Durga Ashtami 2026: Maa Mahagauri — Date, Kanya Pujan, Sandhi Puja Time, Colour and Mantra
Durga Ashtami in 2026 is Monday, 19 October — the eighth day of Navratri and the day of Maa Mahagauri. Ashtami ends at 10:53 AM, and the Sandhi Puja falls from 10:29 to 11:17 AM.
- Date: Monday, 19 October 2026
- Tithi: Ashtami — 8:29 AM on 18 October to 10:53 AM on 19 October
- Goddess: Maa Mahagauri
- Sunrise (Delhi): 6:24 AM
- Colour (popular custom): Purple — see the note below
- Traditional bhog: Coconut
Maa Mahagauri: the eighth form of Durga
Mahagauri is "the great fair one" — radiant white, compared to the conch, the moon and the jasmine flower. She wears white, rides a white bull, and holds a trident and a damaru, with her other hands in the gestures of fearlessness and blessing. After the dark ferocity of Kalaratri she is the Goddess restored to perfect calm.
The story of Maa Mahagauri
Parvati's long tapas for Shiva, kept through heat, cold and dust, left her body dark. When Shiva at last accepted her, he bathed her with the waters of the Ganga, and her body shone white — she became Mahagauri. The story is about purification: what the tapas cost is washed away, and what remains is radiance. That is why she is worshipped on Ashtami, the day of culmination.
Mantra and dhyana
ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नमः॥
श्वेते वृषे समारूढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः। महागौरी शुभं दद्यान्महादेवप्रमोददा॥
The dhyana verse describes her mounted on a white bull, clad in white, pure — the delight of Mahadeva — and asks her for auspiciousness. Chant the short mantra 108 times.
Colour and bhog for Day 8
Most popular lists give purple as the Durga Ashtami colour. Because those lists count calendar days rather than tithis, they print purple against Sunday, 18 October — which is still Saptami at sunrise this year — and peacock green against Monday. If you follow the goddess rather than the calendar, wear purple on Monday. The traditional bhog is coconut.
How to worship Maa Mahagauri on Day 8
- Invoke Maa Mahagauri at the kalash with the dhyana verse.
- Offer white flowers, akshat, sandal paste and the coconut bhog.
- Kanya Pujan: invite nine girls and one boy, wash their feet, apply tilak, serve halwa, puri and black chana, and give gifts and dakshina.
- Chant her mantra 108 times and close with the aarti.
The daily kalash, akhand jyoti and the general Navratri vidhi are in the Navratri 2026 guide; the Mahagauri aarti.
Why Ashtami is Monday — and when to perform Kanya Pujan
Ashtami begins at 8:29 AM on Sunday, 18 October, after a sunrise that still belongs to Saptami. The tradition avoids a Saptami-touched Ashtami for Durga Ashtami and prefers the Ashtami that runs into Navami — and that is Monday, when Ashtami holds the sunrise and ends at 10:53 AM. Families who perform Kanya Pujan on Ashtami therefore complete it in the morning, before 10:53 AM. The Sandhi Puja, the junction of Ashtami and Navami, falls from 10:29 to 11:17 AM — a single instant everywhere in India, since it depends on the tithi and not on sunrise. Its Bengal rituals are in Durga Puja Maha Ashtami and Sandhi Puja.
← Day 7 · Maa Kalaratri · → Day 9 · Maa Siddhidatri · All nine days of Navratri 2026
Frequently asked questions
When is Durga Ashtami in 2026?
On Monday, 19 October 2026. Ashtami runs from 8:29 AM on 18 October to 10:53 AM on 19 October, and Monday is the Ashtami that holds the sunrise and runs into Navami.
Why not Sunday, 18 October?
Because Saptami still holds the sunrise on Sunday and Ashtami only begins at 8:29 AM. The tradition prefers the Ashtami that runs into Navami, which is Monday.
What is the Kanya Pujan time on Durga Ashtami 2026?
If you perform Kanya Pujan on Ashtami, complete it on Monday morning before Ashtami ends at 10:53 AM. Those who perform it on Navami can do so after that.
What is the Sandhi Puja time in 2026?
From 10:29 AM to 11:17 AM on Monday, 19 October — the last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 of Navami.
What bhog is offered to Maa Mahagauri?
Coconut is the traditional offering on Durga Ashtami.
