Maha Ashtami
Maha Ashtami, the eighth day of the Durga Puja festival or the second major celebration is observed every year on the eighth day of the bright lunar fortnight of the Bengali month Ashwin.
This day is the most important day of the Durga Puja festival as Maa Durga's most fearless and powerful form - Mahishasuramardini is worshiped.
It is a public holiday across the state of West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Tripura, Jharkhand, Manipur, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Sikkim, with schools, banks, and government offices usually closed.
Ashtami 2025 Date And Time
Maha Ashtami will be next observed on 30 September 2025 with the Ashtami tithi beginning at 4:31 PM on 29 September and ending at 2:56 PM on 30 September.
Sandhi Puja will be performed from 2:56 PM and 3:43 PM on 30 September and this window of forty-eight minutes is the holiest time to offer prayers and seek blessings.
What is Maha Ashtami
Maha Ashtami, the most important day, symbolizes the victory of Mahishasuramardini over the demon Mahiasura.
This day is marked by rituals like Kumari Puja, Pushpanjani, Sandhi Puja, Bhog Bitoron and more.
The origins of Maha Ashtami goes back to the Markandeya Purana. There is a part known as the Devi Mahatmya where the entire story of the battle between Maa Durga and Mahiasura the demon king is narrated.
As per this story, Mahishasura was granted a boon that no man or god could kill him and as a result he became arrogant and evil.
He wrecked havoc in the heavens as well as on earth and unable to tolerate his torment, the deities came together and combined their powers to create Maa Durga, another form of Shakti.
It is believed, on Maha Ashtami, Maa Durga's fiercest form, Chamunda, slayed Chanda and Munda who were Mahishasura's most dangerous disciples.
On this day, she prepared for the ultimate climax, slaying the demon leading to win of good over evil.
Sandhi Puja marks the intersection between Ashtami and Navami when Maa Durga transformed in Mahishasuramardin and slayed Mahishasura.
Maha Ashtami Rituals and Traditions
There are several important and meaningful rituals that play a deep role in the culture and tradition of Durga Puja.
Ashtami Anjali
The most popular and beloved part of Ashtami is the Pushpanjali done in the early mornings where devotees flock to their local pandals to offer their prayers while fasting to Maa Durga in new clothes.
Chandi path or the recitation of Maa Chandi's bravery marks the beginning of this day when the priest narrates story through Sanskrit verses.
Pushpanjali is followed right after and the atmosphere is filled with divinity and good vibes.
Kumari Puja
Another important ritual is Kumari Puja where young girls between the ages of 6-10 mainly are worshipped as the reincarnations of Maa Durga.
They are dressed in traditional attire, adorned with flowers, and seated like deities. Devotees wash their feet, offer prayers, and present them with food, gifts, and sweets.
This ritual emphasizes the belief that the divine feminine resides in every woman and girl, highlighting purity, power, and the nurturing essence of Shakti.
Sandhi Puja
Another important part of this festival is Sandhi Puja which is done between the junture of Ashtami and Navami.
108 oil lamps or diyas are lit during Sandhi Puja along with the offerings of 108 lotus flowers and the surrounding turns super intense with conch shells sound, dhaak, and the smoke from candles and incense.
Bhog
Ashtami is incomplete without Bhog and prashad which often includes khichuri or pulao, labra, chutney, payesh and other stuff.
This is the most delicious part and everyone from kids to senior citizens enjoys it with a smile.
Cultural Events And Celebrations
Beyond the rituals, Maha Ashtami is a day of community gatherings, cultural performances, and festive enjoyment.
In pandals across West Bengal and other states, traditional music, folk dances, and theater performances retell mythological stories of the goddess’s battles.
Many clubs and organizations arrange competitions, concerts, and modern cultural programs, creating a vibrant blend of spirituality and entertainment.
The streets overflow with food stalls selling everything from phuchkasto kebabs, biryani, and mishti.
Families and friends spend the day pandal-hopping, dressed in their festive best, soaking in the artistry of grand decorations.
Maha Ashtami In India And Beyond
In Kolkata, the city is at its peak festive energy on Maha Ashtami. Pandals are overflowing with devotees, the sound of dhakis fills the air, and women in traditional white-and-red sarees line up for Pushpanjali.
The Sandhi Puja in iconic pandals like Kumartuli, Bagbazar, and College Square draws massive crowds.
While West Bengal remains the cultural heart of Durga Puja, Maha Ashtami is equally cherished in Assam, Odisha, Tripura, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
In Assam, the sound of dhak mingles with Bihu dance flavors. Odisha’s Cuttack is famous for its silver and gold filigree pandals, while Tripura adds tribal dances to its celebrations.
Bihar and Jharkhand see both traditional rituals and modern community gatherings.
Even outside India, in countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and among Bengali communities worldwide, from London to New York, Maha Ashtami is observed with deep devotion, reflecting the global spread of this tradition.
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