Durga Ashtami 2020: This Year, Don’t Call Girls at Home For Kanya Puja; Stay Safe Amid COVID-19 Lockdown | Earth Indian

Durga Ashtami 2020: Know The Significance, Date, Puja Timings, Kanya Pujan/ Kanjak Muhurat And Importance of 8th Day of Chaitra Navratri

Chaitra Navratri Day 8, April 1, 2020: Navratri is a nine-day Hindu festival and today is the eighth day, known as Durga Ashtami or Maha Ashtami. This day is dedicated to Goddess Mahagauri, where worshipping this avatar of Goddess Durga is considered auspicious. She is the eighth manifestation of goddess Durga and amongst the Navadurgas. The ten-armed goddess riding the lion is highly regarded in this part of the country and even the weapons of Goddess Durga are worshipped while reciting mantras in a ritual known as Astra Puja.

Ashtami marks the eighth day of the festival and on this auspicious day, devotees tend to observe rigorous fast, feast and worship for Goddess Durga who symbolizes strength. A celebration of traditional culture and customs, massive idols of Goddess Durga are installed throughout India while enormous puja pandals are set up at various places for devotees to visit and worship.

On the day of Ashtami, before breaking the fast, nine girls below the age of ten are worshipped and are fed sumptuously and, amongst other things, presented with new clothes. As per Hindu philosophy, these girls are considered as the manifestation of the natural force of creation. Legend has it that it was on the eighth and ninth day of Navaratri that Shakti had taken the form of goddess Durga, on the request of the devas to kill the demon Kalasura.

On this day, coconut is offered in the form of bhog to please the deity. For prasad, you can also make coconut ladoo or barfi. Apart from this, traditional fare of poori, chana and halwa are prepared on this day.

Puja timings:

Sandhi Puja Muhurat – 03:16 AM to 04:04 AM, Apr 02

Duration – 00 Hours 48 Mins

Ashtami Tithi Begins – 03:49 AM on Apr 01, 2020

Ashtami Tithi Ends – 03:40 AM on Apr 02, 2020

Ashtami Puja Time: 9 AM to 10:50 AM

This year, instead of distributing prashad or calling kanya (girls) for puja at home, help the needy, in view of the Covid-19 outbreak.

By Shivam Urkude || Earth Indian