Durga Ashtami

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Durga Ashtami or Maha Ashtami is one of the most auspicious days of ten days long Durga Puja Festival.^[1][2] In India fastings are under taken by many people on this holy occasion. This day is also known for 'Astra Puja'(Worshiping Weapons) as on this day the weapons of goddess Durga are worshiped. The day is also known as Vira Ashtami as there are seen to use arms or martial arts on this day.^[3]

Plot

The eighth day of Navratri or Durga Puja celebrations is known as Durgashtami, or Durga Ashtami.It is also known as Mahashtami and is one of the most auspicious day according to hinduism. It falls on the Ashtami tithi of Chaitra month according to the Hindu calendar.^[4]

It is believed in some regions, that Goddess Kali appeared on this day from the forehead of Mother Durga and annihilated Chanda, Munda and Rakthabija (the demons who were associate of Mahishasura). The 64 Yoginis and Ashta Nayikas (the eight consorts of Goddess Durga ) are worshipped during the Durga Puja rituals on Mahashtami. The Ashta Nayikas also known as Eight Shaktis, are interpreted differently in different regions of India. But ultimately all the eight goddesses are incarnations of Shakti. They are the same powerful Divine Feminine, representing different energies.

The Ashta Nayikas worshipped during Durga Puja are Brahmani, Maheswari, Kameswari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Narasinghi, Indrani and Chamunda.^[5]

Tradition

A tradition associated to Durga Ashtami originated in North India, is to honor the kanjaks in the home. A group of young, unmarried girls (a group of five or seven) are invited into the home to honor them. The tradition is based on the belief that each of these young girls( kanjaks ),represents the shakti (energy) of Durga on earth.The group of girls are welcomed by washing their feet (a common ceremonial in India to welcome someone) and then welcoming them into the home and then the rituals are being done as Alati and Puja.After the rituals the girls are feed sweets and foods and then honored with small gifts.^[6]

References

External links

• http://www.speakingtree.in/blog/masik-durga-ashtami-vrat-vidhi
• http://www.indiamarks.com/when-is-durga-ashtami-in-2015/

Festivals in the Hindu calendar Major festivals Chhath Diwali Ganesh Chaturthi Holi Galungan (Bali) Krishna Janmashtami Maha Shivaratri Makar Sankranti Nyepi (Bali) Navratri Ayudha Puja Durga Puja Vijayadashami Onam Pongal Rama Navami Thaipusam Vat Purnima Mesha Sankranti Regional New Year Bihu (Assamese) Cheti Chand (Sindhi) Gudi Padwa (Marathi, Konkani) Pana Sankranti (Oriya) Pohela Boishakh (Bengali) Puthandu (Tamil) Ugadi (Telugu, Kannada) Vaisakhi (Punjabi) Vishu (Malayali) Holy days Akshaya Tritiya Amalaka Ekadashi Ekadashi Gowri Habba Karva Chauth Mahalakshmi Vrata Nirjala Ekadashi Raksha Bandhan Sankranti Savitri Brata Holy periods Chaturmas Dhanurmas Pitru Paksha Hindu festivals