Durga Ashtami 2025: Essential Timings & Rituals (Sharad Month)

Celebrated on the Shukla Paksha of the Sharad month, Durga Ashtami 2025 is an important day during Navratri. It is the eighth day dedicated to worshipping Goddess Mahagauri, one of the nine forms of Durga.

When is Durga Ashtami?

The 8th day of Navratri Durga Ashtami, falls on Tue, 30 Sept, 2025. Note the auspicious tithi or timings for its rituals below.

• Durga Ashtami 2025 Time Begins – 04:31 PM on Sep 29, Monday
• Durga Ashtami 2025 Time Ends –  06:06 PM on Sep 30, Tuesday

Significance of Durga Ashtami 2025

Durga Ashtami 2025 holds deep significance in Hinduism. Durgashtami is the day to acknowledge the fierce form of the divine feminine – Maa Mahagauri. 

Doing Durga Puja Ashtami cleanses sins, grants spiritual liberation, and fulfils desires. It is a great day for devotees to seek protection, prosperity and courage.

Also Read: Unfolding Amazing Facts About Mata Vaishno Devi Temple

What are the Rituals for Durgashtami?

Devotees manifest a happy Durga Ashtami Navratri by pleasing Goddess Mahagauri and asking her blessings. The Durga Ashtami Puja Vidhi or Ritual are mentioned below.

• Mahagauri Puja: Begin Durga Ashtami 2025 with a grand bath of the idol called Mahasnan, followed by Shodashopachar Puja, which involves 16 forms of offerings and prayers.

• Kumari Puja (Kanya Pujan): Next, honour young girls (2 – 10 years) as 9 forms of Maa Durga. Wash their feet and offer food (like halwa, puri, chana) and gifts.

• Astra Puja (Worship of Weapons): In some regions of India, Durga Ashtami is also known as “Veera Ashtami.” On this day, weapons of Maa Durga are worshipped, symbolising strength and protection.

• Chandi Path: Reciting verses from the Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati) or Chandi Path is considered highly sacred on this day. Do it during Homa (Havan) on Durga Ashtami 2025.

• Sandhi Puja: Light 108 diyas and do offerings to deity between last 24 minutes of Durgashtami and first 24 minutes of Navami. This marks the manifestation of Maa Durga as Chamunda to defeat Chanda and Munda (part of Mahishaura).

• Durga Ashtami Vrat: You can also observe a fast on Durga Ashtami 2025, breaking it after the evening puja or the next day on Navami. 

Offerings and Prasad For Durga Ashtami 

The offerings made at the festival are also believed to contribute to a happy Durga Ashtami and are a reflection of gratitude and devotion. Common offerings are –

• Flowers: Red hibiscus, roses, and marigolds are particularly favoured.
• Fruits: Seasonal fruits, especially apples and bananas.
• Sweets: Halwa, puri and chana are classic offerings in Kanya Puja. Other sweets like laddoos, barfi, malpua, kheer (especially Makhana kheer or Sabudana kheer for fasting devotees) and petha are also common.
• Coconut: Offer coconut in Durga Ashtami 2025, for it symbolises purity and auspiciousness.
• Ghee/Oil: Used for lamps (diyas) or Havan (Homa), symbolising divine energy.
• Shringaar items: Red saree, bangles, sindoor, and other makeup items offered to the goddess.
• Items to avoid: Onion, garlic, grains and alcohol.

Mantras For Durga Ashtami Wishes

Some powerful mantras to be chanted during prayers to Maa Durga for fulfilling Durga Ashtami wishes include –

• Navarna Mantra: Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Vichche (ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे) 

• Durga Dhyan Mantra: Om Jataa Joot Samaayuktamardhendu Krit Lakshnam | Lochanatray Sanyuktam Padmendu Sadya Shaan Naam || (ॐ जातं जूत समायुक्तमर्दहेन्दु कृत लक्षणम् | लोचनत्रय संयुक्तं पद्मेन्दु सद्य शान नाम ||)

• Mahagauri Mantra: Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Mahagauri Rupena Samsthita। Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah॥ ( या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ महागौरी रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥)

Also Read: Benefits of Sharad Navratri Based On Zodiac Sign

Why is Mahagauri Special for Durga Ashtami 2025?

Maa Mahagauri, the deity worshipped on Durgashtami, has a radiant complexion often compared to the pure white conch, moon or jasmine flowers. Here’s why the devi is special in Durga Ashtami 2025.

• In her name, “Maha”, meaning great and “Gauri”, meaning white, signifies purity, peace and penance.
• Seated on a white bull (Vrishabha) and often decorated in white, she holds a trident (Trishul) and drum (damru) in two of her four hands.
• The other two hands are in Varada (boon-giving) and Abhaya (fear-dispelling) mudras.
• Mahagauri represents peace, wisdom, discipline and purification of the mind and the soul.
• Legend has it that she attained her beautiful complexion after severe penance, when Lord Shiva washed her in the sacred Ganges, revealing her radiant form.

Why Is Durga Ashtami Celebrated? – Mythology

The 8th day of Navratri Durga Ashtami, is deeply linked to two mythologies. Learn the interesting stories below.

• Celebration Of Good over Evil & Divine Feminine Power

It is believed that on the day of Durga Puja Ashtami, Maa Durga manifested in her most powerful form to combat Mahishasura. She eventually kills him on Dussehra.

• Akal Bodhon: An Untimely Awakening

The Sharad Month Durgashtami is considered the main Ashtami, rather than the one in the Spring season (Basant), due to a mythological origin called Akal Bodhon.

1. According to mythology, Lord Rama recalled Maa Durga for her blessings in the autumn season before his battle with the demon king Ravana.
2. To worship her and gain victory, Lord Rama even offered one of his lotus-like eyes when he found one of the 108 blue lotuses missing for his ritual.
3. Though it was an unconventional time as the goddess was sleeping, pleased, the goddess appeared and blessed Lord Rama.
4. This legend highlights the deep devotion and powerful impact of worshipping Mahagauri during the eight day of Sharad month.

Also Read: Why Navratri Is Celebrated Twice In A Year? Let’s Find Out!

Conclusion

Durga Ashtami 2025, on September 30th, celebrates Maa Mahagauri in the Sharad month. The devi symbolises purity and divine feminine power. Celebrate a Happy Durga Ashtami Navratri with all the associated rituals and fulfil Durga Ashtami wishes and desires.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Also Read: Chaitra Navratri 2025: Significance, Date, Muhurat and Rituals

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