Durga Ashtami is the eighth day of Sharad Navratri, in the bright fortnight of Ashwin. It is the day of Mahagauri, the eighth of the nine Durgas, and for most households in the north the day of Kanya Pujan, when small girls of the neighbourhood are invited in, worshipped as the goddess and fed. Those who have fasted for eight days end the fast after it.
The story
The Devi Mahatmya tells how the gods, driven out of heaven by the buffalo demon Mahishasura, joined their energies into a single goddess and armed her with their weapons. She fought him for nine nights. From her brow on the eighth day sprang Kali, who destroyed the demons Chanda and Munda.
The girls who are worshipped stand for the goddess before any power has been given to her or taken from her: the kumari, complete in herself.
जयन्ती मङ्गला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनी । दुर्गा क्षमा शिवा धात्री स्वाहा स्वधा नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Jayanti, Mangala, Kali, Bhadrakali, Kapalini, Durga, Kshama, Shiva, Dhatri, Svaha, Svadha: salutations to you
From the Argala Stotra, recited with the Durga Saptashati
How it is kept
- Kanya pujanNine girls, and often one boy as Bhairav or Langur, have their feet washed, are given a tilak and a red chunri, and are served puri, sooji halwa and kala chana.
- Sandhi pujaThe forty-eight minutes where Ashtami meets Navami are the most charged of the festival; 108 lamps are lit.
- HavanA fire offering closes the reading of the Durga Saptashati.
- Astra pujaIn Rajput houses, weapons are cleaned and worshipped.
Why this date
Durga Ashtami is the Ashtami of the bright fortnight of Ashwin, on the day it is present at sunrise. Families differ on whether Kanya Pujan is done on Ashtami or on Navami.
Durga Ashtami in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tuesday | |
| 2026 | Monday | |
| 2027 | Thursday | |
| 2028 | Tuesday | |
| 2029 | Sunday | |
| 2030 | Friday |
More North Indian festivals
19 OctoberMaha Navamiमहा नवमी
20 OctoberDussehraदशहरा
29 OctoberKarwa Chauthकरवा चौथ
14 SeptemberGanesh Chaturthiगणेश चतुर्थी
4 SeptemberKrishna Janmashtamiश्री कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी
28 AugustRaksha Bandhanरक्षा बंधन
Where to see Durga Ashtami
In North India
- VindhyachalUttar PradeshVindhyavasini's hill, where the triangle of three goddess shrines is walked through Navratri.
- Chhatarpur Temple, DelhiDelhiA vast marble complex to Katyayani, open round the clock for the nine days.
- Karni Mata, DeshnokeRajasthanThe temple of the sacred rats near Bikaner holds a fair in each Navratri.
- Patan Devi, PatnaBiharA Shakti Peeth in the old city, the centre of Patna's Durga Puja.
Across India
- KolkataWest BengalAshtami is the heart of Durga Puja: the morning offering of flowers and the Sandhi Puja.
- Vaishno Devi, KatraJammu and KashmirThe cave shrine draws its greatest crowds of the year.
- Naina DeviHimachal PradeshA Shakti Peeth on a ridge in the Shivalik hills, with a fair in the autumn Navratri.