The festival of Durga Ashtami is celebrated on the eighth day of Navratri. This year, we will be celebrating the festival on September 30, 2025. This day marks a high point in the worship of the Divine Mother.
The colour traditionally associated with the eighth day is Royal Blue or Red. Red, in particular, signifies the fierce, protective energy of the Goddess, symbolizing power, action, and the destruction of evil.
On this day, devotees worship Maha Gauri, the eighth form of Goddess Durga. Her name means "Great White," and she represents purity, penance, and serenity, emerging after her deep penance (tapasya) with a brilliant, luminous form. This is also the day when the Goddess is revered in her most formidable form, Chamunda, who emerged to slay the demons Chanda and Munda.
The day starts with Mahasnan (a holy bath) and the Shodashopachar Puja (16-step worship). A core ritual is the Kanya Pujan (or Kumari Puja), where nine young, unmarried girls are invited into homes, worshipped as embodiments of the nine Goddess forms (Navadurga), offered a feast of halwa, poori, and chana, and given small gifts. The highly auspicious Sandhi Puja is also performed at the exact juncture (Sandhi Kaal) between the Ashtami and Navami Tithis, marking a powerful hour of deep devotion, often with the lighting of 108 oil lamps.
Durga Ashtami signifies the culmination of the fierce battle waged by Goddess Durga against the forces of evil. It is the day dedicated to the divine power that removes fear, obstacles, and negativity. Worshipping on this day is believed to bestow strength, courage, and protection upon the devotees.
Maha Navami, the ninth and final day of Navratri worship, will be celebrated on October 1, 2025.
The colour of Maha Navami is typically Pink or Peacock Green. Pink symbolizes optimism and purity, while Peacock Green represents the fulfillment of desires and inner peace.
The Goddess worshipped on the ninth day is Siddhidatri, the final of the nine Durga forms. Her name means "Giver of Supernatural Powers (Siddhis) and Fulfillment (Datri)." She is believed to grant all kinds of success and spiritual wisdom to her sincere devotees.
Maha Navami often sees the conclusion of the nine-day Navratri fasts. Many households perform the Navami Homa (a sacred fire ritual) on this day, which is considered highly potent and is said to be equivalent to performing the full nine days of worship. The Kanya Pujan is frequently performed on Navami as well, depending on regional and family traditions. In South India, this day is celebrated as Ayudha Puja, where tools, books, and vehicles are worshipped, seeking the Goddess’s blessing on one’s livelihood and instruments of life.
Maha Navami is the glorious final chapter before the grand Vijayadashami (Dussehra). It is the day the Goddess is believed to have launched her final, decisive attack against the demon Mahishasura. Its significance lies in the total victory of Divine Righteousness over Evil. Devotees pray for the final destruction of their inner vices—ego, ignorance, and negativity—and for the ultimate fulfillment of spiritual and material aspirations, gifted by Maa Siddhidatri.
These two days are not just about rituals; they are a deep spiritual reminder that we all possess the inner power, the Shakti, to overcome our personal demons and emerge victorious. It’s a time to celebrate that immense, divine energy within every one of us.
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