When is Durga Ashtami?
The answer
Monday, 19 October 2026
The eighth night of Navratri.
Why that day
- The tithi it is
- Ashwin Shukla 8
Read the ordinary way: the day whose SUNRISE this tithi is running at.
And after that
Thursday, 7 October 2027
Ashwin Shukla 8
Tuesday, 26 September 2028
Ashwin Shukla 8
How this date is worked out
A festival is a position, not a date. The lunar month is named by the sidereal sign the Sun stands in at the new moon that opens it, and the tithi is the Moon's distance from the Sun in twelve-degree steps. Both come from the same ephemeris this site casts birth charts with.
North India reckons a month from full moon to full moon, so the dark fortnight carries the next month's name — the same day is Shravana Krishna Tritiya in Pune and Bhadrapada Krishna Tritiya in Delhi. These dates use the northern reckoning, and the tithi is printed above so there is nothing to take on trust.
Why it is kept
The eighth tithi of Navratri, called Mahaashtami. The eighth has its own reason: in the Devi Mahatmya it is the day Kali stepped out of Durga's anger and killed Chanda and Munda — which is where the name Chamunda comes from. The 48 minutes where Ashtami joins Navami are the Sandhi kaal; that is the moment itself, and it is held to be the sharpest hour of worship in the year. Mahagauri is the day's form.
The story behind it
Two generals
Shumbha and Nishumbha sent Chanda and Munda to bring the goddess by force. They came with an army.
Kali steps out
The goddess looked at them and her face went black with anger. Kali came out of that brow — gaunt, terrible, in a tiger skin, carrying a skull bowl.
The killing
Kali swallowed the army and brought the heads of Chanda and Munda to Durga.
Chamunda
Durga said: because you killed Chanda and Munda, the world will call you Chamunda. Mahaashtami remembers that day.
Mahagauri
The other form of this same tithi is Mahagauri — the same Kali, bathed in Ganga water after long austerity, come out radiant. Two ends of one goddess on one day.
What to keep ready
- A coconut, red chunri and red bangles
- Shringar — sindoor, bindi, kajal, mehndi
- Halwa, puri and kala chana, which is the fixed bhog for the kanya bhoj
- Coconut as bhog, which is what Mahagauri is offered
- 108 lamps, or one large ghee lamp, for the sandhi puja
- Red hibiscus and bel leaves
- Incense, camphor, agarbatti
- Dakshina and a small gift for each girl
- Mango wood, havan samagri and black sesame if a havan is done
How the puja is done
1
Bathe and resolve
Bathe in the morning, wear red or yellow. Anyone keeping the nine-day fast does not break it today — that is Navami.
2
Mahagauri puja
The sixteen upacharas, coconut as bhog, hibiscus, and a reading of the middle charitra of the Saptashati.
3
Sandhi puja
The last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 of Navami. The 108 lamps are lit in it. Take the time from a panchang — it is a tithi hour, not a clock hour.
4
Havan
Those who do a havan do it after the sandhi — 108 offerings with the Saptashati mantras.
5
Kanya pujan
Nine girls and one boy. Wash their feet, tilak, tie the kalava, then halwa, puri and chana. Dakshina after the meal, and touch their feet.
6
Aarti
The aarti at the end, and the asking of forgiveness.
What to do
- Take the sandhi timing from a panchang. It is the last 24 minutes of Ashtami plus the first 24 of Navami — different every year and every city.
- Kanya bhoj is Ashtami or Navami, one day. Keep whichever your family keeps.
- If nine girls cannot be gathered, feed however many come — fewer is allowed; calling someone and turning them away is not.
- The fast is broken on Navami, not today.
- A havan needs its purnahuti at the end, with a coconut and supari.
What not to do
- Do not walk away from the puja inside the sandhi, and do not eat in it.
- No non-sattvik food, no onion or garlic, no drink in the house today.
- Never give the girls leftover or stale food, and do not have them clear the plates.
- Do not sit for the puja in black.
- Do not rush to break the fast on Ashtami — many houses do, and it is not the rule.
The aarti
Ambe Tu Hai Jagdambe Kali
अम्बे तू है जगदम्बे काली, जय दुर्गे खप्पर वाली।
तेरे ही गुण गाएँ भारती, ओ मैया हम सब उतारें तेरी आरती॥
तेरे भक्त जनों पर माता, भीर पड़ी है भारी।
दानव दल पर टूट पड़ो माँ, करके सिंह सवारी॥
सौ-सौ सिंहों से तू बलशाली, दस भुजाओं वाली।
दुखियों के दुखड़े निवारती, ओ मैया हम सब उतारें तेरी आरती॥
माँ बेटे का है इस जग में, बड़ा ही निर्मल नाता।
पूत कपूत सुने हैं पर ना, माता सुनी कुमाता॥
सब पे करुणा दरसाने वाली, अमृत बरसाने वाली।
दुखियों के दुखड़े निवारती, ओ मैया हम सब उतारें तेरी आरती॥
The sky has a calendar. So do you.
The same engine reads your own birth moment — every house, every graha, every period with dates.