Known as Durgastami, Mahashtami or Durga Ashtami, this is the eighth day of Durga Puja celebrations.
Durga Ashtami falls on the Ashtami tithi of Chaitra month in the Hindu calendar.
Traditions of Durga Ashtami
Durgastami is one of the important days of Durga Puja and many people may fast on this day.
Durga Puja is a Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates the worship of the goddess Durga.
Durga Puja celebrates the ten-armed mother goddess and her victory over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura.
The world was under threat from the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura, that no man or god could defeat. To vanquish the demon, Durga emerged from the collective energies of all the gods. Each of her ten arms brandished the deadliest weapon of each god.
On Durga Ashtami, the weapons of the gods used by Durga are worshipped.
Key days during Durga Puja
The rituals of Durga Puja last ten days with the start and the last five days being special festivals that are reflected in public holidays in some states in India.
Mahalaya
Mahalaya marks the start of the Durga Puja festival.
Maha Saptami
On the seventh day (saptami) of Durga Puja, the goddess started her epic battle against Mahishasura.
Vijaya Dashami
Also known as Dashain or Tenth day of Navratri or Durgotsav, Vijaya Dashami commemorates the day that Durga appeared riding a lion to slay the Mahisasura. Statutes of Durga are paraded through the streets, then immersed in water.
