2026 festival guide
Durga Ashtami countdown 2026: Monday, 19 October
Durga Ashtami 2026 is Monday, 19 October. Sandhi Puja is 10:27–11:15 AM IST in the cited calendar. The countdown marks the start of Ashtami's observance date; it is separate from the Sandhi Puja window.
Dates and times checked: · See sources
2026 dates and timings
| Observance / city | Date and time |
|---|---|
| Durga Ashtami / Mahashtami | Monday, 19 October 2026 |
| Ashtami tithi begins | 18 October · 8:27 AM |
| Ashtami tithi ends | 19 October · 10:51 AM |
| Sandhi Puja | 19 October · 10:27–11:15 AM |
| Bengal Maha Navami | Tuesday, 20 October 2026 |
Times below are IST, checked against Drik Panchang on 5 October 2026. A pandal's pushpanjali or visitor schedule is not determined by this midnight countdown.
Sandhi Puja is a specific junction
Sandhi Puja covers the final 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami. In this year's calendar, that interval surrounds 10:51 AM on 19 October. It is not a name for the whole Ashtami morning.
If you want to attend Sandhi Puja, ask your pandal when visitors should arrive. Leave time for the walk from the entrance and any queue. A published ritual start is rarely a good time to start looking for parking.
Plan Kanya Puja around your family practice
Households may hold Kanya Puja on Ashtami or Navami. Agree on the day with the family members arranging it. Do not invite guests using one date while the person cooking is planning for the other.
- Confirm the date and an arrival time with the invited families.
- Ask about food preferences and ingredients before finalising the menu.
- Prepare seating, plates and the items used in your household ritual beforehand.
- Serve portions suited to the guests and leave enough time for them to eat comfortably.
Why the tithi starts on 18 October
The lunar Ashtami interval starts on Sunday the 18th and continues into Monday the 19th. The named festival date in the calendar is Monday. A tithi's start timestamp is not automatically the day chosen for the festival.
When saving a reminder, label it ‘Durga Ashtami, Monday 19 October’. If you also need the tithi boundary for a ritual, make that a separate reminder with a clear name.
Check the Navami date before the next visit
This year's northern Maha Navami listing is also 19 October, while the Bengal-rule listing is 20 October. The distinction matters if your plans combine a household Navratri observance with a Bengali Durga Puja programme.
Ask each organiser for the full schedule. Our Maha Navami guide explains the two dates so you can plan travel and meals without assuming every observance moves one day forward.
Frequently asked questions
Is Durga Ashtami on 18 or 19 October 2026?
The festival observance is Monday, 19 October. Ashtami tithi starts on 18 October and ends at 10:51 AM IST on 19 October.
What is the Sandhi Puja time in 2026?
The cited calendar gives 10:27–11:15 AM IST on 19 October. Confirm your pandal's arrival and visitor arrangements separately.
Does this page cover every monthly Durga Ashtami?
No. It covers Sharad Navratri's Durga Ashtami, also called Mahashtami, in October 2026. Monthly observances have separate dates.
Date and timing sources
These calendars support the dates and timings above. Household and temple arrangements can differ. Select your city and the year 2026 when checking a source.