
Masik Durga Ashtami will be observed on August 20, 2026, a Thursday. The day is dedicated to Goddess Durga, and as Thursday is associated with Jupiter, devotees may also worship Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity.

Traditional practices include offering red flowers to Goddess Durga and a lotus to Lakshmi, placing seven rose petals on a betel leaf, lighting a ghee lamp in the evening, reciting Durga Saptashati or chanting the Lakshmi mantra 'Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah' 108 times, and offering halwa, black gram and puris to Durga and kheer or white sweets to Lakshmi. Feeding young girls as part of Kanya Puja is also recommended.
Masik Durga Ashtami occurs every lunar month, but the Sawan Durgashtami in the holy month of Shravan draws larger participation. The convergence of Thursday, ruled by Jupiter or Guru, with this Ashtami is considered especially favourable for wealth-related prayers. Devotees typically consult local priests for exact muhurat timings, which vary by city. The next concrete date for the following Masik Durga Ashtami in the Hindu calendar would be around mid-September 2026, depending on the lunar cycle.
Source: news.abplive.com
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