- Pujo 2026 runs from Maha Shashthi (17 Oct) to Bijoya Dashami (21 Oct) in Bengal; Vijayadashami falls on 20 Oct elsewhere.
- 22K gold was ₹1,36,750 per 10 g on 5 Oct 2026, so one 20 g festive necklace costs about ₹3.1–3.4 lakh.
- Five gold-plated looks from Tanishka Jewels cost ₹6,095 in total (imitation jewellery, not real gold).
- A 6-month colour guarantee and tiered buyback back every piece.
Dhak drums start before you are fully awake. Dhunuchi smoke curls past the pandal gate, and somewhere a mother is fastening her gold chik for Anjali. Every year the same question returns: what will I wear today?
What is Durga Puja, and how is it different from Navratri and Dussehra?
Durga Puja is the autumn festival celebrating Goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura, the triumph of Shakti (feminine power) over evil (Britannica). UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list inscribed “Durga Puja in Kolkata” in December 2021.
| Festival | What it marks | Strongest in | 2026 dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durga Puja | Durga’s victory over Mahishasura | West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Odisha | Shashthi 17 Oct to Bijoya Dashami 21 Oct (Bengal panchang) |
| Navratri | Nine nights of the Goddess; Garba and Golu | Gujarat, Maharashtra, South India | Ghatasthapana 11 Oct onwards |
| Dussehra (Vijayadashami) | Rama’s victory over Ravana (Britannica) | North India, Karnataka, Himachal | 20 Oct (confirm local tithi on Drik Panchang) |
How is Durga Puja celebrated across India?
In Bengal, Assam, Tripura and Odisha it means pandal-hopping, Ashtami Pushpanjali, dhunuchi dance and, on Dashami, Sindoor Khela, when married women offer vermilion to the Goddess and to each other, traditionally in a red-bordered white lal-paar saree with shakha-pola bangles. The same days look different elsewhere:
| Region | What happens | Jewellery note |
|---|---|---|
| Gujarat and Mumbai | Nine nights of Garba and Dandiya | Light, secure pieces for dancing (Mumbai) |
| Karnataka | Mysuru Dasara, the state festival, with the Jamboo Savari procession | Silk-saree sets (Bengaluru) |
| Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, MP | Ramlila and Ravan Dahan | Family-visit sets (Patna) |
| Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Telangana | Golu displays, Ayudha Puja, Bathukamma | Temple-style necklaces |
| Eastern India | Pujo in Kolkata, Asansol and Bhubaneswar | Kolkata, Asansol, Bhubaneswar |
Why is gold jewellery part of every Durga Puja look?
Gold has long been stridhan, a woman’s own wealth, passed from mother to daughter, so wearing it on Pujo feels like wearing family history. The Goddess herself is adorned in gold-coloured ornaments, and women dress to match her for Anjali. Bengali jewellery has its own vocabulary:
| Bengali name | What it is | Gold-plated equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Sitahar | Long, layered necklace | Rani Haar |
| Chik | Close-fitting choker | Short necklaces |
| Kaan pasha | Statement ear ornament | Jhumkas and danglers |
| Mantasha | Wide bangle or cuff | Bangles |
| Tikli | Maang tikka on the parting | Maang Tikka |
Why does buying gold for Pujo feel out of reach in 2026?
A single festive gold necklace now costs about ₹3.1–3.4 lakh. 22K gold was ₹1,36,750 per 10 g on 5 October 2026 (Candere, cross-checked with IBJA), and Reuters (19 October 2025) reported that local gold prices had risen more than 60% in a year, with jewellery demand down nearly 30% at Dhanteras 2025 according to IBJA’s Surendra Mehta.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| 20 g necklace in 22K gold (20 g × ₹13,675) | ₹2,73,500 |
| Making charges (10–20%, per Reuters) | ₹27,350–₹54,700 |
| GST (3%) | about ₹9,000–10,000 |
| Total | about ₹3.1–3.4 lakh |
| Bridal Necklace, Wide 2.5 Layer (Tanishka Jewels) | ₹1,199, about 0.4% of the gold metal value alone |
What did the Apta leaf always teach us about “gold”?
In Maharashtra, people exchange Apta leaves on Dussehra and call them sona, gold. The tradition already knew that the meaning lives in the gesture, not the gram. Every woman deserves to shine at Pujo, and the festival does not check your bank balance.
What is gold-plated jewellery, and is it good enough for Durga Puja?
Tanishka Jewels sells micro gold-plated (imitation) jewellery: 2–3 microns of multi-layer gold plating over a nickel-free copper-alloy base. It is not real gold. Each piece is designed in CAD to the proportions of fine gold jewellery, finished by hand and quality-checked before packing. Real gold is heritage; gold-plated is adornment you can change every day.
| Real 22K gold | Tanishka gold-plated | |
|---|---|---|
| Price of a festive necklace | About ₹3.1–3.4 lakh (20 g) | ₹949–₹1,799 |
| Look | Gold | Designed to look like fine gold |
| Best for | Heirloom pieces kept in the locker | A new look each Pujo day, crowds and travel |
| After-sale promise | Varies by jeweller | 6-month colour guarantee and tiered buyback |
How do I create five Durga Puja looks on one budget?
Pick one hero piece per day and let the saree do the rest: all five looks below cost ₹6,095 in total, less than the making charges on one gold necklace.
| Day and ritual | Tanishka piece | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Shashthi, 17 Oct Bodhon: the Goddess is awakened |
Designer Gold-Plated Necklace with AD stone | ₹1,099 |
| Saptami, 18 Oct Pandal-hopping: go light |
Jhumka -Tradition with Style | ₹799 |
| Ashtami, 19 Oct Pushpanjali and Anjali: the grand look |
Rani Har Royal design | ₹1,799 |
| Navami, 20 Oct Bhog and adda |
3-Layer Gold Plated Floral Necklace | ₹1,199 |
| Dashami, 21 Oct Sindoor Khela |
Bridal Gold Bangle | ₹1,199 |
| Total | ₹6,095 |
For Dashami, wear the bangles beside your shakha-pola. Want a matched set instead? Browse combo sets, or shop pieces under ₹499.
Is it safe to wear jewellery for pandal hopping?
Gold-plated jewellery lowers the stakes in a crowd. Tanishka Jewels does not cover loss or theft, but a ₹1,199 necklace lost in a pandal is an inconvenience, not a heartbreak. Step 1: leave heirloom gold at home. Step 2: wear one statement piece, not three. Step 3: check clasps and hooks before you leave. Step 4: carry a small cross-body bag with a spare pair of earrings.
What guarantee and buyback do you get with Tanishka Jewels?
| Promise | Terms |
|---|---|
| 6-month colour guarantee | If the gold colour fades within 6 months, WhatsApp a photo to +91 81428 45928. A free replacement is dispatched within 48 hours, with no return shipping and no form. |
| Not covered | Bending or breaking, loss or theft, and damage from chemicals, perfume or chlorine |
| Buyback | 50% of the purchase price within 6 months; 35% at 6–12 months; minimum ₹100 after that (cash/UPI or store credit) |
To keep the finish bright, put jewellery on after perfume and sindoor, wipe it with a soft cloth after dhunuchi smoke or dancing, and store it in a pouch (full care guide). Cash on Delivery is available across India.
Frequently asked questions
Shine, smile and joy: that is what the Goddess blesses, and it never depended on grams. Asche bochor abar hobe, it will happen again next year, and you can be ready for every day of it.
Dress for all five days of Pujo
Not sure which necklace suits your saree? Send us a photo on WhatsApp and we will suggest a look. Pieces start at ₹499 with Cash on Delivery across India.
Deepa founded Tanishka Jewels to bring the look of fine gold to the modern woman: jewellery designed with a fashion-first eye, finished by hand and made to be worn, loved and remembered. Connect on LinkedIn →
