When is Maha Ashtami 2022: Puja Dates, Times and Hedgehog Recipes
As the nine-day festival of Navratri draws to a close, devotees are preparing for Ashtami (also known as Maha Ashtami), which falls on the eighth day of Navratri. While Ashtami is observed all over India, special celebrations are seen in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Delhi. All nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped on this day. This day is also celebrated as Durga Ashtami, which is the auspicious day of the Bengali Durga Puja festival. Sandhi Puja is also conducted on Ashtami during the last 24 minutes of Ashtami tithi and the first 24 minutes of Navami tiithi.
Ashtami 2022: Date And Puja Timings:
Durga Ashtami on Monday, October 3, 2022
Ashtami Tithi Starts – 06:47 PM on October 2, 2022
Ashtami Tithi ends – 04:37 PM on October 3, 2022
(Source: drikpanchang.com)
Ashtami 2022: Meaning and Ritual
Hindus across the country spend the eighth day of Navratri to worship the young incarnation of Goddess Durga. Kanjak (or Kanya Pooja) is observed by inviting young girls to their homes and worshiping them. Kanjak is also offered special Ashtami-bhog, which usually includes poori, chane and halwa. Fruit, dried fruit and small gifts are also provided with the bhog. There is a section of people who perform Kanya Pooja on the ninth day, i.e. Navami, but the dishes from bhog remain the same. Here is the recipe of special Ashtami-bhog.
Ashtami-Special Hedgehog Recipes:
1.Poori:
Fried pooris made with atta or maida made for Ashtami prasad. If you’ve always had a hard time creating the perfect fluffy pooris, here are some tips to get you right. Click here to see poori’s recipe.
2. Chane:
Dried black chane without onion, tomato and garlic is made for Ashtami bhog. It is a simple preparation with minimal spices but tastes great when combined with pooris. This is the recipe of Ashtami-chane special kale.
3. Halwa:
Sooji powder (semolina) is used to make hawwa for Ashtami bhog. Sooji is roasted in buttermilk and mixed with sugar syrup, sometimes milk, and dried fruits like pistachios and cashews. This is the recipe of the special Ashtami-sooji halwa.
Bengalis celebrate Durga Ashtami with much fanfare, including a grand wedding ceremony. Dishes like khichuri (khichdi), aloo bhaja (aloo ki sabzi), Bengali chutney and rosogullas (rasgullas) are popularly served on this day. Find special Bengali recipes for Durga Ashtami here.
Wishing you a happy and food-filled Ashtami 2022!