Durga Ashtami 2025 Dates: Masik Durgashtami fasting dates, timings and rituals

Durga Ashtami 2025 Dates: Masik Durgashtami fasting dates, timings and rituals

Masik Durgashtami is a monthly observance dedicated to Goddess Durga. It is celebrated on the Ashtami Tithi of the Shukla Paksha, the waxing phase of the moon. The observance includes fasting and worshipping Goddess Durga to seek her blessings for strength and protection. This fasting and ritual are followed with devotion by people across India, especially those who are devotees of Durga Maa.

The most significant Durgashtami occurs during the Navratri festival, specifically on Mahashtami, the eighth day of the Shardiya Navratri. However, each month, the Masik Durgashtami holds importance, and it varies in its specific dates and timings. Let’s take a look at the dates, timings, and rituals for each Masik Durgashtami in 2025.

Masik Durgashtami Dates and Timings for 2025

Masik Durgashtami is observed on different dates each month, depending on the lunar calendar. The following table highlights the dates, timings, and the duration of each Masik Durgashtami in 2025.

On the day of Masik Durgashtami, devotees observe a fast and perform specific rituals to please Goddess Durga. The fasting is done to purify the body and soul. People fast from sunrise until the evening, breaking the fast after performing the pooja in the evening. The key rituals include:

• Offering Flowers and Fruits: Devotees offer red flowers, especially hibiscus, to Goddess Durga, along with fruits like bananas, which are considered sacred.
• Reciting Durga Saptashati: The recitation of the Durga Saptashati (also called Chandi Path) is a significant ritual performed by the devotees to invoke Goddess Durga’s blessings for strength and prosperity.
• Lighting Lamps and Incense: Lighting lamps and incense sticks around the idol or picture of Goddess Durga is an essential part of the worship.
• Chanting Durga Stotras: Devotees chant various Durga Stotras and mantras to invoke the goddess’s protection and blessings.
• Prayers and Offerings: At the end of the fast, devotees offer prayers to seek protection from evil and invoke power, wisdom, and courage in their lives.

While the most important Durgashtami is celebrated during the Shardiya Navratri in Ashwin month, the Masik Durgashtami holds equal importance for devotees throughout the year. It is a monthly opportunity to worship Goddess Durga, offer gratitude, and seek her blessings for overcoming obstacles and difficulties in life.

For those who observe the ritual, the Masik Durgashtami is a day of reflection, strength-building, and devotion. The spiritual benefits of regular worship on this day include enhanced mental clarity, emotional resilience, and divine blessings for prosperity.