Where Dhanteras and Diwali Are Observed

Comilla's temple infrastructure is among the most varied in the region. Each major temple serves a distinct devotional tradition and draws different sections of the community for Dhanteras and Diwali observances.

Comilla Jagannath Temple, located in Jagannathpur village, Sador Upazila, Comilla, is the district's primary Vaishnava temple. The presiding deity, Lord Jagannath — a form of Vishnu and Krishna — draws significant devotion from families with Vaishnava traditions. During Diwali season, the temple conducts extended aartis and puja programs that begin on Dhanteras and continue through Bhai Dooj.

Comilla Jagannath Temple (Sateroratna Mandir), at Jagannathpur, Sador Upazila, Comilla District, Bangladesh, is noted for its Sateroratna (seventeen-spired) architectural form. This style, specific to the Bengal region's terracotta temple tradition, distinguishes the Sateroratna Mandir as a heritage structure. The temple draws devotees not only from Comilla city but from the broader district and beyond during major festivals. Its architectural significance also brings visitors with an interest in the built heritage of the region.

Lalmai Chandi Temple (Chandimura Mandir), at Lalmai-Barura Road, Barura Upazila, Cumilla 3500, Bangladesh, is situated in the Lalmai hill range. Dedicated to Chandi, a fierce form of Devi, the temple is significant within Shakta traditions. The connection between Diwali — particularly the Amavasya night of November 9 — and Kali-Chandi worship is strong in the Bengal-influenced religious culture of Comilla. This temple sees heightened activity during the Diwali cluster.

Shyamamayee Kali Mandir, located near Kabi Nazrul Mahavidyalaya, is the primary Kali temple in Comilla for the Diwali night Kali puja. For Shakta households in the district, Amavasya on November 9 is the night of Kali puja, and Shyamamayee Kali Mandir is the central venue for this observance.

Lalmai Chandi Temple, separately listed among the Lalmai hills area sites, is another presence in the area associated with the Chandi tradition and the district's Shakta pilgrimage circuit.

The November–December 2026 Festival Calendar for Comilla

The complete schedule from November through December 2026:

November 2026: Ekadashi (Nov 5), Dhanteras 2026 (Nov 6), Pradosh Vrat (Nov 7), Diwali 2026 (Nov 8), Amavasya (Nov 9), Bhai Dooj 2026 (Nov 11), Chhath Puja 2026 (Nov 15), Ekadashi (Nov 21), Pradosh Vrat (Nov 22), Purnima (Nov 24), Sankashti Chaturthi (Nov 28).

December 2026: Ekadashi (Dec 4), Pradosh Vrat (Dec 6), Amavasya (Dec 8), Amavasya (Dec 9), Ekadashi (Dec 20), Pradosh Vrat (Dec 22), Purnima (Dec 24), Sankashti Chaturthi (Dec 27).

January 2027: Ekadashi (Jan 3).

The December calendar shows a notable double entry for Amavasya on December 8 and December 9 — this reflects a tithi transition crossing midnight, which can affect the timing of specific puja observances. For monthly fasting commitments, the December Amavasya should be confirmed through a local panchang for the correct observance date in Comilla.

Chhath Puja Following Diwali

Chhath Puja 2026 falls on November 15, one week after Diwali 2026. Although the festival originated with communities from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, it is observed in Comilla by communities with those regional connections. The four-day sequence — Nahay Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya, Usha Arghya — requires access to a clean, open water body.

Community groups in Comilla coordinate ghat arrangements on the Gumti River and other accessible water bodies for the arghya rituals. The main arghya moments are the sunset offering on November 15 and the sunrise offering on November 16. Families observing Chhath Puja in Comilla should connect with local samiti organizers well in advance of November 13 (Nahay Khay), as ghat preparation begins several days before the main ritual dates.

Insider Tip: Diwali night at Shyamamayee Kali Mandir draws a substantially larger crowd than the Dhanteras evening. If you want to attend puja at Shyamamayee Kali Mandir on the Amavasya (November 9) without the peak crowd, the afternoon session is considerably quieter than the evening. Comilla Jagannath Temple (Sateroratna Mandir) similarly attracts visitors from outside Comilla city on Diwali day — morning darshan is the better choice if a more focused visit is the priority.

FAQ

When is Dhanteras 2026 in Comilla? Dhanteras 2026 falls on November 6 in Comilla.

Which is the most significant heritage temple in Comilla for Diwali? Comilla Jagannath Temple (Sateroratna Mandir) at Jagannathpur, Sador Upazila, is the most architecturally significant temple in the district. Lalmai Chandi Temple (Chandimura Mandir) in Barura Upazila is the principal Shakta site.

Where is Kali Puja held in Comilla? Shyamamayee Kali Mandir, near Kabi Nazrul Mahavidyalaya, is Comilla's primary Kali temple. The Diwali night Kali puja on Amavasya (November 9) is the main annual observance there.

When is Diwali 2026 in Comilla? Diwali 2026 falls on November 8 in Comilla.

What is Bhai Dooj and when does it fall in 2026? Bhai Dooj 2026 is on November 11 in Comilla. Observed two days after Diwali, it marks the bond between siblings through a tilak ceremony in which sisters apply tilak to their brothers and offer prayers for their long life.

Bottom Line

Dhanteras 2026 on November 6 opens the most concentrated stretch of the Hindu festival year in Comilla. The district's temple infrastructure — including Comilla Jagannath Temple, Comilla Jagannath Temple (Sateroratna Mandir), Lalmai Chandi Temple (Chandimura Mandir), and Shyamamayee Kali Mandir — provides organized venues for each phase of the Diwali cluster. From Dhanteras through Chhath Puja 2026 on November 15, nine days carry multiple overlapping puja programs. Plan temple visits early, confirm Amavasya dates for December with a local panchang, and coordinate with Chhath samitis ahead of November 13.