Have a Holiday Idea? Submit and Get It Voted In!
Submit & Vote
.svg)
Embrace the spirit of power and triumph on Durga Ashtami! Join in the celebrations as we honor the Warrior Goddess Durga in all her glory.
Get ready to embrace the spirit of power and triumph on Durga Ashtami, which is celebrated with great fervor on October 10! This significant festive day is dedicated to the Warrior Goddess Durga, who symbolizes the victory of good over evil. According to the revered Hindu scriptures, Durga Ashtami marks the day when Goddess Durga annihilated the demon Mahishasura after a fierce nine-day battle. The day invokes a sense of strength and righteousness, celebrating the power of the feminine divine. Join us in honoring Goddess Durga in all her glory, as we steep ourselves in the festive spirit surrounded by vibrant rituals, colourful dances, melodious hymns, and, of course, delicious food!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1600s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Origin in Folklore</div><div class='timeline-text'>Durga Ashtami's roots trace back to ancient folklore during the 1600s, focusing on tales of divine feminine power overcoming evil.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1700s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Rituals Formalized</div><div class='timeline-text'>By the 1700s, the rituals and practices associated with Durga Ashtami became more structured within Hindu communities.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1800s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Cultural Integration</div><div class='timeline-text'>Throughout the 1800s, Durga Ashtami was integrated into major festive calendars, solidifying its importance in Hindu culture.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1900s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>National Celebration</div><div class='timeline-text'>In the 1900s, Durga Ashtami gained recognition as a national festival across India, celebrated by millions.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2000s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Global Observance</div><div class='timeline-text'>By the 2000s, Indian diaspora communities around the world began to observe Durga Ashtami, spreading its significance globally.</div></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Create a Home Altar</h3><p class='facts-text'>Deck out a corner of your home with festive decorations, pictures, and idols of Goddess Durga. Light incense, sprinkle flower petals and light up traditional lamps to create an environment of reverence and worship.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Prepare Prasad sweets</h3><p class='facts-text'>Durga Ashtami is incomplete without traditional Indian sweets offered as sanctified food, or Prasad. Cook up some gulab jamun, kheeror, or Pongal at home and distribute them among your friends and family after your prayers.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Participate in Dhunuchi Dance</h3><p class='facts-text'>The Dhunuchi dance is traditionally performed with large clay incense burners. If that seems too challenging, simply play some traditional Bengali folk music and let yourself loose!</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Host a Bhajan Evening</h3><p class='facts-text'>Invite friends, family, and neighbors for a devotional hymns, or bhajan, evening at your home. It’s a great way to bring people together and escalate the festive spirit.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Attend a Durga Puja ceremony</h3><p class='facts-text'>Visit your local Hindu temple or community center to participate in the Durga Puja ceremony. It is a soul-stirring experience with choirs singing hymns, mesmerizing dance performances, and the sense of community and shared joy.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Celebration of Feminine Power</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Durga Ashtami is a unique festival that celebrates the power and strength of the feminine divine! It's an opportunity to honor the Warrior Goddess Durga, a symbol of victory over evil, making it a wonderful day to recognize and pay homage to women's strength around the world.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Rich Cultural Experience</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>The festival is steeped in vibrant rituals, colourful dances, and soulful hymns. This day provides a way to immerse oneself in Indian culture, enjoy traditional Bengali folk music, and witness mesmerizing dance performances at Durga Puja.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Community and Togetherness</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Durga Ashtami promotes a sense of togetherness. Between decorating home altars, preparing traditional Indian sweets, or attending community prayers, it provides chances to bring friends, family, and neighbors together. And in doing so, it helps to foster collective joy and a deeper sense of community.</p></div></div>
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
