Durga Puja season has officially begun in Mumbai, and Kajol is, as always, at the centre of it. The actor shared a set of photos and a video from the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja on Thursday, October 15, posing with her mother Tanuja, her sister Tanishaa Mukerji and her cousin, filmmaker Ayan Mukerji. In the video, she dances and showers flowers as the family unveils this year's idol.
Her caption set the tone: "Today was all about #Maa in all her forms .. as a mother, as a daughter, as a protector and as a Goddess! #jaimaadurga and the madness begins."
Inside Kajol's first day at the pandal
Times Now reported that Kajol gave her mother a kiss on the head in the first photo, as she and Tanishaa posed on either side of Tanuja. Kajol wore a dual-tone gold fusion saree with a red blouse, left her hair open and kept her make-up minimal.
Moneycontrol described the rest of the family's looks. Tanishaa wore a sheer blue-and-pink floral saree with a sleeveless pink blouse. Tanuja chose a lavender printed saree with a light purple shawl. Ayan was in a classic white kurta, and Sharbani Mukherjee wore bright pink with an embroidered gold dupatta. Samrat Mukherjee also appeared in the family photo.
Twinkle Khanna and Tahira Kashyap were among those who left heart emojis under the post, according to Times Now.
The 80th year of the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja
This is a milestone year for the pandal. The North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja was set up in 1948, and 2026 marks its 80th edition, according to a press note covered by Bollyy. It is held at the SNDT campus on Juhu Tara Road in Santacruz (West), and the Mukherjee family has been closely tied to it since the start.
This year's pandal recreates the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple in Kerala. The Durga idol was made by artisans brought in from Kolkata, and, in a long-running North Bombay tradition, it is forklifted into position. Bhog, including khichuri and chholar dal, is served in an air-conditioned hall.
The family has also had losses to remember. The press note says the 80th edition carries extra emotion after the deaths of several longtime members of the Puja family. Times Now also notes that the Mukerjis lost Kajol's uncle, actor Deb Mukherjee, in March 2025. He was closely associated with the celebrations for many years.
The full puja schedule
According to the Free Press Journal, the puja runs from October 16 to 21:
Friday, October 16 (Maha Shashthi): Shashthi Puja at 9 am, Amantran and Bodhan at 7 pm, and Sandhya Aarti at 8 pm.
Saturday, October 17 (Maha Saptami): Saptami Puja, Nabapatrika, Pushpanjali at 10:30 am and bhog at 12:30 pm.
Sunday, October 18 and Monday, October 19 (Maha Ashtami): Ashtami Puja and Pushpanjali, with Sandhi Puja at 7:26 am on October 19.
Tuesday, October 20 (Navami): Navami Puja, Pushpanjali and the Navami Havan.
Wednesday, October 21 (Dashami): Dashami Puja, Sindoor Utsav at 1 pm and Visarjan at 4:30 pm.
Tanishaa, speaking for the family, has invited devotees and the media to come for darshan and bhog, but asked people not to form crowds. "Respect to our fellow-devotees should not be compromised. They have as much a right to be in Maa's midst as we have," she told the Free Press Journal.
Why Kajol's puja photos go viral every year
Few Bollywood traditions are as reliable as Kajol at the Mukherjee family pandal. Every year, photos and videos of her at the pandal, greeting guests and joining the rituals, trend across social media. Her cousin Rani Mukerji and other members of the extended Mukherjee family are also regular faces at the puja, and many film and TV stars visit through the week.
The festive buzz also extends to Kajol's family at home. Husband Ajay Devgn has had a big October at the box office, as we reported in "Drishyam 3 Box Office Day 6: Ajay Devgn's Film Crosses Rs 365 Crore Worldwide and Enters 2026's Top Four Hindi Grossers."
On the work front, Times Now reports that Kajol will next be seen in Maharagni: Queen of Queens, directed by Charan Tej Uppalapati and co-starring Prabhu Deva and Naseeruddin Shah.
FAQ
Where does Kajol celebrate Durga Puja?
At the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja on the SNDT campus, Juhu Tara Road, Santacruz (West), Mumbai.
Who joined Kajol at the pandal this year?
Her mother Tanuja, sister Tanishaa Mukerji and cousin Ayan Mukerji, among other family members.
What is the theme of the pandal in 2026?
It recreates the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple in Kerala, for the puja's 80th edition.
When is Sindoor Utsav at North Bombay Sarbojanin?
On Dashami, Wednesday, October 21, at 1 pm, followed by Visarjan at 4:30 pm, per the Free Press Journal.
Cover photo: Bollywood Hungama / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0