The Hindu festival of Durga Ashtami, also known as Maha Ashtami, is celebrated on the eighth day of the auspicious nine-day period of Navratri. It commemorates the time when the Goddess Durga stepped into a state of extreme power and strength required to conquer and kill Mahishasura, the demon buffalo.

Time of Celebration
As already stated, it is observed on the eighth day of Sharada Navratri, which is observed from the first day to the ninth day of the month of Asvina in Hindu calendar. According to the Georgian calendar, it usually falls in either September or October.

Durga Ashtami Festival Dates:

Durga Ashtami Festival Date 2025-30 September

Durga Ashtami Festival Date 2026-19 October

Durga Ashtami Festival Date 2027-7 October

Durga Ashtami Festival Date 2028-26 September

Durga Ashtami Festival Date 2029-14 October

Durga Ashtami Festival Date 2030-4 October

Legend
There was a demon with the name of Mahishasura who was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Out of his immense devotion and determination, he was able to please him. The Lord conferred upon him the boon of eternity. Furthermore, the Lord conferred that no one other than a female can kill him. Mahishasura readily accepted it as he was assured about his superiority over women.

The factor of being indestructible turned into arrogance, and everyone on the planet and in heaven suffered the demon’s arrogance. Once, when he attacked heaven, all deities came together to pray to the Lords of Trinity, i.e., Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Mahesh. Acting on their request, the three deities unite their supreme powers to create one supreme power in the form of Goddess Durga or Shakti.

On seeing Goddess Durga, Mahishasura got mesmerized by her beauty and proposed to her to get married to him. Durga accepted the offer, putting forth a condition that she would get married to him only if he could defeat her in a battle. Arrogant about his superiority over female power, he accepted it. When he got into the fight, it lasted for seven days. On the eighth day, i.e., on the day of Durga Ashtami, Durga gained a boost in her strength and power, and on the ninth day, she eventually beheaded the demon.

 Significance
This festival is of extreme importance in the beliefs of Hindu religion. According to legend, it is on the day of Durga Ashtami that Goddess Durga, after a prolonged battle with the demon buffalo Mahishasura, gained a burst of her powers to eventually behead Mahishasura. On the ninth day, she beheaded him, and on the tenth day, i.e., on the day of Vijayadashami, the celebration for the victory of the Goddess over the demon is made. Out of this event, she gained prominence as Mahishasuramardhini. This festival conveys the eternal truth that ultimately, good prevails over bad. It is also believed that it is on this day that one gains the ability to conquer all the internal and external demons of his life in perpetuity.

Rituals and Celebrations
1. Devotees, holding immense belief in Goddess Durga in their hearts, celebrate this day with utmost cheer and devotion. They offer prayers to Durga Mata to be conferred with her blessings. In different parts of the country, she is worshipped in different forms, such as Brahmani, Kameswari, Varahi, Indrani, Chamunda, Narasinghi, Vaishnavi, and Maheswari.

2. One popular way of conferring devotion to the Goddess is by observing a fast. Both men and women observe it. It is one of the most important days in the period of Navratri, on which many people willingly choose to abide by a fast, as doing so derives immense blessings from the Goddess. Goddess Durga also confers that person with strength, courage, and determination enough to overcome and conquer all evils, fears, and negativities present within and around.

3. One of the major highlights of the celebrations held on this day is the display show of martial arts display, which also involves the use of arms and weapons. On the aspect of this context, the day is also referred to as ‘ Virashtami’, ‘ Astra Puja’, and ‘ Ayudha Puja’. This ritual is associated with the legend that it is on this day that Arjuna, the third of the five Pandavas, brought out his Ayudha from the Shami tree.

4. On this day, married women of the household offer things which are typically associated with married women such as clothes, jewellery, bangles, kajal, bindi, etc. to Goddess Durga.

5. The entire family participates in the worship ceremony of Durga. In the end, Bhog is offered to the Goddess.

6. The festive celebration of Durga Ashtami concludes with Sandhi Puja, which extends beyond to the next day's celebrations of Mahanavami.

 

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