Bhishma Ashtami
The day Bhishma chose to leave his body.
Celebrated everywhere
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday, 26 January 2026 |
| 2027 | Sunday, 14 February 2027 |
| 2028 | Friday, 4 February 2028 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, 23 January 2029 |
| 2030 | Sunday, 10 February 2030 |
| 2031 | Thursday, 30 January 2031 |
Dates are for Mumbai. A tithi that changes close to sunrise or sunset can fall a day earlier or later in another city, so for your own town open the festival in the app.
When it falls
8th day of the waxing moon, in Magha. Like every lunar festival it lands on a different Gregorian date each year. Muhurtha works the date out from the positions of the Sun and Moon, using the rule for this festival; see how every festival is dated.
The story
Bhishma, lying on a bed of arrows at Kurukshetra, was granted the boon of choosing the moment of his death. He waited until the Sun turned north, taught Yudhishthira the Vishnu Sahasranama, and left his body on this day.
How it is kept
Devotees offer sesame and water in his memory, recite the Vishnu Sahasranama, fast and give charity.
Common questions
When is Bhishma Ashtami in 2027?
In 2027, Bhishma Ashtami falls on Sunday, 14 February 2027 in Mumbai. Dates for other years are in the table above.
How is the date of Bhishma Ashtami decided?
8th day of the waxing moon, in Magha. Like every lunar festival it lands on a different Gregorian date each year. Muhurtha works the date out from the positions of the Sun and Moon, using the rule for this festival; see how every festival is dated.
How is Bhishma Ashtami kept?
Devotees offer sesame and water in his memory, recite the Vishnu Sahasranama, fast and give charity.
Other festivals nearby
Open the Muhurtha app to see Bhishma Ashtami for your own town, with the exact time its tithi begins and ends. How every festival is dated.
Get Muhurtha for iPhone All festival dates
Muhurtha is free, works offline and has no ads. An Android version is on the way.