Durga Ashtami

Bengali

Also known as: Maha Ashtami, Durga Puja Ashtami

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2026 Bengali Date

Durga Ashtami

About Durga Ashtami

Durga Ashtami, or Maha Ashtami, is the eighth day of Durga Puja and one of the most important days of the Navratri festival in Bengal. It marks the day when Goddess Durga slew the buffalo demon Mahishasura with the help of her divine weapons.

The day begins with the ritual of Kola Bou snan (bathing the banana bride) on Maha Saptami, followed by elaborate worship of the goddess. Sandhi Puja, performed at the exact junction of Ashtami and Navami, is the most sacred ritual of the entire festival, involving the lighting of 108 lamps.

Kumari Puja is a unique Bengali tradition performed on this day, where young girls are worshipped as embodiments of Goddess Durga. The Ramakrishna Mission at Belur Math hosts a famous Kumari Puja that attracts devotees from across the world.

Devotees throng pandals across Kolkata and Bengal to offer pushpanjali (floral offerings) and receive blessings. The atmosphere is electric with the sound of dhak drums, conch shells, and devotional songs echoing through the streets.

Vrat Vidhi & Fasting Rules

Maha Ashtami is observed with strict fasting, one of the most important fasting days of Durga Puja.

Step-by-Step Fasting Procedures:

Observe a complete fast or consume only fruits and milk.
Wake up early, bathe, and wear clean traditional clothes.
Visit the pandal for pushpanjali and Sandhi Puja.
Participate in Kumari Puja if organised in the neighbourhood.

Parana (Breaking Fast) Note: The fast is broken after Sandhi Puja or the Maha Aarti with prasad offered to Goddess Durga.

Puja Samagri & Ritual Steps

Essential Puja Samagri:

Red hibiscus flowers and garlandsSindoor and sandalwood pasteDhunuchi with dhuno (frankincense)108 earthen lamps for Sandhi PujaPushpanjali flowers (mixed petals)Sweets, fruits, and bhog offerings

Puja Procedure:

Perform the morning pushpanjali at the pandal.
Offer bhog to the goddess and distribute among devotees.
At the junction of Ashtami and Navami, perform Sandhi Puja with 108 lamps.
Offer 108 flowers to the goddess during Sandhi Puja.
Participate in dhunuchi naach and evening aarti.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is Sandhi Puja?

Sandhi Puja is performed at the exact junction of Ashtami and Navami, marking the moment when Durga slew the demon. 108 lamps are lit, and the goddess is worshipped in her most fierce form.

Q: What is Kumari Puja?

Kumari Puja is a Bengali tradition where young girls are worshipped as living embodiments of Goddess Durga, especially at the Ramakrishna Mission in Belur Math.

Note: All timings are represented in 24-hour notation in local time of the selected location with DST adjustment (if applicable).

Hours which are past midnight are suffixed with next day date. In Panchang, a day starts and ends with local sunrise.