Durga Ashtami

The eighth night — Maha Ashtami, kanya puja.

Bengal & OdishaCelebrated everywhere

Dates

YearDate
2026Monday, 19 October 2026
2027Thursday, 7 October 2027
2028Tuesday, 26 September 2028
2029Sunday, 14 October 2029
2030Friday, 4 October 2030
2031Thursday, 23 October 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 Ashwina. 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

The eighth night is the peak — Durga's fiercest form, Mahagauri, is worshipped, and the night of Ashtami-Navami is Sandhi Puja, the moment Chanda and Munda were slain.

How it is kept

Kanya puja: nine young girls are honoured as the Goddess and fed puri-chana-halwa.

Common questions

When is Durga Ashtami in 2027?

In 2027, Durga Ashtami falls on Thursday, 7 October 2027 in Mumbai. Dates for other years are in the table above.

How is the date of Durga Ashtami decided?

8th day of the waxing moon, in Ashwina. 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 Durga Ashtami kept?

Kanya puja: nine young girls are honoured as the Goddess and fed puri-chana-halwa.

Other festivals nearby

Open the Muhurtha app to see Durga Ashtami for your own town, with the exact time its tithi begins and ends. How every festival is dated.

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