Examine Navratri Day 7 – Durga Saptami
Durgashtami – Worshipping the Nice Truthful Goddess
Durga Puja Ashtami is taken into account a very powerful day of the Durga Puja Pageant. The pan-Indian competition of Navratri spans 9 nights and ten days. Throughout this competition, the 9 types of Goddess Durga are worshipped. Therefore, Ashtami, the eighth lunar day of Navratri or Durga Puja, is called Durgashtami (Durga Ashtami) or Maha Ashtami.
Om Devi Mahagauryayi Namah
Navratri is a commemoration of the triumph of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. The nine-day celebration represents the 9 days of the battle of excellent in opposition to evil and the last word triumph of excellent. The Navratri competition of the autumn season, often called Sharada Navratri, is well known from the Pratipada (the part after the brand new moon) to the Dashami (tenth lunar part) throughout the Shukla paksha (vibrant fortnight) of the Ashwin month. The final 5 days of this competition, from Sashti (sixth lunar part) to Dashami, are celebrated as Durga Puja. Durgashtami or Maha Ashtami (the eighth lunar part) is without doubt one of the most auspicious days of the Navratri and Durga Puja festivals.
Durga Ashtami 2026 Date & Necessary Timings
When is Durga Ashtami 2026
In 2026, Durga Ashtami shall be noticed on Monday, 19 October 2026.
Ashtami Tithi Begins – October 18, 2026, at 08:27 AM
Ashtami Tithi Ends – October 19, 2026, at 10:51 AM
Sandhi Puja Muhurat – October 19, 2026, from 10:27 AM to 11:15 AM
Mahagauri: Type of Durga Worshipped on Maha Ashtami
Throughout Navratri, every day is devoted to a separate type or manifestation of the goddess, and on Ashtami (the eighth lunar day), the shape Mahagauri is worshipped. Goddess Mahagauri is understood for fulfilling the desires of her devotees. Based on the legend, she is so honest that her pores and skin tone is similar to Jasmine and Chandan. That is why the devotees name her Mahagauri, ‘Maha’ means nice, and ‘Gauri’ means honest. She has 4 arms, and she or he rides on a bull. Her proper arm stays in Abhaya Mudra, and the opposite holds the Trishul (trident); on the left facet, one arm holds the Damru (a small hand drum), and the opposite stays in Varada Mudra.
On Maha Ashtami, ladies pray to Mahagauri to bless them with happiness and abundance. Additionally, it’s believed that worshipping her will assist to scale back the in poor health results of Rahu, the shadowy planet.
Examine Hindu Festivals in 2026
Masik Durga Ashtami
Each month has two lunar phases or Pakshas, i.e. the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) and Shukla Paksha (waxing moon). Based on Hindu traditions and mythological beliefs, particular durations of the month are devoted to the worship of particular gods; for instance, the Chaturthi Tithi is devoted to the worship of Lord Ganesha, Ekadashi Tithi for Lord Vishnu, and so forth. Equally, the Ashtami Tithi of the Shukla paksha, or the waxing moon of each month is devoted to the worship of Goddess Durga, which is called Masik Durga Ashtami as it’s noticed each month. Essentially the most important Durga Ashtami of the 12 months is Maha Ashtami which falls on the eighth day of the Navratri competition and is noticed within the Hindu month of Ashwin. By observing the Masik Durga Ashtami quick/vrat, devotees consider that Goddess Durga fulfills their needs.
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Masik Durga Ashtami Fasting Dates in 2026
Since Masik Durga Ashtami is noticed each month, beneath are the dates of Masik Durga Ashtami’s quick days in 2026
| Date | Day | Month / Paksha / Tithi | Tithi Begins | Tithi Ends |
| January 26, 2026 | Monday | Magha, Shukla Ashtami | 01-01-2025 23:10 | 01-01-2026 21:17 |
| February 24, 2026 | Tuesday | Phalguna, Shukla Ashtami | 01-02-2024 07:01 | 01-02-2025 04:51 |
| March 26, 2026 | Thursday | Chaitra, Shukla Ashtami | 01-03-2025 13:50 | 01-03-2026 11:48 |
| April 24, 2026 | Friday | Vaishakha, Shukla Ashtami | 01-04-2023 20:49 | 01-04-2024 19:21 |
| Might 23, 2026 | Saturday | Jyeshtha, Shukla Ashtami (Adhika Masik Durgashtami) | 01-05-2023 05:04 | 01-05-2024 04:27 |
| June 22, 2026 | Monday | Jyeshtha, Shukla Ashtami | 01-06-2021 15:20 | 01-06-2022 15:39 |
| July 21, 2026 | Tuesday | Ashadha, Shukla Ashtami | 01-07-2021 04:02 | 01-07-2022 05:16 |
| August 20, 2026 | Thursday | Shravana, Shukla Ashtami | 01-08-2019 19:19 | 01-08-2020 21:18 |
| September 19, 2026 | Saturday | Bhadrapada, Shukla Ashtami | 01-09-2018 13:00 | 01-09-2019 15:26 |
| October 19, 2026 | Monday | Ashwina, Shukla Ashtami (Durga Ashtami) | 01-10-2018 08:27 | 01-10-2019 10:51 |
| November 17, 2026 | Tuesday | Kartika, Shukla Ashtami | 01-11-2017 04:19 | 01-11-2018 06:04 |
| December 17, 2026 | Thursday | Margashirsha, Shukla Ashtami | 01-12-2016 22:45 | 01-12-2017 23:25 |
Masik Durga Ashtami Vrat Puja Vidhi
Masik Durga Ashtami Vrat must be adopted correctly to realize the blessings of Goddess Durga. Devotees observe the quick for your complete day.
- On the day of Masik Durga Ashtami, devotees should get up early earlier than dawn and take their tub after their morning routine. They have to put on clear garments.
- The place of worship or puja sthal is then purified and cleansed with Gangajal.
- Place a wood pooja stool on the puja sthal and unfold a purple material on prime of it. Set up the idol or image of Goddess Durga and purify the idol utilizing Gangajal.
- Choices of Akshat, vermilion, and purple flowers are then made to Goddess Durga. The colour purple is of nice significance as it’s a shade pricey to Goddess Durga. The idol is then provided fruits and sweets as Prasad whereas lighting the lamp and incense sticks.
- Devotees then recite the Durga Chalisa and carry out an aarti of Goddess Durga. A saatvik bhog is then provided to Goddess Durga.
Choices of purple chunari, purple garments, lamp, ghee, make-up objects, bangles, ghee, incense sticks, coconut, rice, kumkum or vermilion, flowers, idol or photograph of the goddess, betel nut, clove, cardamom, sugar sweet for choices, fruits, candy, camphor and kalava are made to Goddess Durga whereas performing the Durga puja.
8 Highly effective Maa Durga Mantras To Ward Off Evil
Durga Ashtami Puja and Different Rituals
Worshipping Goddess Mahagauri on Durga Ashtami is taken into account auspicious. She is the eighth among the many Navadurgas, the 9 manifestations of Goddess Durga. The method of worship on Durga Ashtami is identical as that of Saptami aside from the Pran Pratishta, which is completed solely on Saptami. Durga Puja on Maha Ashtami begins with Mahasnan and Shodashopachar Puja, which is similar to Maha Saptami Puja. Within the Mahashtami Puja, all 9 types of the supreme Goddess Durga are worshipped. This includes putting in 9 small pots and invoking the 9 Shaktis or avatars of Durga in them.
Durga Ashtami 2026 can be particular as a result of the AshtaSakthi, or the eight consorts of Goddess Durga, are worshipped on the day. The Ashta Shakti consists of Brahmani, Maheswari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Narasinghi, Indrani, and Chamunda, who’re all totally different representations of the identical divine female power, Goddess Durga.
The opposite rituals of the day embrace Astra Puja, Kanya Puja, and Sandhi Puja. Devotees additionally observe a day-long quick or Vrat to hunt her divine safety and blessings for peace, prosperity, and happiness. That is additionally a day of zesty celebrations. Folks erect huge Puja Pandals (tents), set up idols of Durga, and have a good time by dancing and carrying conventional outfits.
Astra Puja
Astra Puja is a crucial ritual noticed on the day of Durga Ashtami. As per the assumption, the ten-armed Goddess Durga, carrying numerous weapons, slew the evil Mahishasur. The Astra Puja ritual includes worshipping the weapons of the goddess. This ritual is noticed in numerous areas of India with some variations. In South India, the ritual Ayudha Puja is noticed on Mahanavami (the Ninth day of Navratri), which includes the worship of instruments used for working and finding out.
The devotees, on this present day, clear their instruments and prepare them together with the goddess idol or image for worshipping. All work tools, together with industrial equipment, autos, computer systems, books, mechanical instruments, artist instruments, research instruments, and so forth., are worshipped on this present day. This act of worshipping instruments is an expression of gratitude for the prosperity obtained within the earlier 12 months. Additionally, worshipping instruments alongside God is symbolic of worshipping one’s occupation or job.
Kumari Puja
Kumari Puja or Kanya Pujan is a practice adopted in North India on the event of Durga Ashtami. It’s a ritual through which single women are worshipped like Goddess Durga. Some folks observe this ritual on Navami too. The traditions related to Navratri and Durga Puja give extra significance to ladies, which is a stark reminder of the facility and standing held by ladies in historical India.
The Kumari Puja ritual includes inviting 9 younger women into the house and worshipping them because the 9 avatars of Goddess Durga. As per some scriptures, women between the ages of two and 10 are thought-about acceptable for Kumari Puja. On the day of Ashtami, earlier than breaking the quick, a gaggle of ladies are invited into the house and are honored. They’re welcomed by washing their ft, and the rituals of Aarti and Puja are performed. After Puja, the women are fed sweets and revered with some presents. In some areas in India, this ritual is noticed on all 9 days of Navratri. This custom relies on the assumption that younger women (kanyaka/virgins) signify the Shakti (Power) of Durga on Earth.
Sandhi Puja
Sandhi time or Sandhi Kaal refers back to the time when Ashtami Tithi (eighth lunar day) ends and Navami Tithi (ninth lunar day) begins. It begins from the final 24 minutes of Ashtami and ends after the primary 24 minutes of Navami. This era is taken into account essentially the most auspicious event to carry out Durga Puja for the assumption that Goddess Durga slew the demons, Chand and Mund, throughout this time. On the finish of the Mahashtami, Sandhi Puja and residential/yagna are carried out, and devotees supply bananas, pumpkins, cucumbers, and so forth. Lighting 108 clay lamps is one other ritual carried out throughout Sandhi Kaal.
Durga Ashtami Mantra, Prarthana, Stuti, Dhyana&Stotra
Durga Ashtami Mantra:
Om Devi Mahagauryayi Namah
Durga AshtamiPrarthana:
ShweteVrishesamarudhaShwetambaradharaShuchih
MahagauriShubhamDadyanmahadevaPramodada
Durga AshtamiStuti:
Ya Devi SarvabhuteshuMaaMahagauriRupenaSamsthita
NamastasyaiNamastasyaiNamastasyai Namo Namah
Durga AshtamiDhyana:
VandeVanchhitaKamartheChandrardhakritashekharam
SimharudhaChaturbhujaMahagauriYashasvinim
PurnanduNibham Gauri SomachakrasthitamAshtamamMahagauriTrinetram
VarabhitikaramTrishulaDamarudharamMahagauriBhajem
PatambaraParidhanamMriduhasyaNanalankaraBhushitam
Manjira, Hara, Keyura, Kinkini, RatnakundalaManditam
PraphullaVandanaPallavadharamKantaKapolamTrailokyaMohanam
KamaniyamLavanyamMrinalamChandanaGandhaliptam
Durga AshtamiStotra:
SarvasankataHantriTvamhi Dhana Aishwarya Pradayanim
JnanadaChaturvedamayiMahagauriPranamamyaham
SukhaShantidatri Dhana DhanyaPradayanim
DamaruvadyaPriyaAdyaMahagauriPranamamyaham
TrailokyamangalaTvamhiTapatrayaHarinim
VadadamChaitanyamayiMahagauriPranamamyaham
Durga Ashtami Legends
Navratri is a celebration of the victory of excellent over evil. It commemorates the slaying of Mahishasura by Goddess Durga. When Lord Indra was vanquished by Mahishasura, the holy trinity, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, created Goddess Durga, and every a part of her physique was blessed with the energies of various Gods. As per some scriptures, the soul of Goddess Durga got here into existence on the day of Shukla Paksha Ashtami.
One other legend surrounding Durga Ashtami is that Goddess Chamunda appeared from the brow of Mom Durga and annihilated Chanda, Munda, and Rakthabija.
Goddess Durga, within the type of Maha Gauri, is worshipped on Durga Ashtami. The story of Mahagauri is one other legend related to Durga Ashtami. The powerful penance that Parvati had gone by for getting Shiva as her husband hampered her pores and skin and turned it black. When Shiva accepted her lastly, he cleaned all of the impurities off her physique within the river Ganga, and her complexion grew to become extraordinarily white, for which she is known as ‘Maha Gauri’.
Mahagauri – The Fairest of Them All
Mahagauri is the eighth type of Durga Devi. Her different names are Shwetambardhara, Vrisharudha, Chaturbhuji and Shambhavi. Mahagauri is seated on a bull and has 4 arms. Two of her arms maintain the Trishul and the Damru. The opposite two arms present the varada and Abhay mudras meant to bless her devotees. Mahagauri signifies purity, calmness, knowledge, and austerity. Along with her assist, the devotee can overcome all evil forces and lead a virtuous life and thus attain everlasting bliss.
Mahagauri is taken into account to be the epitome of magnificence. She symbolizes freedom and liberation from all that’s dangerous. Mahagauri regained her unique glory when washed with the waters of Ganga. This factors to the holiness of the river and the way bathing in it washes away the dangerous from the physique and soul of an individual. Mahagauri guidelines the shadow planet, Rahu. Worshipping Mahagauri will take away the in poor health results of Rahu. Mahagauri is believed to reside within the Sahasrara crown chakra, which is the end result level of the Sushumna Nadi power channel within the human physique. This Nadi, if made to wake, can notice the total human potential of an individual.
Mahagauri additionally narrates the hardship and sacrifices one has to endure earlier than reaching the state of pure bliss. The mudra of her proper arm is to allay the fears of the devotee. In her second proper arm, Mahagauri holds a Trishul which symbolizes the powers of creation and destruction. In her left hand, she holds the Damru which is symbolic of the continuation of existence by the cycle of start and rebirth. The mudra on the opposite left hand is to offer out blessings to the devotees. Her garments are white and pure.
Examine Navratri Day 9 – Durga Navami
